Vice President of Development & External Relations

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Vice President of Development & External Relations
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
LOCATION: Hybrid – 2-3 days in-office, work demands permitting (Downtown Brooklyn)
SALARY: $150,000 - $185,000

JOB SUMMARY

AAFSC was established in 1994 as a haven for the newest New Yorkers. Originally founded by and for the Arab American community in NYC, AAFSC has expanded significantly to support all in need, with expertise serving Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian communities. We help families and individuals across the city navigate life in a new place through English language and citizenship classes, benefits enrollment, parent support groups, and child welfare and domestic violence case management. Last year, we helped more than 20,000 community members.

With approximately 70% of AAFSC’s budget from public sources and 30% from philanthropy, AAFSC seeks to strategically diversify its funding base to ensure its long-term sustainability. The VP for Development & External Relations will lead a team of six to develop and drive a comprehensive fundraising and communications strategy that maintains key city and state funding sources, deepens institutional philanthropic relationships, and builds a robust individual giving/major gifts program. This member of AAFSC’s senior leadership team will join AAFSC’s newly arrived Executive Director to deepen a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and ensure we continue to thrive in a challenging fundraising environment.

A deep commitment to helping immigrant communities to thrive is essential.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Fundraising

• Drive collaboration with the executive director, program directors, and other senior leadership team members to develop fundraising strategies and goals that support AAFSC programs while diversifying its funding portfolio. Drive execution and evaluation of the strategies and suggest data-driven alternatives when called for.
• Work with program leaders to develop programs and initiatives that meet community needs and are attractive to funders.
• Review RFPs from public and private institutions and collaborate with program directors to develop successful responses to funding opportunities.
• Deepen relationships with city and state agencies, elected officials, foundations, corporations, and major donors.
• Scale our nascent major gifts effort. Drive the expansion of new revenue streams, including planned giving, corporate, and peer-to-peer campaigns. Work with team members to enhance our moves management system.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency guidelines for lobbying, RFP responses or foundation proposals, and negotiations, as well as the evolving strategies of philanthropy.

Communications & Advocacy

• Develop/refine and oversee a comprehensive communications strategy that keeps supporters and partners informed, engaged, and enthused.
• Ensure AAFSC’s messaging is mission-aligned, community-centered, and effectively supports fundraising, advocacy, and visibility goals. It must also be consistent across channels, including fundraising and stakeholder materials, press, and website/socials.
• Strengthen AAFSC’s participation in coalitions and campaigns.
• Build and scale AAFSC’s advocacy function. (Currently, this focuses primarily on budget advocacy, but AAFSC is seeking to sustainably grow community advocacy.)
• Longer term: Help design and build a volunteer management program to take advantage of interested community members and neighbors wishing to contribute their time and effort.

Grants Management & Internal Collaboration

• Support and oversee contract management processes to ensure that awards are in place, we are well positioned to comply, and that the relevant internal teams are aware of the next steps.
• Ensure compliance with grant regulations.
• Orchestrate preparation for funder site visits, audits, and desk audits.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Finance team and program directors to identify funding for current and future programmatic needs.
• Identify opportunities to use financial resources more effectively to achieve program goals.
• Support preparation of grant budgets, program budgets, and the organization's annual budget.
• Monitor payments against pledges and follow up with funders as needed.
• Provide informed guidance about potential funding opportunities so that appropriate hiring decisions can be made.

Team & Infrastructure Development

• Lead, coach, and grow a high-performing team with a focus on learning and collaboration.
• Foster resource-development mindset, including by helping senior leadership and staff understand the role that fundraising plays in our ability to provide services. Help the board continue their momentum in becoming full stewards of our resource-development efforts.
• Oversee the effective use and continual improvement of AAFSC’s donor CRM to manage donor data, track engagement, and support analytics-driven decision-making.

THE INDIVIDUAL

The VP will be a strategic thinker who has a collegial and collaborative engagement style. They will be experienced working in a complex and dynamically evolving, not-for-profit human services organization. The successful candidate will be a systems thinker, builder and nurturer with the ability to see the big picture and help staff understand specific tasks. The candidate must demonstrate experience positioning an organization to funders and then creating and implementing a plan to realize funding.

Professional Experience + Qualifications

• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in fundraising and/or marketing (or related field) with increasing responsibility in managing others, preferably in the non-profit sector.
• Demonstrated experience obtaining financial support in multiple areas, including government, institutional philanthropy, major gifts, and corporate support/sponsorship. Familiarity and success with budget advocacy at the city and state levels in New York, including working with a retained lobbyist, is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in marketing and communications and the ability to articulate how to apply it in a nonprofit setting. Superior communication skills.
• Evident experience and success in building and/or managing a development staff and budgets to achieve strategic and annual goals.
• Demonstrated skill in managing multiple fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, events (galas, partner outreach, small cultivation events), and grants.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to project professional competence, leadership capability, and personal maturity.
• Ability to present in a convincing and professional manner and to inspire and generate enthusiasm among donors, volunteers, staff and stakeholders.
• U.S. Work Authorization is required.

Management Style + Personality Attributes

• Ability to effectively manage change and lead through ambiguity.
• Proficiency in working effectively on a team or independently.
• Collaborative work style that motivates and empowers others to be their best. Strong team leader with a coaching orientation who can build and maintain cohesion in a hybrid work environment.
• Exhibits discerning judgement in high-stress situations.
• An entrepreneurial self-starter with the ability to delegate and project-manage.
• Possesses excellent interpersonal skills that are reflected in an ability to interact professionally, build trust, and model the values of the organization.
• Possess a strong sense of integrity and ethics.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The expected compensation for this role will fall within the range of $150,000 - $185,000.

We offer a generous paid time off package that grows with your tenure: 29 days in your first year (10 vacation days, 14 paid holidays, and 5 floating holidays), 34 days in your second year (15 vacation days), and 39 days in your third year and beyond (20 vacation days). Employees also receive up to 12 sick days annually. In addition, we offer:

• Fully paid medical and vision insurance coverage for each employee, subsidized coverage for family members, and highly discounted dental coverage
• Commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b tax-deferred retirement plan with an up to 5% employer match
• Supplemental insurance options

To apply, please submit a resume and thoughtful letter of introduction linking your experience to the needs of this role. (Applications without letters of introduction will not be considered.)

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All qualified individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

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