Development and Stewardship Manager

The Challenge

Working together, we at Barth Syndrome Foundation (BSF) are making a difference in the lives of children and their families living with Barth syndrome - an ultra-rare, life-threatening genetic condition affecting just 130 children and young adults in the U.S., and approximately 300 globally. One day there will be a cure; until then we hope you will help us garner the necessary support to successfully execute on our mission: Saving lives through education, advances in treatment, and finding a cure for Barth syndrome. Historically, a majority of affected individuals living with Barth syndrome died of heart failure (cardiomyopathy) or infection (neutropenia) by five years of age. Through efforts coordinated by BSF’s Family Services arm, improvements in diagnosis, appropriate medical treatment, and monitoring of symptoms have led to increased survival rates, yet extreme unmet medical need persists throughout the population. In order to meet the needs and challenges faced by our community of affected individuals, BSF’s Research and Development Program is driven to advance treatments, foster collaborative research, and the scientific ambassadors set to engage the partners essential to achieve our vision of a world in which Barth syndrome no longer causes suffering or loss of life. Since 2002, BSF has awarded 120 research grants totaling $5.85 million USD to 52 institutions around the world, while catalyzing an additional $33 million USD in funding from other agencies towards achieving our mission. Importantly, two clinical trials (one in the US and another in the UK) now have been conducted for possible treatments for our disease, and we await the results. The Barth Syndrome Foundation has been cited as a leader amongst rare disease groups in many ways.  Recognizing synergies between potential industry collaborators and academic early-stage work, we partner across stakeholders in the life sciences to advance a strategic research and development program and advocate for access to therapies with regulatory bodies. All of these ambitions require an infusion of capital to come to fruition – hence the advent of the Development and Stewardship Manager role.

The Role:

BSF is seeking a Development and Stewardship Manager to play a key role in the organization’s growing philanthropic fundraising and donor stewardship. The Manager of Development and Stewardship will be responsible for collaboratively building a deeper understanding of the philanthropists with whom BSF works, crafting BSF’s story to inspire donor engagement, and creating and managing effective stewardship processes that fuel ongoing commitment among our donors. 

You’ll be a fit for the role if you love engaging authentically with individuals and representing BSF’s mission to drive action. We are seeking someone who is not only an out-of-the-box thinker, but who also enjoys making complex tasks simple. You must be a team player and yet also an independent contributor. A disposition to operate with a strong customer service orientation is a must. If you have career aspirations to lead a development team or take on other leadership roles where fundraising is a key skill, this position will be a great opportunity to build your repertoire in grant writing and management, donor stewardship, and fundraising strategy, while cross-collaborating to meet BSF’s goals. 

In partnership with BSF’s Executive Team and Fundraising Committee, we seek to raise at least $2M annually, requiring you to have the following responsibilities: 

• Tell BSF’s story through writing inspiring grant proposals, grant reports, and external collateral targeting our existing and potential donor audiences. 
• Research and synthesize donor data using a variety of sources to develop excellent donor possibilities, as well as briefs and proposals. 
• Communicate value through program outcomes data in a clear and compelling way to drive impact philanthropy narrative. 
• Identify and cultivate corporate sponsorships to underwrite BSF programs that bring synergistic value to multiple sectors and audiences.
• Collaborate with Executive Director and members of BSF’s team to gather data and key information required in grant proposals and reports. 
• Provide excellent customer service by troubleshooting grant and donor needs as they arise. 
• Inform capital investments in fundraising platforms to position BSF for successful donor stewardship.
• Manage efficient and smart systems through maintaining up to date activities, campaigns, opportunities and account information 
• Implement stewardship strategies and processes to acknowledge donations in a timely and thoughtful manner, as well as support holiday and Giving Tuesday campaigns that increase giving and build loyalty to BSF 

To be successful at BSF and in this role, you must demonstrate BSF’s core values, skillfully navigate ambiguity and ongoing change, approach problems with curiosity and agency, and welcome constant feedback and learning. You will thrive if you love taking on new challenges, identifying resolutions to persistent problems, and can get yourself skillfully unstuck. You will need to take initiative and find a way when clear structures, systems, processes, and expectations may not be well-defined. You must have a high degree of self-ownership and gumption, a team and mission-driven orientation, a low degree of ego, and a high degree of grace.

Experiences, Skills, and Traits:

• At least 2-3 years of relevant work experience 
• Bachelor’s or equivalent degree 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with proven storytelling ability
• Strong analytical skills, involving excel; ability to research and synthesize outcomes data or donor data in a compelling way
• Experience operating in a matrix environment with stakeholders from other teams (e.g., program, finance, data) that led to results
• Experience with Salesforce, Blackbaud, Classy, a plus
• Highly-developed attention to detail 
• Highly motivated, self-directed, results-oriented, data-driven, curious, and creative
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Customer-service orientation
• A quick learner who appreciates constructive input
• Ability to convince people though empathic and informed discussions

BSF’s Total Compensation Package

BSF provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, encompassing compensation, recognition, and other attractive offerings. Our competitive base salaries are based on or above the midpoint of the market for not-for-profit organizations of comparable size. The anticipated base pay for this position, depending on qualifications, will range from $55.6k - $62.5k/yr.  

At BSF we focus on the quality of employees’ contributions, not necessarily on the quantity of time that individuals log. We firmly believe that people do their best work when they are encouraged to have balance in their lives and exercise agency in the conduct of their job-based activities. In addition to being a completely virtual work environment (which we have done successfully for 21 years), BSF offers unlimited vacation time for employees to pursue happiness and health as individuals. Current benefits include a top-tier health care plan to which BSF contributes a generous and set amount. Employees may select more or less robust health care coverage based on their and their families’ unique needs. Our retirement plan offers up to 4% of your salary matched in 401k contributions starting your first full month after you enroll. Staff who are meeting expectations generally receive an annual 2-3% increase and may be eligible for a generous bonus depending on the annual financial and mission-impact achievements of the organization. BSF reserves the right to change benefits at any time.

BSF is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected status. We are committed to attracting and retaining professionals who bring diverse perspectives and talents to achieving our mission. Importantly, all BSF employees must be completely bought into our mission and recognize their invaluable role as BSF representatives within and outside of the organization.