Senior Development Officer

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Senior Development Officer (US Eastern Seaboard) to join our dedicated and talented team in our mission to create business solutions to poverty!

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

This is an exceptional opportunity to work directly with our generous donors, supporting them in fulfilling their faith, purpose and passions through their donations to MEDA.  A very rewarding role for those up to the challenge!

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Vice-President of Marketing & Development, the Senior Development Officer is responsible for securing funds for MEDA by managing a group of assigned donors within a specified region, ensuring as many as possible are retained as continuing donors and upgraded in their giving and involvement.  The SDO is also responsible for developing and implementing a cultivation and solicitation plan for individual major gift prospects.

This is a full-time permanent position, involving extensive local travel, regular regional travel and occasional international travel.

Job Status: Full-Time, Permanent

Start Date: March/April 2025

Location(s): United States (Eastern Seaboard), Hybrid/Remote

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Resource Development (85%)

• Develop an annual plan for the cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects within an assigned geographic area.
• Gather data, prioritize and rate each donor/prospect within the portfolio, creating individual targets for each person, based on their history of giving, financial capacity, interests, advisors, other causes and the organization’s knowledge of that donor’s potential. Fully use any information provided by the Marketing & Development department and the donor management system.
• Create an annual work plan for each major donor that includes a timetable with dates for cultivation, involvement, solicitation actions (“moves”), event/trip attendance and gift acknowledgments. As appropriate, plan for the involvement of the President/CEO, Senior VP, other MEDA representatives and board members.
• Execute the action steps in the work plan on a timely basis with all donors. Solicit annual gifts from prospects as agreed upon with an annual giving plan.
• Maintain a timetable, checklist and reporting system showing the current “move” for each donor, the last action and the projected next step.
• Record actions, moves and activities in the donor management system for future reference and strategy development. As required, create monthly reports that accurately reflect portfolio activity.
• Develop and help carry out appropriate recognition and stewardship strategies for major donors in the assigned portfolio.
• Manage people, process, deadlines and budget while adhering to the policies and procedures of MEDA.
• Contribute to the department’s overall success by collaborating with colleagues, sharing information, best practices and leads appropriately.

Constituent Engagement / Department Support (15%)

• Collaborate and participate with the whole Marketing & Development team to support the annual convention, regional meetings, chapter events and tours as part of donor cultivation.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Development and Global Programs departments and ensure support work needed to complete the work plan, such as major gift proposals, is completed.
• Provide support to assigned chapters by attending meetings, making presentations when appropriate and supporting the chapter executive on special requests.
• Create and maintain a positive rapport with peers and management and maintain a positive and constructive attitude while solving problems
• Protect and support the mission, goals and values of the organization.
• Perform other donor and prospect activities as required.

Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned

REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration or similar

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum five years demonstrated experience in not-for-profit/charitable fundraising or a complementary field/skill set
• Deep connections to community and businesses within assigned geographic areas and a demonstrated ability to develop and nurture business relationships
• Skills to work with tools such as multi-media presentations, the entire Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint, and donor management systems.
• Understanding of the Moves Management system for cultivating gifts and investment funds.
• Knowledge and understanding of MEDA’s constituency (Mennonite, Anabaptist and Christian businesses and professionals)
• Highly motivated, self-starter, with the demonstrated ability to achieve results with minimal supervision.
• Positive energy and strong focus on achieving results
• Knowledge and skills in business principles with emphasis on marketing/sales.
• Excellent and proven interpersonal skills in relationship building, active listening, communicating, negotiation and leadership.
• Appreciation and support of MEDA’s faith, vision and values
• Understanding and appreciation of business principles, international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty

MEDA will review applications on a rolling basis as we receive them.

MEDA welcomes and encourages applications from all genders, backgrounds, religions, cultures, nationalities and abilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the selection process.

SDG Impact