Sister to Sister Foundation
Vice President for Development

The Sister to Sister Foundation (STS), a rapidly growing, national 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization based in the Washington, DC suburb of Chevy Chase, MD, has retained Sterling Martin Associates to conduct a search for their Vice President for Development. Founded in 2000 by prominent Washingtonian Irene Pollin, the organization currently has a budget of $5 million and a staff of 10. Sister to Sister is focused on reducing and preventing heart disease in women. The organization offers free cardiac screenings and is developing a robust website that will provide the information, tools, and support women need to take and sustain action to reduce their risk of heart disease. STS emphasizes getting women to take follow-up action after they have been screened.

Since 2000, the organization has touched over 200,000 women and screened approximately 50,000 in 17 cities throughout the U.S. Although public awareness of women's heart health has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, there are still significant unmet needs. Studies show that the majority (54%) of the ~42 million women with heart disease in the U.S. are undiagnosed and only 16% of women believe heart disease is the greatest health problem for women. STS strives to increase awareness that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States today and educates women that making healthy lifestyle changes can reduce their risk of heart disease.

The organization recently hired McKinsey & Company to conduct a strategic assessment of STS and recommend operational changes. Those recommendations included enhancing program offerings, refining the organization's fundraising strategy and improving operational efficiency. The new Vice President for Development position is a key part of those recommendations. For more information please visit the Sister to Sister Foundation Web site.

Position Responsibilities

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President, Development will be charged with helping STS achieve its next level of growth and create an enduring financial model. The Vice President will be responsible for developing an integrated strategy focused on fundraising from corporations, individuals, government and foundations. STS seeks an individual who has the ability and stature to operate at the executive level, such as with the Board of Directors and also externally with potential funders. At the same time, this is a "ground floor" opportunity responsible for building the development department from its very early stages. Thus, the ideal candidate will possess the ability to be both strategic and tactical and be willing to "roll up their sleeves".

STS has adapted a hybrid national office/chapter model and the Vice President will work closely with the President and CEO to set fundraising goals and strategy. He/she will develop strong sponsor relationships with large national companies aligned with Sister to Sister's mission and vision and establish strategic goals and guidelines for local chapter fundraising. The VP will be responsible for collaborating with local Chapter Executive Directors to support local fundraising success and focus on creating strong, enduring national sponsorships netting at least $2 million per year.

The successful candidate must have demonstrated experience at both building a successful fundraising organization and establishing relationships with individuals and institutions to increase philanthropic support. The candidate should be a charismatic and empowering leader who is comfortable at hands-on management to structure and streamline fundraising operations.

Interested candidates should have significant experience and success as a leader developing, building, and delivering fundraising programs and initiatives for national or international organizations to meet annual revenue goals. Sister to Sister is looking for an individual with demonstrated leadership and managerial competencies and the ability to implement strategic vision and manage change. Candidates should have a strong commitment to the mission, goals, and values of Sister to Sister Foundation, exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, energy and enthusiasm, high ethical standards, and demonstrated success inspiring staff to achieve and sustain excellence.

Major responsibilities include:

• Developing and updating an organization-wide fundraising strategy through a regular and rigorous strategic planning process.
• Cultivation of major corporate sponsor relationships, including tailoring the fundraising message to appeal to individual potential sponsors
• Working with the Vice President, Programs and Chapter Executive Directors to tailor programming or local execution as necessary
• Design of fundraising guidelines for Chapter Executive Directors, including:

  Designation of "national" versus "local" targets;

  Establishment of local fundraising goals with the VP, Programs and Chapter Executive Directors;

  Providing guidance to the VP, Programs on the design of local fundraising events.

• Developing and managing implementation strategies to secure grants and contracts from corporations, individuals, government and foundations.
• Working with Board members and volunteers to engage them appropriately.
• Developing the internal systems and processes that will allow Sister to Sister to manage, grow and cultivate deep and multi-faceted relationships with funding partners.
• Continually staying abreast of best practices in the development area.
• Communicating and advancing the mission of Sister to Sister Foundation.
• Developing appropriate recognition strategies for donors and funders.
• Evaluating and enhancing the development department's communication program.
• Monitoring, and serving as a liaison when appropriate, to external committees on fundraising and development issues.

• At least 10-15 plus years of demonstrated success and a proven track record establishing, building and managing the development function of a national or international nonprofit organization.
• Experience working in a start-up, entrepreneurial environment
• Strong strategic focus to guide the organization's fundraising through a major reorganization.
• Previous direct development and budget oversight experience required. Experience as a generalist preferred with strengths in corporate, individual, government and foundation relations.
• Established relationships with a donor network in the healthcare area or specific to heart health issues a plus.
• Experience and persona that can command broad respect among internal stakeholders and reflect positively on Sister to Sister externally.
• Effective and strong communicator, as well as problem-solver.
• Relationship-builder with the flexibility and finesse to "manage by influence" and to liaise with a wide range of internal and external constituents.
• High energy, maturity and leadership with the ability to conduct discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Highly collaborative style.
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills, with experience writing complex proposals for organization agreements a plus. B.A. degree required with MBA a plus. Computer literate.
• Experience working with a chapter organization a plus.

For more information please contact: David Martin, Managing Partner e:dmartin@smartinsearch.com, or Beth Cessna, Senior Consultant e: bcessna@smartinsearch.com

Sterling Martin Associates is a retained, executive search firm with locations in Washington, DC, New York, NY, Atlanta, GA and Irvine, CA.