Director of Advancement in White Bear Lake, Minnesota at " Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities"

Title: Director of Advancement
Job Category: Development & Fundraising
Requisition Number: DIREC002245
Job Type: Full-Time
White Bear Lake, MN, 55117, United States

Description

Who We Are

Solid Ground (SG) is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose proven, holistic approach helps families build the strong foundations they need to emerge from homelessness into a brighter future. Through safe, affordable housing and innovative supportive programming, Solid Ground helps families transition to a higher-level of self-sufficiency and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the next generation.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At the heart of Solid Ground is the belief that housing stability is fundamental to the healthy development of children and to a family’s ability to be contributing members of the community. Solid Ground currently runs eight programs in suburban Ramsey and Washington Counties and housing over 660 individuals annually. Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources, and opportunity.

Wages

$100,000 - $110,000 annual salary range depending on qualifications and level of experience

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick time
• 12 paid holidays
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Long-term disability insurance – the employer pays the premiums
• Employer-paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee
• Voluntary benefits: Accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, short-term disability insurance
• SG sponsors a retirement plan with automatic enrollment at 3% and a 3% employer match after one year of service, plus immediate vesting.

Because Solid Ground is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, Solid Ground employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Job Summary

Solid Ground is hiring a Director of Advancement to plan, implement, and evaluate Solid Ground’s resource development and marketing/communications efforts. The Director of Advancement leads all fundraising strategy and execution, including completion of Solid Ground’s capital campaign, cultivation of a major donor pipeline, and oversight of fundraising events, communications, and advancement staff.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and implement comprehensive development strategies to generate corporate, foundation, and individual support.
• Lead all giving programs, including major giving, annual fund, planned giving, and endowment development.
• Lead the successful completion of Solid Ground’s capital campaign.
• Implement the Benevon© fundraising model through monthly “Home At Last” tours and the annual “Every Family Needs a Home” breakfast.
• Analyze fundraising data using the Bloomerang database and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Set and track fundraising goals and performance metrics.
• Develop department and special events budgets that motivate growth and account for industry trends.
• Oversee maintenance of accurate donor records and data integrity.
• Provide regular reports and dashboards to leadership and the board to inform strategy and monitor progress.
• Serve on the senior leadership team and act as Executive Director in their absence.
• Collaborate with program and finance teams to align fundraising efforts with agency goals.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, businesses, foundations, service providers, and community stakeholders.
• Organize stewardship events such as the Donor Appreciation Event and Giving Circle activities.
• Collaborate with Board members and volunteers to solicit and retain major gifts.
• Support the Executive Director & Board in their fundraising efforts by providing tools, coaching, and materials.
• Conduct prospect research and develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Write and oversee grant proposals and ensure timely submission of reports.
• Build and manage a major donor pipeline, including prospect identification, individualized cultivation strategies, personal solicitation, and ongoing stewardship to grow Solid Ground’s base of significant individual support.
• Develop and coordinate direct mail and electronic solicitations of individuals, businesses, and civic organizations.
• Design and implement a comprehensive Marketing and Communications Plan to raise visibility and build support.
• Oversee creation and distribution of newsletters, brochures, annual reports, and other content.
• Oversee the management of Solid Ground’s website and social media accounts, ensuring consistent branding and messaging.
• Serve as media contact for the agency and prepare crisis communications, as needed.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all fundraising and donor engagement events, including the annual Bring It Home Gala, Every Family Needs a Home Ask Breakfast, and donor appreciation & engagement events.
• Direct event planning from concept to execution, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fundraising strategies.
• Oversee all event logistics, including program development, sponsorship acquisition, ticketing, live and silent auctions, and donor stewardship activities.
• Lead the use of event technology and implement data-driven post-event evaluations to inform future planning.
• Supervise and support advancement staff and volunteer committees involved in event execution, providing direction, coordination, and high-level problem-solving throughout the planning process.

What You Bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, marketing, or a related field is required; a Master’s degree or Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation is preferred.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience leading comprehensive development programs, including major gifts, grants, annual campaigns, and fundraising events.
• Demonstrated experience managing or completing a capital campaign, including donor solicitation, recognition, and campaign tracking.
• Direct experience building and stewarding a major donor pipeline, including prospect research, personal cultivation, and solicitation.
• Experience supervising and developing staff, managing cross-functional teams, and supporting board or volunteer fundraising engagement.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing large-scale donor events and campaigns, including securing sponsorships and managing donor communications.
• Experience with integrated marketing strategies and communication platforms, including social media, websites, and print collateral.
• Familiarity with the Benevon® fundraising model and experience in housing, homelessness, or human services is preferred.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to align fundraising and communications efforts with organizational goals and impact.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, including the ability to coach, motivate, and manage a high-performing advancement team.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, including working effectively with donors, board members, community partners, and volunteers.
• Advanced project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple initiatives, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Competence in using data and performance metrics to inform decisions and improve fundraising outcomes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing, donor messaging, and public speaking.
• Proficiency in developing and overseeing brand-aligned marketing content across digital and print platforms.
• Proficiency with donor databases such as Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, or comparable systems, along with familiarity with fundraising analytics and reporting tools.
• A high degree of cultural competence and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of donor engagement and communication.
• Technological proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, donor CRMs, email marketing tools, and fundraising/event platforms (e.g., OneCause).
• A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet Solid Ground’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of Solid Ground. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We value the contributions of a diverse workforce, and we welcome and encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

Solid Ground participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify’s Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.