Fire Foundation of Denver, Executive director
REPORTS TO: Board of Directors
The FIRE Foundation of Denver's mission is to provide children with special needs the opportunity for an inclusive Catholic education in their home parish schools.
FIRE serves as both a funder - raising money and providing grants to Catholic schools - and as an advocate for inclusive Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Denver.
The foundation's executive director will conduct its business and operations under the supervision of its board of directors and help to advance the mission of FIRE by taking a leadership role in fundraising events and other fundraising and grant opportunities, building awareness and support for FIRE among diverse stakeholders, and helping to organize the foundation's annual grant cycle and allocations.
While this role is not principally a development position, comfort with development/fundraising is a necessary component of the position.
Primary areas of responsibility will include:
- Leading FIRE as its chief executive and operating officer and to help form and implement its mission, vision, and values, taking direction from the FIRE board of directors through the President of the Board, and from certain board committee Chairpersons as to matters they facilitate.
- Taking a leadership role in the organization of annual fundraising events, including the annual BonFIRE gala and Christmas luncheon, and developing other fundraising initiatives and opportunities that meet or exceed budget targets.
- Supporting a dedicated and active FIRE Board of Directors. Helping the board president develop an agenda for board and committee meetings and use board time effectively.
- Engaging and energizing board committees, volunteers, participating schools and funders to ensure continued FIRE growth and success.
- Representing and acting as a spokesperson for FIRE at fundraisers, board events, and meetings with diocesan representatives and school administrators.
- Developing consistent and Catholic promotional materials, and a positive and mission-oriented social media/web presence.
- Overseeing the publication of FIRE's annual report which emphasizes FIRE's stewardship of its funds and its mission effectiveness
- Building collaborative relationships with archdiocesan, parish, educational, and disability advocacy leaders and community stakeholders.
- Assisting the board's development committee with major gift requests and other development initiatives. Optimize opportunities for continued financial support from established donors including individuals, foundations and corporations. Continually work to strengthen existing relationships.
- Organizing the annual cycle of grant applications, board decision-making, and grant distribution/follow-up.
- Supporting inclusive spiritual/catechetical/social/educational opportunities in the Archdiocese of Denver for people with disabilities, their families, and their peers.
- Collaborating with the board treasurer on budget planning and tracking.
- Assisting the board's executive committee in preparing for board meetings, and providing quarterly reports to the board on staff activity.
- Managing a donor database(little green light), processing donor gifts and preparing donor tax letters.
- Ensure that the mission of FIRE is realized through the successful and effective utilization of all of FIRE's resources, according to the strategic plan of the foundation.
Desired qualifications:
- Practicing Catholic with commitment to the Church's teaching on the dignity of the human person, and a commitment to the inclusion of people with significant disabilities in Catholic schools. Personal experience/relationships with people with disabilities a benefit.
- Professional experience in parish, school, or diocesan ministry, social service or disability advocacy work, or non-profit leadership.
- Fundraising, grant writing and other practical non-profit experience preferred. College degree of value but not necessary with appropriate experience; Master's degree in related field beneficial.
- Detail-oriented, with event-planning and project management experience.
- Strong leadership skills and ability to recruit, engage, and work through volunteers supportive of FIRE's mission.
- Organized, good with people, self-motivated, and communicative
- Ability to take initiative and manage multiple responsibilities in a non-profit startup culture.
- Applicant should be resourceful and creative with regard to seeking and pursuing new funding streams and facile with technology including social media communications.
Applications will be treated with appropriate confidentiality. To apply, send a resume, and a note telling us why you're committed to our mission - to board VP Jessica Johnson (jessneibauer@gmail.com) and board member JD Flynn (jdflynn@pillarcatholic.com)