Strategic Partnerships & Development Director

About this role

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If you're an entrepreneurial-minded builder who loves to work with great people to solve wicked problems that have a meaningful impact, read on to see if this position might be a good fit for you!
WHO WE ARE
Outdoor Afro celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Our network also connects Black people with our lands, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. Examples of Outdoor Afro’s year-round activities range from fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening, skiing and more! Visit: to learn more.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Strategic Development & Partnerships Director oversees the strategy and operational excellence of Outdoor Afro’s partnerships and development efforts. In addition to driving revenue generation and partnership opportunities, the role emphasizes building strong departmental processes, managing donor relations technology, streamlining grant administration, and ensuring alignment between development operations and organizational goals development goals of the organization.
Who You Are

• You're a seasoned mentor, having guided your teams to excellence and ensuring they reach their full potential.

• Entrepreneurial at heart, you're adept at shaping policies and strategies from the ground up while thriving in dynamic environments.

• A strategic partnership aficionado, you blend process efficiency with genuine relationship-building, understanding the twin pillars of successful fundraising.

• Your personal outdoor experiences align with our mission, emphasizing the importance of Black connections with nature and advocating for equitable access.

• Data-driven, you see the overarching picture, and value analytics just as much as interpersonal connections in driving development success.

• An operations enthusiast, you're always seeking ways to refine processes and heighten efficiency.

• Trust is your watchword, and you cherish every relationship – from major donors to volunteers, understanding the intricate value of each.

• Passionate about technology, you harness donor management tools to streamline operations and extract meaningful insights.

• An empathetic leader, you motivate with understanding and collaboration, fostering an environment where every voice matters.

• Adaptable and proactive, you revel in change, always ready to evolve for the organization's betterment.

• Ever-curious, you're consistently exploring new trends, tools, and strategies in nonprofit operations and fundraising.

Fundraising and External Relationship Development

• Collaborate closely with the CEO and Executive Director to shape and continuously refine long-term fundraising strategies, ensuring they align with the organization's overarching goals and set the groundwork for sustained funding sources.

• Dive deep into the nuances of the fundraising process, leveraging data analytics and internal feedback to identify areas for improvement, and ensuring continuous enhancement of departmental operations.

• Progressively take on a pivotal role in donor relationship management, eventually becoming the primary lead, allowing the organization's Founder to focus on high-level strategic endeavors and broad organizational vision.

• Foster and nurture existing funder relationships, using advanced donor management tools to ensure consistent, impactful interactions and expanded recurring revenue streams.

• Draw from data insights within donor relation platforms to discern vital trends, uncover fresh opportunities, and effectively guide and support donor engagements.

• Oversee grant compliance and reporting, while coordinating with internal team members to ensure that grant utilization aligns seamlessly with available operational resources and organizational goals.

• Lead the planning and execution of fundraising events, ensuring that event logistics harmoniously integrate with development objectives, while also ensuring that fundraising initiatives benefit from the most effective operational strategies and tools available.

Development Operations

• Strengthen and optimize the business development department operations, processes, procedures, and infrastructure.

• Oversee the implementation and management of donor relations software (e.g., Salesforce) to enhance donor engagement and improve data insights.

• Evaluate and recommend technologies, tools, and platforms that can streamline development and fundraising operations.

• Develop or refine development policies and procedures to ensure best practices. Create and continually refine fundraising SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the development department.

• Collaborate with the CEO and senior management on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, and other operational matters.

• Coordinate closely with other departments to ensure seamless alignment of strategies and initiatives.

Cross Functional Collaboration & Partnership Management

• Partner with the program team to integrate fundraising initiatives with organizational programs and events - serving as the primary partner owner for the organization.

• Manage regular reporting on partner needs, and deliverables; elevate issues to the Executive Team.

• Serve as the primary Outdoor Afro representative and point of contact for partners, donors and the internal team driving all communications and follow-up items - sharing widely with the team as necessary.

• Work with other departments to ensure that fundraising strategies are synchronized with organizational capabilities, resources, and timelines.

• Oversee the day to day operational management of the Outdoor Afro’s partner relationships, ensuring donor and partner retention annually.

• Develop strong relationships with corporate partner representatives.

• Apply a customer centric approach to strategically approach partnership goals, ensuring alignment…