Development Director

Kansas City Community Gardens

Kansas City Community Gardens is seeking an experienced full-time Development Director to assist the Board of Directors and the Executive Director in leading KCCG’s resource development efforts. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing a development staff of 2-3 part-time persons and raising operating funds totaling $1.2 million each year to support KCCG’s programs: Community Partner Gardens, Schoolyard Gardens, Self-Help (home) Gardens, the Giving Grove (community orchards) and the Beanstalk Children’s Garden.

Desired Qualifications:

  • 5-7 years’ experience in the Development profession; CFRE preferred, with demonstrated success in raising 5 and 6 figure gifts from foundation, government, corporate, and/or individual sources.
  • Experience with writing grant proposals and funding requests.
  • Experience with preparing grant budgets and grant reports.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
  • Dedication to KCCG’s mission to assist low-income households and community groups in the Kansas City metropolitan area to produce vegetables and fruit from garden plots located in backyards, vacant lots, and at community sites.
  • Some supervisory experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of local and national health, human services, and environmental funders highly desirable.
  • Some financial training or management experience highly desirable.
  • A full range of fundraising skills, including prospect research, grant writing, major gifts moves management, donor stewardship, board development, and knowledge of volunteer recruitment and management highly desirable.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy and Management:

  • Responsible for overseeing fundraising for KCCG’s annual operating budget of approximately $1.2 million and for capital funds as needed.
  • Supervise KCCG’s Donor Relations Associate, Grant Writer, and Volunteer Coordinator, and coordinate with Giving Grove development staff to secure program funding.
  • Work with Executive Director and Grant Writer to identify, draft and submit fundraising requests and reports to KCCG’s foundation, government, corporate, and individual donors.
  • Work with Executive Director to develop and present annual budgets for approval to the Development Committee.
  • Serve as liaison with KCCG’s Development Committee
  • Conduct ongoing board and staff training in development-related topics as needed and ongoing recruitment for KCCG Development Committee members
  • Establish a new “Friends of KCCG” committee tasked with supporting KCCG’s event planning and resource development efforts.
  • Maintain ongoing schedule of funding and reporting deadlines.
  • Research and prioritize new funding opportunities.

Event Planning:

  • Lead planning and communications for KCCG’s Special Events, including “The Gardens at Sunset” and “Holidays in Crestwood.”
  • Convene Events Committee staff, board, and volunteer members; maintain schedule of regular Events Committee meetings, select event theme, secure sponsorships and silent auction items, recruit volunteers, and oversee event programming.

Reports to:

Executive Director

Availability:

Monday-Friday 40 hours per week with occasional evening and Saturday availability

Benefits include:

Generous paid time off

Flexible schedule and work environment

Paid health care

Simple IRA retirement plan

To Apply:

Please send salary requirements and a writing sample, along with cover letter and resume, to Kathy Jenkins Hart at . For more information about KCCG, please visit