Development Officer

Thank you for your interest in joining the Coastal Community Foundation team. Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer with offices in North Charleston and Beaufort, as well as three affiliate foundations. We serve all nine counties on South Carolina's coast: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties.

Established in 1974, Coastal Community Foundation works to create vibrant communities by identifying the challenges facing the region and bringing together resources to address them. Coastal Community Foundation is the largest community foundation in South Carolina, managing more than 700 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations and awarding tens of millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year.

Financial resources are among the many tools we employ in our effort to create vibrant communities. Throughout our history we have served as conveners to bring residents and leaders together to facilitate solutions to community-wide challenges such as housing affordability, economic mobility, quality education and physical and mental well-being. We also have a long history of helping nonprofits build their capacity, and incubating grassroots causes to provide them with structural support, so they grow into fully operational organizations.

Why work for us?

When you join Coastal Community Foundation, you join a dedicated staff and Board of Directors who have earned the trust of donors and grantees alike, helping them advance positive outcomes in the communities they seek to serve and adapting to their evolving needs so that our region thrives together.

We take that same approach and dedication to supporting our staff members to ensure their success at work and outside of the work environment. We offer a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, Holidays, Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), 401(k), and professional training and development opportunities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

Inclusion with equity is one of our four core values at Coastal Community Foundation, so we not only work to recruit diverse candidates, but we also work to ensure our team members have all the tools they need to be successful. Our purpose is most effectively fulfilled through proactively supporting the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Diversity may be measured by, but is not limited to, differences in age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, class, religion, disability, geography, and profession. We acknowledge and respect the many differences that comprise thriving communities and seek diversity in our staff to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions and experiences are recognized and acted upon in achieving our purpose.

It is our intention to promote a fully equitable philanthropic sector that justly represents and serves all our constituencies. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, of LGBTQ+ identity and of other historically marginalized communities.

About This Position

Based out of our Beaufort office, the Development Officer works, in cooperation with the Development and Stewardship Team, to advance the growth, development, and reputation of the Foundation to become the philanthropic partner of choice. They help advance the work of the Foundation in the region by working across the areas of development and stewardship. His/her goal is to deepen relationships with current and prospective donors, to instill trust in the Foundation and stimulate new gifts. Under the direction of the Director of Development & Major Gifts, they educate current fundholders and prospective donors on giving vehicles and leads individualized solicitations of prospective and existing donors and fundholders as part of their portfolio. The Development Officer works closely with staff to ensure effective collaboration and communication. Additionally, the Development Officer will be one of the primary point people responsible for the creation of new donor funds (donor advised, scholarship, designated, organization) as well as the growth of field of interest funds in the Southern Lowcountry. The Development Officer believes in the vision, mission, and values of the Foundation and supports its strategic priorities as the framework for realizing them.

Essential Functions

Development and Stewardship

• Develop relationships with prospective donors to create and secure new foundation funds, grow field of interest funds, and solicit unrestricted gifts contributing to the achievement of the Foundation’s goals and objectives.
• Provide development leadership across the Southern Lowcountry (Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties).
• Manage and steward a portfolio of existing fundholders located in the region. Engage these fundholders through in-person meetings to share information on grantmaking opportunities and community foundation leadership initiatives and respond to fund-related questions based on Tiers of Service.
• Coordinate and manage the creation of the South Coast Advisory Council, a group of volunteers who are committed to philanthropy, knowledgeable of community issues, and live or work in the Southern Lowcountry.
• Work with Development and Stewardship team and others to successfully support development efforts to expand resources within Fund types and support programmatic needs.
• In collaboration with the Development & Stewardship Team, help coordinate events that educate donors about community issues and how they can get involved to address those issues.
• Work closely with the Grantmaking and Community Leadership team to support donor engagement, education, and learning through program visits and other learning opportunities.
• Track prospects and donor engagement activities through the Foundation's internal database system, Community Suite.
• Represent the Foundation at a variety of community events and professional associations.
• Protect the legacy of donors by fulfilling the terms of fund agreements.
  
  

General Responsibilities

• Respond to requests for information from donors, grantees and the public with a target of one working business day turn around (or less).
• Support the Foundation's practice of encouraging diversity, equity and inclusiveness as the cornerstones of all that it does.
• Remain current with events and trends in local, national and international business, finance and philanthropy.
• Acquire and maintain current knowledge of public activities and internal projects, policies and procedures of CCF.
• Understand the various functions of each of the Foundation's Departments, in order to gain an overall understanding of the Foundation's work.
• Commit to staying informed about IRS regulations related to donor advised fund and best practices with Community Foundations.
• Required Skills/Abilities
• Skilled in managing multiple tasks simultaneously, independently, and successfully.
• Comfortable in an entrepreneurial atmosphere.
• Excellent relationship management skills and familiarity with "moves management'' fundraising principles.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and completely comfortable with learning new software.
• Knowledge of customer relationship management software, such as Raiser's Edge and/or Foundant Community Suite a plus.
• Excellent written and oral skills.
• Demonstrated meeting facilitation skills; exceptional telephone etiquette and people skills.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues in a small, fast-paced office environment that depends on effective teamwork.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Experience soliciting major gifts and working with high-net-worth individuals; knowledge of planned giving techniques not required, but highly valued.
• Successful track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• At least five years of experience in development in a nonprofit setting.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time. Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. and lift small items (less than 20 pounds).
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity equipment, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Frequently communicates with colleagues and the public. Must be able to exchange accurate information.