Development Communications Consultant

Title: Development Communications Consultant

Department: SEO Scholars Miami

Reporting to: Executive Director, SEO Scholars Miami

Location/Hours: Miami, Florida

ABOUT SEO

For more than 60 years, SEO has created a more equitable society by closing the educational and career opportunity gap for ambitious Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American young people. All are welcome to apply to our programs.

About SEO Scholars Miami

SEO Scholars provides motivated, low-income public high school students with a rigorous out-of-school supplemental academic curriculum, college guidance, and the leadership development necessary to gain admission to, and succeed at, competitive colleges and universities. SEO Scholars Miami is the newest expansion region for this program and aims to replicate for Miami-Dade area students the stellar outcomes that the program has delivered in New York City, San Francisco, and North Carolina. (Learn more here: SEO Scholars)

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Development & Communications Consultant will partner with the Executive Director of Miami (ED) to develop a comprehensive results-driven strategy and implement a process of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual giving focusing on major gifts.

DELIVERABLES

Development Operations

• In partnership with the ED and in consultation with SEO’s Development team, build fundraising operations to support the end-to-end donor cycle. Develop and document corresponding workflows, SOPs, guides, and training resources. Cross-train team members as needed.
• Partner with SEO’s Development and IT teams to configure Salesforce and other technical platforms to track and manage donor data. Create reporting templates, schedules, and dashboards.
• Oversee database/CRM configuration via Salesforce, including gift processing for unrestricted/designated gifts, grants, and single-/multi-year pledges. Configure systems for automated acknowledgments/receipts and draft/edit personalized acknowledgments.
• Develop QA processes for accurate data entry for donors, alumni, and prospect records. Ensure integrity of data/records, audit for data entry errors, duplicate records, and appropriate coding.
• Create processes ensuring timely and accurate gift processing, reporting, documentation, and compliance. Implement current training/regulation of nonprofit development best practices, including systems/controls to track and file multi-year pledge documentation, pledge receivables, and systems/controls to meet auditor standards.
• Advise ED on system improvements.

Development Strategy

• Devise effective stewardship programs and strategies for a robust portfolio of individual donors including major gift donors, annual giving donors, alumni giving, and new and recurring donors, focusing on major gift and leadership support, planned giving, and special project/capacity-building support. 
• Conduct environmental scan and research to build regional prospect lists. Develop cultivation strategies including talking points and pitches.
• Leverage existing SEO networks (e.g., alumni, advisory board members, SEO USA staff) to expand the reach and deepen relationships.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and yearly plans to quantify moves management and outcome goals.
• Build the framework for fundraising events and events calendar, including major fundraising events and galas. Define roles and responsibilities for board members, senior leadership, SEO Scholar Miami team members, consultants, and vendors.

Development Communications

• Partner with SEO’s MarComms team to develop SEO Scholars Miami marketing and communications collateral per SEO USA branding guidelines.
• Draft templates, talking points, pitches, and other cultivation and solicitation communications.
• Devise marketing plan, including website, social media, blog, and print materials. Liaise with the MarComms team to manage plan execution.
• Produce content and publishing calendar for annual communications, including newsletters, appeals, event mainlining, pitch decks, and other content as required.
• Identify local vendors for local design and marketing needs; review and negotiate agreements and set vendor practices.