Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children – He Sapa is seeking an exceptional Professional Development Director to join our team.  Are you flexible and ready to take on a wide range of Development support tasks?  Is working for an organization that inspires you a critical aspect of your job search?  We may have the perfect career for you.

Our model is proven to break the cycle of generational poverty for Wakanyeja (children) who face the most barriers by providing professional mentors to thousands of youth across the country.

FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN – HE SAPA VALUES

Our values guide us to achieve our mission. Each value applies not only to our youth, Friends, and program teams, but also applies to all Friends of the Children employees, volunteers, and partners. We use our values to make informed decisions; to hire, coach, and manage; and most importantly, we use our values to change the way the world treats and views our most vulnerable youth.

 LAKOTA VALUES

The Lakota values guide us in achieving our mission at Friends of the Children – He Sapa. Using these values as a basis for decision-making can pave the way in which we live our lives, providing balance and meaning. These values guide us in teaching the Wakanyeja (children) appropriate, healthy ways to interact with the world around them. The most effective methods for teaching these values are by example. By instilling traditional values in our families and communities, we can promote wellness in our children and future generations.

• WOWAČÍŊTAŊKA (Fortitude) can be seen as the inner strength or inner fire that allows an individual to persevere in the face of adversity.
• WÓKSAPE (Wisdom) is the ability to make the right decision not just for self, but for tiwahe (family), tiospaye (extended family), and oyate (community/people).
• WOÓHITIKA (Courage) is the willingness to put oneself in harm’s way to protect family and community or to advance a higher cause or purpose.
• WAČÁŊTOGNAKA (Generosity) is giving possessions, time, and energy to others so that they may prosper.
• WAYUNIHAN (Honor) is characterized by integrity and honest character – one who can be trusted.
• WAÓHOLA (Respect) is understanding the importance of all creation, including oyate (people), Wamakaskan (animals), and Unci Maka (grandmother earth).
• WOWAHWALA (Humility) is the core value—understanding that the values and gifts given to us by our creator are not only for personal gains. Our purpose is to protect, heal, and advance our communities for the benefit of future generations.

 PUT CHILDREN FIRST

We intentionally serve youth who are facing the greatest obstacles. To help our youth discover their limitless potential, we foster their internal resiliency. We listen to our youth and base decisions on each youth's needs and dreams. We prioritize self-care so that we bring our best selves to our work and focus on our youth.

 BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON LOVE

We nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love and acceptance. Our practice is rooted in the wisdom of communities, tailoring support to honor each youth’s unique identity and shared heritage. We don’t give up easily and take a no matter what approach to our work. We intentionally develop collaborative relationships over time with trust, empathy, and healthy communication. We build community through one-on-one connections that are authentic, respectful, and meaningful.

 COMMIT TO EMPOWERMENT

We leverage personal strengths to take ownership of our futures. We build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities. We consistently inspire possibility through empathy, hard work, and a sense of fun. We model all of this for our youth, families, and each other.

 PURSUE GOALS RELENTLESSLY

We celebrate all achievements, big and small. We are disciplined in our commitment to goals, while innovative in how we reach them. We believe that the definition of success requires intentional reflection and adjustment over time. We work together and hold ourselves accountable using data to achieve both short-term and long-term outcomes.

 UNLOCK ALL POTENTIAL

We believe everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential, because where you start shouldn’t decide how far you go. We advocate to ensure every child, regardless of historical and present challenges, has the resources, support, and voice needed to thrive. We amplify and listen to the hopes and dreams of the children, families, and communities we serve. We harness different perspectives to overcome barriers and drive measurable change for every child. Together, we work to challenge and remove obstacles so potential isn’t limited by any circumstance.

 Basic Function / Position Objective:  

Our Development Director will be instrumental in accomplishing the fundraising goals of the chapter. They will work alongside our Executive Director (ED), the Board of Directors, with support from our staff and Friends, and in coordination with the rest of the Friends National network, to actualize the organization’s fiscal goals and values.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Passion for serving youth facing the most challenging situations  
• Work effectively – with the ED, Board, and independently- to identify and cultivate donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Support the ED and Board of Directors in revising and implementing a development plan, systems, and strategies as necessary to advance our fundraising efforts to the next level.
• Perform prospect research on individuals, corporations, and foundations, and evaluate prospects for corporate and foundation grants.
• Demonstrate and create processes for showing gratitude in timely, appropriate, and delightful ways
• Actively participate in aspects of planning, budgeting, and managing the growth and development of the organization through philanthropy.
• In partnership with the team, plan and implement a minimum of two successful events each year.
• Excellent organization, time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.
• Coordinate with ED and board on revenue targets and achievements 
• Plan and execute special funding opportunities (end-of-year appeal, Annual Report, etc.)
• Collaborate with OD on a basic communications plan that will focus on educating and raising visibility for donors and prospects. This should include social media channels and electronic newsletters.
• Familiarity with state, local, and national philanthropic, governmental, and business communities.
• Ability to research, prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals and reports
• Collaborate with grant writers to ensure grant deadlines are met ahead of schedule, allowing for contingency plans in case of unexpected delays or digital failures.
• Make, and in some cases attend, appointments with/for ED with foundation officers and other prospects, and arrange for onsite tours for supporters (foundation officers, foundation trustees)
• Prepare and facilitate timely, specific, and relevant materials for development meetings and conversations.
• Identify and utilize creative methods for gathering stories from Friends to be shared as appropriate.
• Strive to ensure that the organization’s commitment to equity is reflected in all decisions, communications, and processes.  

 Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Be willing and able to attend and actively participate in team meetings, staff functions, and development events
• Possess commitment to extreme attention to detail, including but not limited to the ability to implement self-checking procedures for data entry, produce accurate correspondence and reports, and produce and edit written materials accurately and consistently.
• Have excellent project management and organizational skills to routinely manage and prioritize daily work and meet multiple deadlines simultaneously, especially during high-volume times of the year
• Demonstrate ability to work independently as well as in a team setting
• Have a passion for serving youth facing the most challenging situations
• Be a self-starter with a high level of initiative and willingness to learn

• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Be social media savvy

 Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree or 7 years of equivalent experience required
• Provide specific evidence of success in fundraising

 Preferred Experience and Abilities:

• Two to three years of professional experience in sales and/or fundraising is desired.

Additional qualifications:

• Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years
• Connection/Experience with Indigenous culture and lifeways
• Advocate to secure additional resources, opportunities, and services for youth as appropriate
• Basic knowledge of Indigenous historical trauma and trauma/healing-informed practices
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work respectfully with sovereign tribal nations, tribal departments, and tribal communities
• Ability to develop trusting relationships with children, families, teachers, and others involved in each  child’s life
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• A sense of humor is a plus

 SALARY RANGE:

•  $80,000 to 85,000  annually  

 BENEFITS:

• 3 weeks paid vacation. Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and long-term disability. 401k with 3% match.

 PROFESSIONAL LEVEL:

• Professional

 Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

•  Bachelor’s degree or 7 years of equivalent experience required
•  Provide specific evidence of success in fundraising

Preferred Experience and Abilities:

• Two to three years of professional experience in fundraising.

Report to: 

• Executive Director and the Board of Directors

Offices will be located in Rapid City

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want to be the Development Director for the He Sapa chapter at Friends of the Children!

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

To know more about Friends of the Children go to: www.friendsofthechildren.org  

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.