Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) is dedicated to providing programs and services that assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired in obtaining and maintaining independence at home, school, work and in the community.

Established in Washington, D.C. in 1900, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind now serves more than 5,000 blind and low vision individuals in the community every year. President and CEO Dale T. Otto has ambitious goals for CLB to expand its signature services to many communities across the country. For example, in recent years CLB has expanded its Assistive Technology programs and increased its list of training locations to nearly 100 cities.

Poised for growth and ready to become a major player in services for people with visual impairments nation-wide, CLB is seeking a full-time director of development to take its fundraising program to the next level. A development program is already in place, and with this new position CLB is looking to realize its full potential for resource development.

Attractions

• CLB is a well-established social services organization with dynamic leadership and ambitious goals for the future. It has a long and respected history of local service with plans to reach out to a national audience. The organizational structure is poised to move ahead.

• CLB is a 501 c(3) organization that operates on a business model. Quantitative goals drive this fast-paced environment, and staff is encouraged to be independent and entrepreneurial.

• The President is very supportive of the fundraising effort and eager to have CLB reach out to new audiences.

• Basic development systems are in place. The software used is Raiser’s Edge; the database is up-to-date. Staff is in place to write proposals and grant applications.

• An excellent benefits package for all employees. Offices are located in an attractive downtown location.

Critical Issues

• CLB is considering changing its name to reflect its national focus.

• The development effort needs to move beyond the local and become national.

The Position

Reports to: Vice President and COO with dotted line to President.

Purpose of Position: The Director of Development will serve as a member of the senior management team and will work with the President and Vice President to create and implement a development strategy. This position supervises the Administrative Assistant/Receptionist.

Responsibilities:

1. Centralize and coordinate proposal submissions, track narrative and financial reporting requirements, and align agency-wide financial projections with concrete resource development benchmarks.
2. Develop and implement with senior management program staff collaboration a customized, broad-based resource development strategy, including coordination with the communications staff.
3. Provide reports to the President regarding overall resource development activities, as required.
4. Develop and manage development budget and annual fundraising plan.
5. Develop and implement annual fundraising strategy, including direct mail marketing.
6. Manage grants calendar, write and/or edit grant proposals to foundations and corporations.
7. Manage the gift acknowledgment and tracking processes.
8. Research new funding sources.
9. Collaborate with program managers on locating funding opportunities.
10. Develop and manage planned giving program.
11. Supervise the Administrative Assistant/Receptionist position and provide guidance to the Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator with respect to management of the development database.
12. Other duties as assigned.

The Ideal Person Should Have:

1. Bachelor’s degree.
2. Minimum of 5 years’ successful experience in all aspects of non-profit fundraising and marketing.
3. A successful track record in meeting annual fundraising goals for a nonprofit organization.
4. Experience working with donors in the metropolitan Washington area.
5. Experience working on national fundraising campaigns.
6. Major gift experience and some familiarity with planned giving techniques.
7. Excellent verbal and written communication skills including proposal writing and a working knowledge of appropriate grants management and other word processing, spreadsheet and data management software.
8. Excellent written, and oral communication skills and demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, build consensus and problem solve.
9. Excellent management, communications, interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as attention to detail.

The Ideal Person Should Be:

1. A confident, self-starter who is able to work independently.
2. Motivated and creative.
3. A leader.
4. Comfortable with CLB’s mission and working with blind or low-vision people.
5. Able to move the development effort to a national platform.

  See www.clb.org for more information.

Candidates and sources, please communicate with:
Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com, sellery@sellery.com
FAX 202.333.1167
Telephone: 202.331.0090
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

ROBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. , 10TH FLOOR     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036     202.331.0090
sellery@sellery.com