Director of Mission Advancement

Director of Mission Advancement Job Description

Reports To: Executive Director

Chum is a non-profit 501 (C)3 organization that serves about 8000 low-income homeless hungry isolated and otherwise marginalized community members each year. More than 40 faith-based congregations in Duluth are part of Chum and support our core mission: people of faith working together to provide basic necessities foster stable lives and organize for a just and compassionate community.

The Director of Mission Advancement provides strategic leadership for Chums fundraising donor engagement communications advocacy and congregational outreach efforts. This role supports Chums mission by strengthening relationships advancing philanthropic support and ensuring consistent values-driven communication with donors partners and the broader community.

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develops implements and evaluates Chums Board-approved annual mission
  advancement plan to support organizational sustainability budget goals and the Strategic Plan.
• Works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to align fundraising communications and engagement strategies with Chums mission vision and values.
  
• Establishes clear priorities measurable goals and accountability structures to guide advancement initiatives and assess progress.
  

Fund Development & Donor Engagement

• Leads comprehensive fundraising efforts including annual giving major gifts grants special events planned giving and capital campaigns.
  
• Identifies researches cultivates solicits and stewards individual donors foundations congregations and community partners.
  
• Maintains and actively manages a portfolio of major donors ensuring meaningful engagement stewardship and long-term relationship building.
  
• Fosters a culture of generosity and professionalism among staff board members volunteers and supporters.
  

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Provides leadership and oversight to the Mission Advancement Team including staff
  working in donor engagement communications and marketing volunteer engagement advocacy congregational outreach and data management.
• Supports team members in developing annual strategies prioritizing workload tracking progress and achieving goals within their functional areas.
  
• Builds a collaborative respectful and mission-centered team culture grounded in trust accountability and continuous improvement.
  

Communications Advocacy & Organizational Growth

• Ensures Chums mission vision and impact are communicated clearly and consistently to donors congregations community partners and the broader public.
  
• Represents Chum at civic congregational and community events maintaining visibility and accessibility for donor and partner engagement.
  
• Supports advocacy efforts and systems-level change related to homelessness poverty and marginalization.
  
• Provides leadership and strategic support for capital campaigns and major fundraising initiatives in partnership with the Executive Director Board of Directors and Campaign Committee.
  

Financial Oversight & Data Integrity

• Oversees reconciliation of revenue generated through fundraising activities with financial reports working collaboratively with finance staff.
  
• Ensures the accuracy integrity confidentiality and timeliness of donor records
  acknowledgments and reports.
• Maintains compliance with organizational policies ethical fundraising standards and reporting requirements for grants and fundraising initiatives.
  

Physical Demands:
This position requires the ability to remain stationary for extended periods and to move throughout office and program spaces to access materials and engage with staff and community members. Regular use of a computer and other standard office equipment is required. Occasional physical activity includes ascending and descending stairs positioning oneself to maintain files or obtain supplies and lifting or moving materials weighing up to 25 pounds. The role requires the ability to communicate clearly and effectively observe details at close range and respond to a variety of practical work-related situations

Work Environment:

The Director of Mission Advancement primarily works from an established office location with regular travel to congregational donor and community sites. Occasional remote work may be available with supervisory approval. The work environment is generally moderate in noise level with occasional periods of increased activity related to events meetings or community engagement. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required; masters degree preferred.
  
• Minimum of ten years of experience preferred. Previous experience in fund development or mission advancement including major gift cultivation and stewardship is required.
  
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising activities such as annual giving special events grant writing planned giving and capital campaigns.
  
• Proven ability to engage community leaders and inspire financial and volunteer support across diverse audiences.
  
• Experience working collaboratively with boards executive leadership committees and volunteers.
  
• Strong commitment to equity justice and serving marginalized populations with an understanding of historic and contemporary forms of marginalization
  

• Language Skills: Ability to read analyze and interpret professional periodicals and governmental regulations. Ability to write proposals reports and general business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from funders.
  
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add subtract multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate ratio and percent and to draw and interpret graphs for reports. Proficiency in Excel. Ability to construct budgets and financial reports required for institutional fundraising.
  
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written oral diagram or schedule form.
  
• Other Skills and Abilities: Self-motivation; must be flexible adaptable and resourceful.
  

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  
• Paid Holidays 2 Floating Holidays
  
• Bereavement Leave (3 days)
  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  
• Financial Support of Job-Related Educational Opportunities
  
• 403b Retirement Account
  
• Dental & Life
  
• Health Insurance with employee AND dependent premiums paid 100% by employer
  
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
  
• Mandatory Benefits as defined by law