Director, Special Giving Programs

Job Summary

Position Summary

The Director, Special Giving Programs position is a hands-on role managing an expanding centralized integrated fundraising program on behalf of our organization headquarters and US Programs (Chapters).  S/He actively leads campaign development and execution, with particular emphasis on telefunding, monthly giving, mid-level, and canvassing initiatives, in conjunction with direct mail and online fundraising. 

Primary Responsibilities

Telefundraising

• Leads telefunding strategy and execution within established production timelines and budgets, and in coordination with external agency and supplier partners, including:

• Creative review – script and copy, layout, localization
• Audience segmentation strategy, list planning
• Testing strategy development

• Oversees day-to-day relationship with call centers and manages telefunding initiatives to ensure quality growth within centralized telefunding efforts. This includes monitoring and analyzing campaign performance to substantiate strategic direction and course-correct as necessary.
• Monitors weekly reporting of calls into dedicated donor services toll-free number to identify and elevate potential issues, and update donor records.

Mid-Level Giving

• Oversees outsourced mid-level concierges, including training, strategy, and script review/approval.
• Develops overall program strategy, including messaging and segmentation.
• Supports Strategic Gifts in the development and implementation of virtual events to advance donor engagement.
• Creates business rules and backend processes for gift attribution and the movement of donors across giving levels.

Monthly Giving

• Grows SOI’s base of monthly giving donors and revenue through mail, phone, canvassing, and digital channels.
• Manages and implements sustainer acquisition, reactivation, and upgrade campaigns and ensures integration of new and/or current strategies.
• Retains active monthly donors and minimizes attrition through active follow up and stewardship efforts including database management and effective communication strategies.
• Devises and implements business rules and back-end processes, including quality controls.
• Tracks and reports KPIs including revenue, expenses, retention, and cost to acquire.

Canvassing

• Leads strategy and day-to-day operations of canvassing program, serving as the point person for canvassing partner.
• Analyzes campaign reporting against established KPIs.
• Supervises implementation of new tests and on-boarding of additional markets, as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum 7 years of related professional experience, including nonprofit fund development. 
• Successful experience managing a direct marketing program, with specific experience in telefunding, annual giving, canvassing and monthly giving.
• Ability to interact and collaborate successfully with people at various levels of the organization, chapters, consultants and vendors.
• Excellent attention to detail and timelines.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and production process skills.

• Proven ability to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience working with a chapter-based organization.

• Proficiency in SOI’s the database systems (Team Approach and Blue State Digital tool).
• Experience overseeing database conversions is a big plus.

Special Olympics, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to working in a multicultural environment. Applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans are welcomed and encouraged.