Vice President, Development Campaigns & Strategic Initiatives

Vice President, Development Campaigns & Strategic Initiatives

WHO WE ARE
Christel House International (CHI) is a global education network serving more than 6,000 students from under resourced communities in India, Jamaica, Mexico, South Africa, and the US (Indianapolis). Our vision is for our students to break the cycle of poverty. Our goal is that they will achieve upward economic mobility, become good citizens, and identify and realize their goals, dreams, and human potential. To achieve this goal, the Christel House model is holistic, purposefully integrating academics, leadership and character development, health & social services, and college & careers. In recognition of the critical role our students’ parents and caregivers play, Christel House provides intentional programming to support and partner with them. Students begin their Christel House journey as early as pre-Kindergarten (in some locations) and continue through high school. Once they graduate, Christel House alumni are actively supported in our College & Careers program for five years to best empower them to achieve their individual goals and aspirations.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We are unwavering in the belief that our students’ potential is not limited by their experience with poverty. By providing them with the right interventions, connecting them to empowering opportunities, and intentionally developing their sense of agency and self-efficacy, we equip our students with the skills and knowledge to pursue and achieve their goals and aspirations. Christel House graduates are prepared to take a seat at the table of life.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
At Christel House, we have embarked on an ambitious 5-year strategic plan to expand our global footprint. The focus of this position is to implement a strategic fundraising campaign that supports the strategic plan with an emphasis on raising funds to build five new schools in the next five years in the countries we currently operate   in and in new countries. The campaign includes a new organizational focus on raising funds from diaspora donors living in the United States who are from the countries we serve. This position offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced and strategic fundraising professional to lead a high-impact campaign and make a lasting difference in the communities we serve globally. The Vice President, Development Campaigns and Strategic Initiatives plays a pivotal role in spearheading the success of the Christel House’s multi-year strategic fundraising campaign and leading future strategic fundraising initiatives. This is a long-term, frontline fundraising position at Christel House, and the successful candidate will leverage prior fundraising campaign expertise both to provide overarching campaign guidance and directly solicit gifts, manage day-to-day campaign operations, and drive donor engagement efforts to secure financial support. Reporting to the SVP of Development, this leader will work closely Christel House’s EVP, a campaign Advisory Board yet to be named, and Christel House Development staff.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Campaign Planning and Execution:
Implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy tailored to the campaign's objectives and financial targets to fund new global schools.
Map project milestones and campaign timelines in collaboration with senior leadership.
Help build and engage a “kitchen cabinet” Advisory Board, serving as their primary point of contact throughout the campaign.
2. Campaign Management and Oversight:
Direct the day-to-day management of the campaign, overseeing fundraising activities and outreach initiatives. This includes providing direction to senior leaders and frontline fundraisers in fundraising pursuits that include prospecting new donor leads and writing tailored proposals and pitches.
Monitor campaign progress, analyze fundraising data, and adjust strategies as needed to optimize donor engagement and revenue generation.
Provide ongoing guidance to ensure alignment with campaign goals and performance metrics.

3. Donor Solicitation
Develop personalized cultivation plans and directly solicit select donor prospects to secure significant gifts and
commitments in support of the campaign.

4. Donor Event Planning & Execution
Plan and execute small fundraising gatherings throughout the US in key cities where diaspora prospects live.
Coordinate donor recognition opportunities and stewardship activities to foster long-term donor relationships.

5. Communication and Reporting:
Design and update campaign materials, presentations, and donor proposals to articulate fundraising priorities
and showcase funding opportunities.
Provide regular updates, progress reports, and financial analysis to internal stakeholders, board members, and
campaign volunteers.

6. Other Projects
Execute other strategic fundraising projects or initiatives to be defined and independent of the strategic
fundraising campaign.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, fundraising, business administration, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in capital campaign fundraising, major gifts solicitation, or development
leadership roles.
• Demonstrated track record of success in securing major gifts, grants, and pledges for capital projects or similar fundraising initiatives.
• Strong leadership abilities with the capacity to inspire, motivate, and mobilize stakeholders towards common
fundraising objectives.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, public speaking, and relationship-building, with the ability to engage and inspire donors and volunteers.
• Proficiency in fundraising software, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to ethical fundraising practices, donor confidentiality, and compliance with relevant regulations
and standards.

Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter, to Ana Paula Buzo at abuzo@christelhouse.org

Christel House is an equal-opportunity employer. It is important to us that all staff members have a place of employment that is free of discrimination of all kinds and where staff can bring their authentic selves to work. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran, or military status.

Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter, to Ana Paula Buzo at abuzo@christelhouse.org