Director of Development

COAST is currently in our first active capital campaign as an organization, titled ‘Connected By COAST’.  Connected by COAST is a 3–5-year campaign to raise $7 million that will support the future of public transportation and the economic, social, and environmental benefits it generates. The campaign celebrates COAST’s 40+ years of connecting people and communities in the Greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine and will lay the foundation for the next 40+ years.

Position Summary                                                                                                              

COAST is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work in collaboration with the Executive Director, leadership team, and Board of Directors to plan and execute the organization’s growing fundraising activities, which include a campaign to raise funds for a new facility ($4M), annual operations ($1M), and an endowment ($2M) for strategic future projects. The Director of Development position will play a central and critical role in fueling the growth of our organization and building financial resources that will allow us to fulfill our strategic vision. This will be our first staff position working independently in a development role.

The ideal candidate is an experienced fundraiser, with strong existing relationships with donors in the local business and philanthropy community, who is excited to help COAST diversify our funding base and enthusiastic about the opportunity to build out our internal development structure while integrating fundraising into our organizational culture.

Organized, personal and professional, with the ability to positively interface with a wide array of both internal and external stakeholders, the Director of Development will be responsible for managing all aspects of the organization’s fundraising planning and execution, donor cultivation, and relationship management.

We have been working with a consulting firm for the last year plus to inform and advance our initial steps into philanthropic giving and initiate our campaign. First year priorities will be to establish the foundation of the development program internally and focus on the near term need to raise funds for our new facility. 

What the Director of Development Will Do (Essential Job Duties):

• Donor Identification, Cultivation & Stewardship
  • Build a robust donor pipeline of individual donors and corporate partners, through prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship — coordinating a strategy with leadership that emphasizes relationship-building practices that support both immediate fundraising needs and long-term donor retention.
  • Develop, organize, and implement an annual calendar of donor engagement in coordination with organization-wide priorities, taking the lead role in scheduling, preparing logistics and materials for events/meetings, as well as following up.
  • Produce and coordinate regular donor communications in coordination with other established COAST communications channels.
• Grant Management
  • Research prospective foundation and corporate funding opportunities, write compelling proposals, and manage reporting requirements.
  • Prepare, submit, and manage all grant proposals and reports in collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Finance.
  • Track grant deliverables and deadlines to ensure timely submission and compliance.
• Build a Culture of Philanthropy
  • Foster a unified commitment to giving back to the organization by educating staff, board members and stakeholders on the importance of philanthropy, integrating fundraising into all aspects of the organization’s activities, and creating opportunities for meaningful donor engagement and recognition.
  • Ensure messages of philanthropy are woven throughout all aspects of the organization as well as interactions with every potential donor, and that staff and board members are trained and supported in conveying these messages.
• Event Planning & Management
  • Organize and manage fundraising-related events, integrating meaningful engagement opportunities for board members, donors, and others to deepen their connection to the organization and thank them for their support.
  • Take lead responsibility for event sponsor solicitation.
• Program Management
  • Collaborate with key staff to build the organization’s internal fundraising processes and support structure.
  • Ensure seamless processing of gifts, pledges, and acknowledgements. Accurately record gifts in the donor management system, monitoring ongoing pledge payments and sending reminders as needed.
  • Develop fundraising materials, annual reports, newsletters, and campaigns.
  • Develop and monitor the analytic and reporting tools necessary to maintain an informed prospect pipeline that relates directly to the goals and targets, providing reports as needed for organizational leadership and campaign committees.
  • Staff campaign meetings, capture accurate minutes, and track action items and responsibilities.
  • Supervise volunteers, as applicable.

What the Director of Development Will Bring to This Position (Qualifications):

• Proven record of fundraising success, with measurable results securing major gifts from the business, individual, and foundation sectors.
• Experience building annual fund programs or similar.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities including ability to speak in public.
• Quick learning, results-oriented self-starter.
• Excellent written communication, research, and organizational skills with an ability to manage multiple concurrent timelines and projects.
• Innovative thinking and an eagerness to take on ambitious goals.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team, including with outside consultants.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with donor management software.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate hours based on campaign and fundraising event needs.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Benefits:

At COAST, we are all about people; both the people we transport and the people who work to support our mission. We believe in paying our employees well, offering benefits that take care of them and their families, and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and respected.

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage

  COAST offers an HMO plan (Access Blue New England) and two Site of Service (SOS) (Access Blue – Site of Service) plans through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Shared cost coverage is available at single, two-person, and family levels.

  Both the HMO and SOS plans include the same prescription and vision coverage. Costs for prescription medications will vary depending on how medication needs are filled (retail pharmacy vs. mail service pharmacy).

• Dental Coverage

  COAST offers dental coverage through Northeast Delta Dental. Employer-paid coverage is available at single, two-person, and family levels. In addition to dental coverage, Delta Dental also offers a vision discount program to subscribers and their dependents.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

  All full-time employees begin to earn PTO on their first day of work with COAST. PTO accrual is calculated on hours worked up to a maximum of 80 hours per pay period. The Director of Development will earn 26 days of PTO during their first year and earn an additional day every year after their employment anniversary, to a maximum of 42 days a year.

• Other Benefits
  • We require employees to enroll in shared cost short-term and long-term disability coverage, and in employer paid life insurance (a maximum $50,000 one-time benefit).
  • We offer the opportunity to participate in a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.
  • We offer Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits to all employees, members of their households, and their dependents.
  • All employees can participate in a SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees Individual Retirement Account). You can work with any certified financial planner to set up a plan, but it must be a SIMPLE IRA. COAST will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar up to 3% of your total annual salary.