Why Work for Goodwill Southern New England?!
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director of Donor Acquisition and Special Events is a critical leadership role responsible for the strategic, effective, and scalable growth of both retail donated goods volume and philanthropic giving across the organization. This position leads business development efforts, strategic partnerships, corporate giving, and donation acquisition programs to generate consistent revenue and donation streams while overseeing the complete operation, development, and implementation of the Agency’s special events. The ideal candidate possesses strong strategic development and negotiation skills, multi-site or logistical operations experience, and a deep passion for community impact. The role works closely with Retail, Transportation, Marketing, and Operations leadership to ensure reliability of service and execution.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Retail Donation Acquisition & Strategic Partnerships
· Develops and executes a comprehensive donation acquisition strategy to increase donor access and overall retail donated goods volume.
· Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with businesses, corporations, municipalities, property owners, and community organizations to create recurring retail donation streams.
· Identifies, pursues, and secures new donation channels, reverse logistics, and growth opportunities across assigned markets.
· Oversees all retail donation acquisition programs including mobile collections, donation boxes, trailers, home pickups, and community donation drives.
· Coordinates with Transportation and Operations to ensure route alignment, scheduling, and service execution meet operational capacity.
Fundraising Development & Special Events Management
· Drives the expansion of philanthropic revenue streams, including monetary donations, major gifts, and planned gifts.
· Spearheads fundraising initiatives and campaigns to support ongoing programs.
· Directs the strategic planning, operation, implementation, and rigorous evaluation of the Organization’s special events.
· Ensures appropriateness and absolute alignment of all donor communications to support the overarching development strategy.
Agency Awareness & Community Outreach
· Serves as a primary ambassador for the organization, increasing visibility within the Connecticut region and building robust relationships with local partners.
· Partners closely with Programs and Marketing to coordinate mission-focused storytelling initiatives and campaigns.
Leadership & Operational Administration
· Provides leadership, coaching, oversight, and professional development for Donation Acquisition and event support staff.
· Establishes clear performance expectations and holds team members accountable for measurable results.
Requirements
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Directs and coordinates activities of individual volunteers and committees to develop and implement events and projects. No direct responsibility for supervision of Agency staff.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration, Not-for-Profit Management, or related field. Plus, seven years of progressive professional experience encompassing strategy development, fundraising, and community engagement, with at least 5 years of direct management/supervisory experience. Prior non-profit experience required.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions with groups of staff, clients, volunteers and the general public.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to work with specific computer software such word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Valid Connecticut Driver's License and use of personal vehicle required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Goodwill of Southern New England is a progressive, community-based organization committed to the mission of enhancing employment, educational, social, and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities or other challenges throughout south-central and eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Goodwill of Southern New England owns and operates 14 second hand retail stores, 6 attended donation centers, and 1 outlet store throughout south-central and eastern Connecticut. We also own and operate one second hand retail store in South Attleboro, Massachusetts and an attended donation center in Providence, Rhode Island. You can find donation bins all across south-central and eastern Connecticut, as well as Rhode Island.
Every purchase made at one of our stores supports our community programs. We offer services including job training, case management, and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other challenges in the community. When you shop or donate, you’re supporting our mission to help those in need build a better life, one step at a time.
