Director of Development

At New Avenues for Youth, we believe that every youth is valuable and that, with proper support and opportunities, homeless youth can take control of their lives, leave the streets, and become stable adults. To achieve this we focus on four key areas to ensure homeless youth have the appropriate resources and support at every stage of their development: Early Intervention and Prevention, Outreach and Engagement, Stabilization, and Skill building. Our services include clinically-based street outreach, a day services center, counseling and clinical case management, a nationally recognized and award winning alternative school, transitional housing and independent living, and job training, which includes a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream scoop shop offering employment opportunities for our youth.

New Avenues employs 65 full and part-time employees working in several downtown Portland locations that serve over 1,200 homeless and at-risk youth annually. Our management team includes a diverse array of credentialed professionals with extensive experience working with at-risk youth. Our annual $3.2 million budget is supported by a wide range of government, foundation and corporate funding sources, revenue derived from annual appeals, and two high profile special events, including the Classic Wines Auction, one of the nations largest and most successful charity wine auctions. New Avenues’ endowment and board reserve total approximately $4 million.

The New Avenues governing board includes highly respected corporate leaders, professionals and community volunteers who are well known in the community for their dedication to fundraising. The organization raises approximately one-third of its annual revenue, or $1 million annually, through a highly effective and proven development department that includes a Development Director, Special Events Coordinator, grants writer, volunteers, and administrative assistant. New Avenues’ Executive Director is fully involved in fund raising efforts and has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, programming and fund development.

Position Overview The Development Director will drive success in development, leverage new and existing partnerships, and help the organization to achieve its mission. This person will be a part of the New Avenues management leadership team, and will work closely with the board of directors in managing a diverse array of fund raising efforts. He/she will also work with the organization’s ambassador board, a volunteer group of young professionals, to develop and implement a broad array of awareness and fund raising activities to support the organization’s mission. He/she will also be involved in strategic planning, government grant research, grant writing, donor development and stewardship, media relations/marketing, volunteer management, community events and outreach, and planned giving. New Avenues is currently engaged in a $5.5 million capital campaign to purchase a new facility. $3.7 million has been raised to date. The campaign is scheduled for completion in December 2009.

Duties -Lead the creation of a fundraising strategy and manage fundraising budgets. -Work in close partnership with the Executive Director, and Board to oversee all aspects of execution of the fundraising plan, including stewardship and growth of individual, corporate, government, and foundation donors; effectively manage donor database. -Work with the Executive Director, Associate Director, and others to research, identify, and cultivate new foundation, individual, and corporate funders. As appropriate, participate in in-person cultivation and solicitation meetings with Executive Director and Board members. -Develop and implement effective appeals (both written and online); broaden New Avenues pool of individual donors. -Develop and manage new and existing foundation relationships; write effective and successful grant proposals and ensure exceptional and timely grant reporting and communications. -Promote New Avenues and support fundraising objectives through the effective design and coordination of major special events, including Classic Wines Auction and Legends of Comedy; recruit and manage event committees and complex logistics. -Create and manage new and existing corporate partnerships to enhance fundraising and in-kind donations, including building systematic communications structures. -Engage local supporters in initiatives that will gain media attention, enhance public relations, and/or build New Avenues’ brand. -Oversee website content and marketing materials. -Ensure strong organizational representation in relevant local forums in order to increase visibility.