Director of Appeals

Job Description

Job Title: DIRECTOR OF APPEALS
Reports To: Director, Office of Stewardship & Development
Location: Office of Stewardship & Development
FLSA Status: Full-Time Exempt

The Diocese of Harrisburg and its entities are Roman Catholic religious organizations, and all employees are expected to respect and conduct themselves in accordance with the values, teachings, and morals of the Roman Catholic Church.

About the Church In Harrisburg
The Church in Harrisburg is a community of over 200,000 Catholics in 15 counties in Central Pennsylvania. The Office of Stewardship and Development is dedicated to fostering a culture of stewardship, promoting philanthropic support, and enhancing the financial resources necessary to sustain the mission and ministries of the Church. This position will support innovative and dynamic initiatives to create an encounter with Christ, to foster joy and peace, and to cultivate faith, hope and love for all who live in this community. If you are seeking a challenging professional position of purpose, impact, and consequence, we invite you to join us.

Position Summary
The Office of Stewardship and Development at the Diocese of Harrisburg is seeking a dedicated and experienced professional to serve as the Director of Appeals. This role is crucial in driving the success of annual fundraising initiatives and ensuring the continued support for the mission and ministries of the Church in Central Pennsylvania.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Develop and Implement Giving Strategies: Create and execute comprehensive fundraising plans aimed at engaging donors and growing the Diocesan Annual Campaign, Fisher's of Men appeal, the Matthew 25 Collection and Pentecost Collection.
• Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with existing and prospective donors, ensuring a positive donor experience and fostering long-term commitment.
• Appeal Management: Oversee all aspects of each appeal's solicitations, direct mail, online giving, and other fundraising initiatives, including planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: Work closely with parish leaders, volunteers, and other stakeholders to promote annual giving campaigns and engage the broader community.
• Collaborate with the Database Administrator of the Office of Stewardship & Development to maintain accurate donor records and analyze data to inform strategy and measure each appeals effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Communications staff to ensure marketing strategies are designed and implemented across social media platforms and email outreach.
• Work collaboratively with our external partners to design and implement new direct mail and marketing strategies to increase our donor base and engagement
• Manage the annual giving budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources and achieving financial targets.
• Prepare regular reports on fundraising progress, donor engagement, and campaign outcomes for senior leadership and stakeholders.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on annual giving.
• Proven track record of successful fundraising campaigns and donor relationship management.
• Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with fundraising software and donor management systems. Experience with Raisers' Edge desired.
• Proficient in Google Docs and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and communicate effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the Roman Catholic Church, a deep familiarity with archdiocesan and parish structures, and a thorough understanding of Catholic parish life and ministry.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment. Willingness to support the broader mission of the Office of Stewardship & Development. Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with pastors, parochial administrators, lay leadership, diocesan and church leaders.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.

Working Conditions
• This is a full-time position with occasional evening or weekend events.
• Occasional travel within the Diocese of Harrisburg and beyond for donor meetings and fundraising events. A valid driver's license and proof of insurance is required.

Physical Requirements
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tool or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move office products and supplies, up to 25 lbs.

Compensation & Benefits
• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development.

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This job description is designed to outline the essential responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, and additional tasks may be assigned as necessary.
All offers of employment are conditioned upon a clear criminal history background check, PA Child Abuse History, PA Criminal History, FBI fingerprinting, and reference checks.

About the Employer

The Diocese of Harrisburg is located in Central Pennsylvania and covers 15 counties and 7,700 square miles. The diocese serves its 200,000 parishioners in 89 parishes and 7 missions, 32 schools and many other agencies and institutions.