The DRC story began on a spring day in 1997, when bestselling author and former newspaper reporter Jeff Guinn stepped from a downtown bus station to spend a week living on the streets of Fort Worth. His harrowing, first-hand account of street life was published on June 8, 1997 and revealed heartbreaking gaps in help for the homeless. Guinn’s story opened eyes to the human cost of homelessness, and civic leaders responded, opening the DRC as Day Resource Center for the Homeless in 1999.

In 2015, the agency rebranded as DRC Solutions to underscore its leadership in housing strategies for ending homelessness and its new mission: to provide respectful, responsible and effective community-based solutions to help individuals and families emerge from homelessness as productive, healthy people. It exited shelter services in December 2016 to focus on housing solutions and, in 2017, the agency's board of directors approved a resolution adding permanent supportive housing case management to the DRC portfolio. In 2020, the DRC incorporated street outreach in our critical services.

The DRC is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024.

MISSION
The mission of the DRC is to provide respectful, responsible, and effective community-based solutions to help individuals and families emerge from homelessness as productive, healthy people.

VISION
The DRC envisions an end to homelessness achieved through investments that make permanent shelter a reality for all who need it.

PHILOSOPHY
The DRC believes that Housing First makes housing last.

To learn more about the DRC, visit https://drc-solutions.org/.

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POSITION TITLE

Director of Communications and Development

DIVISION TITLE

Administration

SALARY RANGE

$55,000 to $75,000 (DOQ) plus benefits including:

• Health Insurance (base policy paid 100% by DRC, upgrades paid by employee)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flex Accounts
• Tela-Doc
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Generous PTO
• Paid Federal Holidays
• EAP Program

PAYROLL STATUS

Full time (40 hrs/wk), Exempt

JOB PURPOSE

Raise funds for the organization. Responsible for securing sufficient philanthropic gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations in support of the general operations of the DRC.

Communicate with external constituents. Responsible for educating the general public and external stakeholders about issues surrounding homelessness and the activities, programs, and needs of the DRC.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

FUND DEVELOPMENT

Planning and Budgeting

• Develop and implement a comprehensive and diverse fund development plan
• Create and maintain fund development budget
• Work within budget guidelines for expenses
• Solicit gifts to fulfill budgetary income plans
• Cultivate and create funding opportunities to meet constituent philanthropic needs

Private Donors and Gifts

• Cultivate potential private donors through outreach and education
• Nurture existing private donor relationships through regular communication
• Ensure proper gift recognition and receipting

Corporate Donors and Gifts

• Research potential corporate partnerships
• Cultivate potential corporate donors through outreach and education
• Nurture existing corporate donor relationships through regular communication
• Ensure proper gift recognition and receipting

Foundation Grant Makers and Grants

• Research appropriate grant opportunities
• Write and submit comprehensive grant applications, adhering to all grantor guidelines
• Ensure proper grant recognition and receipting
• Ensure grant reports are made in a timely manner
• Cultivate relationships with grant managers

Fundraising Events

• Manage the planning and implementation of all agency fundraising events
• Recruit event committee members
• Organize event planning meetings
• Ensure event logistics are being met
• Create all event materials
• Promote event as appropriate
• Solicit and secure event sponsorships
• Solicit and secure event participation by the general public

Campaigns

• Create and manage compelling, multi-faceted yearly holiday campaign
• Manage special campaigns throughout the year as appropriate

Donor Database

• Ensure all donor records are up-to-date
• Ensure all gifts are properly recorded in the database
• Maintain integrity of data

Online Giving Portal

• Manage online giving portal
• Ensure online gifts are remitted to the agency in a timely manner

Reporting

• Report fund development progress to Board of Directors on a monthly basis
• Report all recorded gifts to accountant on a monthly basis

COMMUNICATIONS

Planning and Budgeting

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan
• Create and maintain fund development budget
• Work within budget guidelines for expenses
• Research vendor options
• Cultivate vendor relationships

Messaging and Branding

• Ensure a balance between educational, relationship cultivation, and fund solicitation communications
• Ensure all messaging is culturally sensitive and inclusive
• Ensure consistency of message in all DRC communications
• Protect the DRC brand by ensuring that all communications adhere to brand standards

Story Solicitation

• Work with staff to find appropriate stories of DRC clients and activities for use in promotion and fund development

Print Communications

• Create compelling and effective promotional communications, including but not limited to:
  • DRC informational brochures
  • Brochures for specific programs as required
  • Quarterly newsletter
  • Annual report
  • Educational event promotions, signage, and materials
• Create compelling and effective fundraising communications, including but not limited to:
  • Donor receipt letters
  • Event invitations, programs, and signage
  • Grant request materials
  • Fundraising campaign materials
• Create materials for internal use as necessary, including but not limited to:
  • Branded stationery
  • Staff and board nametags
  • Forms and other materials
• Research and purchase promotional giveaway items as appropriate.

Electronic Communications

• Maintain DRC website, including but not limited to:
  • Organizing website information in a use-friendly but compelling format
  • Ensuring website information is up-to-date
  • Ensuring all website forms are functional
  • Working with website hosts to address functionality issues in a timely manner
• Manage DRC social media
  • Regularly post on social media, including but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
  • Create compelling graphics and narratives for social media
  • Interface with social media users as appropriate
• Send DRC mass email communication
  • Regularly communicate via mass email with constituents
  • Track efficacy of email campaigns
  • Adjust email messaging and logistics as necessary

Recognitions

• Research recognition opportunities for the DRC and professional staff
• Write and submit recognition nominations as appropriate

Special Messaging and Crisis Messaging

• Work with the Executive Director to address urgent issues as they arise
• Craft sensitive and professional messaging, and distribute as appropriate

Educational Events

• Schedule, plan, and execute educational events for the general public

Public Events

• Create print and electronic promotional media for use in public outreach
• Research and secure public speaking opportunities for the Executive Director
• Occasionally present to civic, religious, or educational groups when Executive Director is unavailable
• Participate in public events where a staffed booth is appropriate

Advertising

• Research appropriate advertising opportunities
• Secure advertising space
• Create media and/or copy as required by advertising outlet

Media

• Act as a liaison between the media and the Executive Director as appropriate
• Seek out opportunities for the DRC to receive positive media attention
• Send out media releases as appropriate
• Manage media interactions with staff and clients
• Maintain positive relationships with local media representatives

Reporting

• Report communications progress to Board of Directors monthly
• Other report generation as requested or necessary

Photography

• Secure photos of DRC activities as appropriate
• Ensure that all subjects identifiable in a photograph have signed and returned a Photographic Consent form

OTHER DUTIES

Continuing Education

• Maintain up-to-date understanding of principles of fund development and nonprofit communications.
• Continue to build communications and development skills through attendance of seminars, webinars, etc.

Special Projects

• Work with the Executive Director on any special project as appropriate

Program Staff Support

• Regularly meet with program leadership staff to understand activities and needs of the organization
• Support efforts of the program staff as appropriate

Other

• Participate in staff-wide efforts as appropriate and necessary
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field from an accredited four-year college. Advanced degree (or equivalence) preferred
• Minimum five (5) year experience as a senior communications and development employee in a non-profit organization, governmental agency whose focus is social services/indigent care and/or health care, or for-profit organization whose focus is social services/indigent care and/or health care

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Computers, printers, agency software, and network systems
• Competency in using MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
• Proficiency in website management
• Proficiency in social media, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Current research and policy related to fund development
• Experience in donor database management
• Respect for client, donor, and employee confidentiality
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations
• Recognize, analyze, and develop solutions to communications and development issues
• Work with minimum daily supervision
• Keep accurate records
• Take directions and follow instructions
• Work extended hours as necessary
• Prioritize and manage a large volume of work
• Communicate effectively, in both written and verbal format
• Exceptional time management and attention to detail
• Confident, assertive, self-starter
• Flexible and creative thinker

SPECIAL COURSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND LICENSES

• CFRE preferred
• Valid Texas Driver’s License
• Proof of US citizenship
• Criminal clearance

PHYSICAL/MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

This position requires the following physical and mental capabilities:

• Light lifting, under 40lbs
• Light carrying, under 40lbs
• Hearing (with or without aid)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Simple grasping
• Ability to see
• Ability to read and write in English
• Ability to count
• Ability to analyze data

WORK SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Work site constitutes an indoor and outdoor environment
• Casual office environment

EQUIPMENT USED

• Personal computer
• Copy machine/printer
• Motor vehicle

KNOWLEDGE OF LAWS, REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• Local, state and federal law relating to non-profit fundraising
• General local, state and federal law, and current research and policy related to the issues of homelessness and provision of services addressing homelessness
• All regulations and policies related to granting entities

PERSONAL AND PUBLIC CONTACT

• This position requires internal and external contacts with staff at all levels of the agency, Board of Trustees, local and state officials, other professionals, vendors, homeless clients, and other members of the public.

TRAVEL

• No regular overnight travel is required
• Occasional travel within Tarrant County

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position is supervised by the Executive Director.
• This position has supervisory responsibility for the Community Relations Coordinator.

TO APPLY:

Send resume and cover letter to bfrankel@drc-solutions.org. No phone calls, please.

TO APPLY:

Send resume and cover letter to bfrankel@drc-solutions.org. No phone calls, please.