Why are we hiring a Director of Development?
For the past four years, we’ve been responding to the fact that our building’s multi-million dollar capital needs extend beyond the capacity of our annual budget. As a vibrant, fully intergenerational congregation, we have affirmed that we want to stay in this location. We’ve also become an invaluable resource and home for dozens of community organizations, building tremendous goodwill in the town of Brookline. Our 2024 capital campaign feasibility study with Starrs Aligned determined that, while we have internal capacity to do some of the necessary fundraising, we are not yet ready to do the full scope of it with our current staff configuration. The feasibility study recommended hiring a professional fundraising staff member to help us achieve our goals.
What has the process been so far?
For the past two years, our staff, Church Council, UPLIFT, and Human Relations Teams have thoughtfully and prayerfully considered this recommendation. We have discussed the idea with members, church consultants, and spoken with development directors at a local UCC church and Jewish temple. At the request of our Strategy Team, Emily Reed of Stewardship, also a fundraising professional, and Kate Baker-Carr of our Human Relations Team, drafted a job description. In consultation with our Senior Pastor, member leadership, and outside eyes, we have refined this description into an exciting opportunity for a fundraising professional who wants to help us strengthen and grow our culture of generosity.
How will we fund it?
Council has determined with thoughtful deliberation that we will fund the first three years of this position from our Ministry Fund. (The current total value of the Ministry Fund is $4.2 million, from the sale of our parsonage in 2023). We will set a benchmark goal for this staff member to significantly increase our fundraising revenue with the intention that the position be funded within our operating budget going forward.
What will this role look like?
This full-time position will require someone who sincerely wants to get well acquainted with our congregation and its members, as well as our building users and community partners. They will attend community events and visit worship and Ministry Team meetings on a schedule determined with their supervisor, the Senior Pastor. They will assess and strengthen our existing fundraising strategies. We will also need them to help build upon existing relationships and expand our capacity for funding from legacy giving, grants, foundations, major donors, supportive individuals and institutions from the wider community. They will be integrally involved with shaping communication about our mission and its impact, both for our worshiping congregation and our broader outreach.
What are the next steps?
This June, we will form a search committee of staff and members and post the job description. Non-profit fundraising is a competitive field and we anticipate attracting a wide selection of qualified candidates. After we determine a pool of finalists, we will hold small meet-and-greets with a cross-section of our community to see how candidates interact with our members and friends. We believe God is already preparing someone to take on this exciting, forward-thinking role. We are eager to find them and appreciate your prayers for this process and engagement in welcoming this new member of our United Parish community.
If you’d like to learn more, please contact stewardship@upbrookline.org