Boston, MA

The Organization
South Africa Partners (SA Partners) builds mutually beneficial partnerships between the United States and South Africa in the areas of health and education. Serving as a catalyst of innovative approaches, SA Partners links people, strengthens communities, promotes social justice and fosters leadership in both countries. We believe that universal access to quality healthcare and education are prerequisites for securing a just democracy, and that the shared experiences in South Africa and in the United States offer common ground from which to forge lasting and productive programs that bring us closer to this ideal.

Our focus is to:

• Facilitate meaningful partnerships that build the capacity of South Africa organizations
• Nurture strategic collaborations and the sharing of best practices between the United States and South Africa
• Strengthen people-to-people relationships between those living in South Africa and the United States to promote justice and democracy

Established in 1998, SA Partners is headquartered in Boston with program and administrative offices located in three South African cities – Johannesburg, East London and Port Elizabeth.  Our FY16 budget is $5+ million.

Position Overview
Working Hours and Compensation:

• Full-time with benefits  Some travel required in the U.S. and South Africa – – estimated 10%
• Some evening and weekend work required

Reporting:
The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director

The Director of Development is responsible for developing and managing the fundraising activities for South Africa Partners/U.S., and for serving as a technical consultant to our two sister organizations based in South Africa — South Africa Partners/South Africa and Masibumbane Development Organisation. Over the past eight years, SA Partners has been awarded large grants from U.S. Government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Agency for International Development. A key goal of the Director of Development is to diversify the organization’s funding base and increase philanthropic support (non-governmental funding). Charged with expanding major gifts fundraising through individuals, foundations and corporations and growing our donor base throughout the United States, the Director of Development also manages: the Annual Fund, South Africa Partners’ signature fundraising gala, Itheko, and Development operations. The Director of Development works closely with the Executive Director and with the Development Committee of the Board of Directors, and supervises one Development Associate.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop a 3-year fundraising plan that aligns with South Africa Partners’ strategic plan.
• Manage fundraising activities to achieve revenue goal and grow philanthropic support by at least 20% year-to-year.
• Direct all major gifts fundraising activities, including identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospects.
• Work in partnership with the Executive Director and Board Fundraising Committee to achieve benchmarks.
• Manage the Executive Director’s major gifts portfolio.
• Manage all Annual Fund activities, including year-end solicitation and related messaging and collateral, and stewardship.
• Plan and develop all fundraising collateral.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to develop messaging that aligns with fundraising strategy and resonates with our donor community.
• Manage foundation and corporation fundraising in the U.S. Work closely with the Executive Director on strategy development and the proposal development process.
• Develop and implement strategies to expand the donor base throughout the U.S., with special emphasis on New York, the West Coast and Boston.
• Manage all aspects of Development operations, including donor database and donor stewardship. A new donor database will be implemented during the first half of 2016.
• Direct all aspects of Itheko, South Africa Partners’ signature gala attracting 350+ guests, including event strategy, all pre- and night-of fundraising and development of event marketing materials, and management of a contract event producer that executes key activities. The next gala will be in the spring of 2016.
• Build and manage the Development budget.
• Work closely with volunteer advocates, including the Board of Directors and its Development Committee, the Council of Friends and the gala Host Committee.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree a plus.6+ years of experience in a Development role with progressive responsibilities; some management experience a plus.
• Outstanding writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Track record of major gifts fundraising, with personal experience closing gifts in the 5- and 6-figure range.
• Track record with Annual Fund solicitations, with demonstrated year-to-year growth in both revenue and numbers of donors.
• Track record of individual fundraising achievement as measured against individual goal.
• Proficiency using donor database tools (Raisers Edge or similar).

Other Attributes:

• Demonstrated interest in South Africa and social justice issues
• Strategic thinker
• Extremely well organized and strong multi-tasking skills
• Team player with sense of humor
• Professional and mature demeanor
• Flexible work style
• Ability to operate with limited resources and manage against a budget
• Absolute honesty and integrity
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality