Director of International Resource Development - Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010
About Perkins TrustPerkins School for the Blind (PSB), a global leader in education services and rights-based programming for children who are blind, deafblind, and blind with additional disabilities, created the Perkins Trust to advance PSB's mission and its local, regional, national and international programs through philanthropic initiatives. The Trust has embarked on an ambitious campaign to raise and leverage additional resources for PSB, with the Perkins International Program as a major priority. The Trust has completed the quiet phase of a $130 million multi-year Comprehensive Campaign, raising over $80 million to date. This year marks the first of the Campaign's three-year public phase.
About Perkins International Program Perkins International Program operated informally around the world prior to 1989, when a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation officially launched the program. Perkins has trained thousands of teachers from developing countries and is the largest international initiative serving children who are deafblind and blind with additional disabilities. As other donors have joined the Hilton Foundation's ongoing commitment, Perkins has dramatically increased its international initiatives, investing nearly $3 million directly in developing countries during the past year alone. With programs in 64 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, Perkins provides services to over 44,600 children who are blind and deadblind, their families and their educators. Today Perkins looks to expand its international services and diversify support for its international program.
The Perkins School for the Blind Strategic Plan calls for the International Program to:
- Increase services in existing countries where we have a presence;
- Expand to 10 new countries and within the Middle East region;
- Increase distribution of Perkins Braillers in developing countries.
In its international work Perkins partners with agencies to leverage local resources and develop independent, sustainable programs and services. Perkins initiatives focus on training and staff development, capacity building and delivering knowledge and tools that can be put to use at the local level in culturally appropriately ways.
About Perkins School for the BlindPerkins School for the Blind is a world leader in education and rights-based programming helping people worldwide who are blind, deafblind, and blind with additional disabilities see possibilities for the future and build productive, meaningful lives. In addition to its K-12 residential and day school for blind and deafblind children located in Watertown, MA, Perkins provides extensive outreach services to teachers, therapists, school administrators and parents, conducts diagnostic evaluation services and low vision clinics, and operates a comprehensive Talking Book and Braille Library that serves patrons nationwide. More than 300,000 Perkins Braillers, a mechanical Braille writer manufactured in Watertown, MA and assembled by partners in South Africa and India, have been sold worldwide.
Since 1829, Perkins School for the Blind has achieved enormous impact on the world, serving children directly, their teachers and families. Every year Perkins helps over 115,000 people reach the possibility of a fuller, more meaningful life. Perkins School for the Blind's annual operating budget stands at $62 million. Endowment funds invested soundly over the years contribute to a vibrant and healthy organization. The development staff currently totals 23.
The OpportunityCreation of the Perkins Trust represents an important investment in fundraising and offers a unique and challenging opportunity for an experienced international fundraising professional. Perkins currently raises $16 million to $20 million annually from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government sources. The diversified development program includes annual fund, events, major gifts, institutional gifts and bequests and planned gifts.
Four areas of need and opportunity comprise the PSB Strategic Plan and provide focus for the $130
million campaign:
- Preparing students for the 21st century by expanding technology, increasing the number of teachers and expanding transitional programming;
- Increasing Perkins' reach to underserved communities through teacher training, increased access to the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, and greater awareness of the importance of Braille literacy;
- Expanding current international programs, building local capacity in new regions and countries, and distributing more braillers worldwide; and
- Building new partnerships with educators, parents, advocates, volunteers and supporters.
The PositionReporting directly to the Executive Director of the Trust, and working in partnership with Trust Board and International Advisory Board members, the President and the Director of International Programs, the successful candidate will be responsible for the direction, leadership and the expansion of revenue to support Perkins International and the international work of Perkins Products, focusing on funding sources within and outside of the U.S. Specific responsibilities include:
- Develop specific grant proposals, establish key relationships and identify fundraising opportunities for Perkins among private foundations, bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, US and multi-national corporations operating in countries where Perkins has partners, US government agencies and individual donors.
- Develop an annual fundraising plan that reflects the programmatic and geographic priorities of Perkins International's strategic plan.
- Work closely with Perkins International Regional Coordinators to develop concept papers, proposals and applications for programmatic priorities as outlined in the PI Strategic Plan.
- Work closely with the PSB President, Directors of Perkins International and Perkins Products and the Perkins Trust Executive Director to identify potential new members of the International Advisory Board (IAB) and to steward the IAB, including communicating with them on a regular basis about Perkins International's work, drafting correspondence to introduce PI to new donors, organize site visits to Perkins International's partners.
- Recruit, train and manage other volunteer leaders who can extend the reach of staff to identify, cultivate and solicit prospective donors in support of International programs.
- Develop relationships with counterparts in other international education and disability organizations for potential co-funding opportunities.
- Develop and cultivate relationships with program officers in selected foundations, and in collaboration with the Director of International Programs and the Director of Institutional Giving, identify program areas of interest for proposal development.
- Identify global conferences, meetings, venues for Perkins participation and recommend Perkins' leadership participation.
- Work closely with the Director of Major Gifts and Capital Campaign, to develop and cultivate relationships with individual major donor prospects for International programs and Perkins Products and participate in overall strategic planning for major fundraising efforts as part of the Comprehensive Campaign.
- Work with the General Manager of Perkins Products to achieve a broader distribution of Perkins Braillers to populations that need them around the world.
- Propose articles and topic ideas to Communications office for Perkins collateral materials (e.g., annual report, newsletter).
- Work closely with IRD Development Officer and International Online Coordinator to redevelop a microsite for Perkins International so that it reflects the capacity-building approach and philosophy of PI which is of interest to a wider range of donors.
- Prepare and monitor budgets and facilitate strategies to achieve goals. Participate in the direct solicitation of major donors for International Programs and contribute to teamwork within the Perkins Trust.
- Manage a staff of two.
QualificationsSuccessful candidates will demonstrate most if not all of the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with concentration in education, public health or social sciences required
- Masters degree and/or equivalent international experience preferred; with a minimum of seven years of international education and/or programs and equivalent fundraising experience soliciting private and public sector donors
- Ability to think strategically and creatively about prospect identification, cultivation and successful solicitation of grants
- Evidence of mature judgment and ability to develop entrepreneurial and strategic plans to motivate prospect and donors
- Ability to travel overseas and domestically, up to 30% of the time
Additional consideration will also be given to candidates that can demonstrate:
- Experience with disability rights work
- Living experience in developing countries
- Experience working with USAID and other bilateral & multi-lateral donors
- Knowledge of one foreign language
E-mail resume and cover letter in confidence to:[email protected]
John Haederle, MPA
Senior Consultant
Development Guild/DDI
233 Harvard Street, Suite 107
Brookline, MA 02446
617-277-2112 x232
800-537-9011 (Toll free)
For more information on Perkins School for the Blind please visit www.perkins.org
For more information on Development Guild/DDI, please visit www.developmentguild.com.
