Director of Development and Communication

WESTERVILLE AREA RESOURCE MINISTRY
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Director of Development and Communications
DEPARTMENT: Development and Communications DATE: May 6, 2025
REPORTS TO: Executive Director FLSA STATUS: Exempt

Primary Objective:
The Director of Development and Communications is a senior leadership role at WARM, responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive fundraising and communications strategy to support our mission of serving families, seniors, and children facing food insecurity. The Director will lead all institutional giving efforts, develop meaningful relationships with donors and funders, and tell the WARM story through powerful, heart-centered communication strategies. This includes identifying new foundation and corporate prospects, overseeing donor engagement strategies, and utilizing data and storytelling to sustain and grow WARM’s impact.

Nature and Scope:
Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the Leadership Team, this role collaborates with WARM staff, Board members, church and community leaders, local businesses, and philanthropic institutions. The Director oversees all fundraising operations, philanthropic giving, and communications strategies while utilizing key donor database systems, including DonorPerfect and DonorSearch.

This is a full-time salaried position, working 40 hours per week, with some evening and weekend commitments for event coordination. Hours may fluctuate based on event schedules and planning timelines. The Director will manage a team of three or more employees, interns and/or volunteers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Program Development & Management (35%)

• Design and implement an integrated development plan focused on institutional and philanthropic giving, aligned with WARM’s hunger-relief mission and strategic goals.
• Identify and pursue new philanthropic opportunities from individuals, local churches, foundations, corporations, and grant funding.
• Establish solicitation priorities, targeted engagement strategies, and manage relationships for key funders.
• Leverage DonorPerfect and DonorSearch to track donor activity, analyze giving trends, and identify prospective supporters.
• Plan and execute fundraising events, third-party drives, and donor campaigns that highlight WARM’s impact in the community.
• Develop benchmarks to evaluate fundraising performance, ensuring accurate, timely progress reporting.
• Supervise staff and work with volunteers to ensure WARM revenue development events and related initiatives are executed to optimal success within current resources.
• Oversee events to ensure corporate sponsorship goals are met including prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation of new sponsorships along with stewardship of current sponsors.
• Manage the development program budget and collaborate with the Executive Director to plan and set the annual fundraising budget for each fiscal year.

2. Relationship Management & Reporting (35%)

• Cultivate, steward, and grow relationships with donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic partners.
• Coordinate donor meetings and site visits that connect donors to WARM’s programs and clients.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board to support and guide solicitation efforts.
• Write compelling proposals, stewardship reports, and grant submissions tailored to individual donors.
• Work with WARM’s Board of Directors to deepen relationships, manage the Board’s Development Engagement team, attend Board Meetings to provide fundraising updates, and solicit and facilitate individual and corporate donations from Board Members.
• Work with the Database coordinator to generate regular fundraising performance reports and donor dashboards for leadership, the Board, and key stakeholders.
• Align fundraising communications with WARM’s program data and mission priorities.

3. Communications (30%)

• Lead and manage all aspects of WARM’s communications strategy, ensuring consistency across digital, print, and in-person messaging.
• Oversee the design and content of all communications, including newsletters, email campaigns, social media, press releases, and fundraising appeals.
• Ensure the department develops powerful stories of impact through written and video-based storytelling that illustrate WARM’s mission and client success.
• Highlight the experiences of clients, volunteers, and community partners.
• Disseminate messaging across WARM’s website and social media platforms to raise visibility and deepen donor engagement.
• Serve as media spokesperson and coordinate with local television and radio outlets to promote WARM’s work.
• Collaborate with program staff to source stories, testimonials, and visual assets that bring WARM’s mission to life.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, fundraising, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years, prefer 5+ years of experience in nonprofit development and communications.
• Demonstrated success in securing grants, philanthropic and major gifts, and corporate sponsorships.
• Strong writing, public speaking, and visual storytelling skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines with creativity and excellence.
• Experience producing and distributing video content via social and web platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital communication tools (e.g., Canva, Constant Contact).

Preferred Qualifications:

• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification.
• Proficiency with DonorPerfect and DonorSearch systems.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Central Ohio chapter.
• Experience working with food pantries or faith-based nonprofit organizations.
• Past experience overseeing a development and/or communications team.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• Combination of office-based, warehouse, and on-site duties with occasional off-site donor visits and event participation.
• Evening and weekend hours required during peak fundraising events, community activities and donor engagement opportunities.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds for event or drive setup.
• Daily use of computer systems, donor management software, and visual storytelling tools.
  Equal Opportunity Statement
  WARM is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our mission to serve others with dignity, compassion, and neighborly love.

Benefits:
As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Dental Insurance: Provided under WARM’s group PPO through Principal
• Vision Insurance: Coverage through Principal
• Group Term Life Insurance – Employee: Term Life Insurance
• Group Term Life Insurance – Employee: Accidental Death & Disability

Eligible to participate in WARM’s Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) plan, as detailed in the plan’s guidelines.

Eligible for Paid Time Off (PTO), accrued in accordance with WARM’s PTO policy.

Important Instruction for Applicants:

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

Ben Jay
Executive Director No phone calls.
WARM
150 Heatherdown Drive
Westerville, Ohio 43081

OR via email at [email protected]

We welcome all applicants to showcase how their experience, skills, and passion align with this role. If you have a background in event planning, fundraising, volunteer management or community relations, highlight those strengths. If you are detail-oriented, highly organized, and eager to contribute to a mission-driven organization, this is a great opportunity to grow in a meaningful career. Show us your enthusiasm, problem-solving mindset, and ability to support a fast-paced nonprofit—your unique qualities matter!