Corporate Relations- Development Officer

SMART Reading, the State's largest volunteer-based nonprofit literacy organization, is looking for an energetic, creative and experienced fundraising professional to join our development team based in Portland.  

When you join SMART Reading, you join a team that shares your commitment to making this important work happen. Your position on the Statewide Development Team will focus on corporate donors-cultivating and stewarding current supporters as well as generating and developing relationships with new donors. You'll also be the point person for our annual statewide fundraising event and will maintain a portfolio of businesses and corporate foundations. 

The ideal candidate will have a zest for meeting with people, a passion for creatively matching donor interests with organization needs, and energy and drive to meet fundraising goals. You will be meeting in person with groups of employees from local businesses who volunteer at SMART's Book Bank warehouse and expanding those relationships.  You will be a key member of our team to establish and develop relationships with corporate partners. 

If that's you, here's what we can offer:

• An important mission and purpose that affects the lives of kids throughout Oregon. SMART Reading engages volunteers to strengthen literacy skills and encourage a love of reading with newborns through 13-year-old students by reading one-on-one with students and restoring used children's books.
• A team of equally committed, passionate, and dedicated  individuals;
• Maximum time "in the field" - to engage people in our work;
• An opportunity to put your creativity and ideas to good use (We've got great systems but we're always interested in improvement.);
• Supportive and caring team;
• An organizational culture that values team, plays to the strengths of its members, works to advance equity, inclusion, and be an anti-racist force in the community, and is tirelessly devoted to serving "our kids" well;
• A salary in the range of approximately $60-$65K with a generous benefits package.

Position Summary: This position is a member of a multi-person team responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors to SMART Reading. The primary responsibilities of this position are:

1. To develop corporate donors and prospective donors, 

2. Grant writing (corporate and corporate foundations)

3. Fundraising event management. 

Here are the "must have" requirements of our ideal candidate:

• Four years of development experience, with individuals and corporations
• Knowledge of corporate giving practices, donor cultivation
• Ability to work from the Children's Book Bank* in person at least twice a week
• Demonstrated experience and high comfort level with sales work, public speaking, and presentations
• Event planning and management experience
• Personal character, which guides the ethical practice of your work
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills
• A high degree of personal accountability
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Google products

Bonus skills (preferred but not required):

• Bachelor's degree 
• 7 years of development experience
• Experience with Raiser's Edge 
• 5 years of Non-Profit fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success in corporate fundraising and managing a large portfolio of business donors

Application Process: Please submit a resume and cover letter that tells us the following:

1. How you meet our ideal candidate based on the requirements outlined above;

2. Your experience and commitment to equity; 

3. Whether you have the bonus skills outlined above; and 

4. Your ability to work from the metro Portland office at least twice a week.

This position will remain open until filled but to be considered for the first round of interviews, please apply by February 11, 2024. Hired candidate has the option of a hybrid working in person and home-based (if the candidate prefers to work remotely part of the week). 

Selected applicants will be invited to move forward to both virtual and in-person interviews. For our finalist, we will ask for 3 professional references, preferably from previous employers and begin the background after notifying the applicant of our intent. In addition, we will want to verify employment history. In addition, the hired candidate must be able to travel to the Book Bank warehouse and businesses. 

Important Note: People of color, people living with disabilities, veterans, and individuals from marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled but will place priority on applications received by the end of the day, February 11th. 

The position is currently vacant and we would like to have the selected candidate begin as soon as possible.

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Salary: $60,000 to $64,000 annually
• Cafe Benefit: $100 monthly (additional $1,200 annually)
• Cell Phone Reimbursement: $50 monthly (additional $600 annually)
• 401k Retirement: Employer match of up to 3% of your salary
• Paid Time Off/Vacation: PTO is accumulated biweekly totaling four weeks annually
• Office Closures: Two paid weeks off, one in July and the second in December for employee rest and rejuvenation time. 
• Employer-paid Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and LTD are 100% covered for the employee. 
• Paid Holidays: Nine paid holidays that can be used on scheduled holidays or used according to personal beliefs and obligations. Paid Supplemental OFLA Medical Leave: Cumulated biweekly totalling two weeks annually and carried over to earn up to eight weeks. 

A full benefit package outline will be provided if selected to interview.  

SMART's Commitment to Equity: As an early literacy program focused on helping children succeed with reading and learning, SMART  can't ignore that deep racial, cultural, social, and economic inequities in our country and state make it harder for some children to succeed compared to others. SMART's vision is an Oregon in which every child can read and is empowered to succeed, and we are making equity a top priority. As part of this,  we particularly seek staff members, volunteers, and board members whose personal or professional background gives them a unique perspective to further SMART's work in serving children of color and children from other marginalized groups.

To learn more about SMART Reading, please visit www.smartreading.org