Railroad Street Youth Project | Director of Development | Great Barrington, MA
About Railroad Street Youth Project
Based in the beautiful Berkshires, Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is a pioneering, youth-founded organization dedicated to empowering young people. RSYP provides a safe and supportive environment where youth take the lead, developing and implementing projects that address their unique needs and interests. With a mission to empower young people by supporting youth-inspired projects that promote responsibility, self-worth, and intergenerational communication, RSYP and its 16 dedicated staff members offer a wide range of programs designed to provide youth with a rooted launching point from which to build confidence, explore their full potential, and successfully navigate the challenging transition to adulthood. Unmatched in mission and scope, RSYP excels in helping youth find their voice and realize the benefits of their commitment to themselves and their community.
Founded in 1999, RSYP began with a small office on Railroad Street in Great Barrington and a $2,500 gift from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. In their early years, the team created over 100 youth-inspired projects, workshops, performances, and publications – thanks to partnerships with dozens of businesses, artists, and other non-profits in the community.
Today, RSYP is a dynamic non-profit organization with a $1.4 million annual operating budget. It continues to help young people bring their ideas and inspirations to fruition, to discover their place in the world, and make a positive impact on their community. Services and programs continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of local young people. RSYP’s Youth Operational Board meets regularly to manage and fund youth-led projects, fostering leadership and decision-making skills. RSYP also runs ongoing mentoring and apprenticeship programs, provides sexual health programming in the local schools, offers job training and career counseling, and operates an active drop-in center that provides counseling, mediation, referrals, and advocacy services for young people in need. Community events, such as the Annual Culinary Arts Dinner, showcase young talent and raise vital funds for programs.
For more information about Railroad Street Youth Project, please visit https://www.rsyp.org/
About Philanthropy at Railroad Street Youth Project
RSYP has a robust history of securing state funding, grants, and local business support, as well as county and local foundation funds and gifts from Board members and individual donors. With an annual goal to raise approximately $1.4 million, including $500,000 in individual and event giving, RSYP’s fiscal year runs from August 31 to September 1.
At RSYP, philanthropy is driven by demonstrable impact in the Berkshires community – the ability for the organization to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people. Recently, the strength of RSYP’s fundraising was demonstrated by donor behavior during the pandemic. At a time when many non-profit organizations were struggling, RSYP supporters truly stepped up. Longstanding annual and major gift donors ($1,000+) continue to contribute and the organization’s ability to secure both new donors and recapture past donors is a point of pride.
The team has been particularly effective in engaging their dedicated Board of Directors, which includes 14 members who bring deep passion, skills, and a variety of expertise. RSYP also hosted a very successful Annual Culinary Arts Dinner in May, raising over $165,000.
With a loyal and supportive community that values innovation and social justice, the approach of the organization’s momentous 25th Anniversary, and a robust database that contains many prospects with high capacity and inclination, RSYP fundraising is poised growth.
About the Position
As a member of RSYP’s 5-person Leadership Team, the Development Director (DD) will serve as a strategic organization-wide leader. This role is crucial to ensuring RSYP’s sustainable growth and requires focus on both near-term and long-term objectives.
The DD will design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, as well as support the Executive Director (to whom they will report) in the development and implementation of strategic fundraising goals and activities to advance the organization’s powerful mission. They will lead fundraising efforts, manage major gifts and donor relations, plan and oversee key events, provide grants oversight, co-lead communications efforts to shape consistent, mission-centric messaging and build awareness, and foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
The DD will supervise a Development Associate in day-to-day activities, work closely with a contracted grant writer to maximize institutional giving opportunities, and collaborate with the Development Committee and Board to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
• Create and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including an annual development plan and calendar.
• Collaborate closely with Executive Director and Leadership Team to ensure consistent messaging and the prioritization of fundraising.
• Provide support and coordination to Development Committee and Board of Directors as a whole.
Major Gifts and Donor Relations
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with major donors and business partners, ensuring sustained and increased support.
• Drive an annual appeal strategy that includes two mailings.
• Oversee new-prospect identification and prospect research, including leveraging Board networks.
• Develop a renewed Major Donor Program in preparation for the 25th Anniversary.
Event Management
• Oversee planning and execution of fundraising events, including the Annual Culinary Arts dinner.
• Manage Event Committee, identify and solicit sponsors, and oversee marketing and ticket sales.
• Explore opportunities around 4-8 Board-hosted small cultivation events.
Grant Oversight
• Provide leadership and oversight for grant writing program including research, narrative strategy, and editing.
Communications
• Shape mission-centered messaging across all platforms in partnership with the Leadership Team to effectively inspire donors and strengthen brand awareness throughout the community.
• Create concepts and manage design process and distribution of annual report and e-newsletters.
Team Collaboration
• Supervise, mentor, and support the Development Associate.
• Support a contracted grant writer with strategy and to review of applications, deadlines, and opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, embodying RSYP’s values in all activities and fundraising efforts
Key Qualifications
• Genuine interest in RSYP’s mission and ability to articulate a compelling case for support.
• 5+ years of non-profit fundraising experience, including familiarity with raising annual funds, major gifts, and event fundraising.
• Successful track record of securing 5-figure+ giving.
• Cultural competency skills and experience working across social differences including, age, race, socio-economic, gender, sexuality, and ability.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and writing skills. Comfort interacting with board members, donors, staff, and constituents.
• Ability to utilize an empowerment-based approach in messaging and development work.
• Experience with donor database software, as well as Microsoft office suite and Google calendar. Adobe Creative Suite a plus.
• Comfort/experience utilizing social media across platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
• Leadership and management experience preferred, with a strong preference for those demonstrating a facilitative approach working with a team.
RSYP is an equal opportunity employer. People who identify as working class, people of color, women, genderqueer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and differently abled are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation: The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $95,000 annually, commensurate with skills and experience. Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation time, holidays and sick time, housing/relocation support, and RSYP’s Berkshire experience benefits package.
To express interest, please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence here:https://apptrkr.com/5338751. Successful candidates will highlight the following criteria in their materials: passion for RSYP’s unique mission, 5-figure giving experience, and cultural competency skills.
For more information, please visit www.developmentguild.com.
