Women's Fund
of the Blue Ridge
The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (WFBR) is a collective giving organization formed and sustained by a group of women philanthropists striving to make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties, North Carolina. WFBR believes all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. We recognize our role as a leader in our community by working to achieve these goals through grantmaking, advocacy, and community building.
Board of Directors
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Advisory Board
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Employment Opportunities
Now Hiring
Executive Director & Operations Manager
Position Title: Executive Director
Term: Full Time, some seasonal flexibility
Location: 895 State Farm Road, Suite 404, Boone, NC 28607
Salary Range: Negotiable DOE
Organization: The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (WFBR) is a collective giving organization formed and sustained by a group of women philanthropists striving to make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties, North Carolina. WFBR believes all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. We recognize our role as a leader in our community by working to achieve these goals through grantmaking, advocacy, and community building.
Position Summary: As the key leader of a small staff and large volunteer group, the Executive Director must be an enthusiastic and energetic manager, who can balance big picture oversight with hands-on details. The Executive Director is responsible for coordinating fundraising and grant programs, overseeing operational administration, and executing strategic and communication plans. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Fund-raising
- Provide leadership, direction, and coordination for the advancement of WFBR by implementing strategies to raise funds and develop relationships with donors, prospective donors, and local partners.
- Diligently pursue and secure major gifts, including planned giving strategies, for WFBR.
- Organize and manage the annual Power of the Purse Luncheon, Bourbon & BBQ event, and other membership events and “Friend-raisers.”
- Research and submit funding requests to foundations and corporations.
- Together with the Membership Committee, design and implement strategies to increase membership and engage members.
- Oversee maintenance of the donor database.
- Pursue continuing education and best practices regarding fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector and collective giving organizations.
Grant-Making
- Together with the Grants Committee, review, revise, and distribute grant guidelines, applications, and reporting requirements.
- Provide technical assistance to prospective applicants and to the Grants Committee, and assist in overseeing the grant review and monitoring process.
- Maintain working knowledge of community needs in the counties served by WFBR.
- Maintain awareness of the work of other collective giving organizations and nonprofits, and seek out opportunities for collaboration.
Marketing and Communications:
- Envision, create, and maintain a positive brand for WFBR.
- Together with the Public Relations Committee, convey WFBR’s brand to members, businesses, donors, and the general public across WFBR’s service area.
- Create engaging, brand-positive content for quarterly newsletters, social media, brochures, press releases, and other publications.
- Act as the primary spokesperson and communicator for WFBR.
- Create, update, and oversee content for the website.
- Represent WFBR through public presentations.
- Raise community awareness about issues affecting women and their families through written and oral communications.
Administration:
- Develop and track metrics that can improve WFBR’s ability to pursue its mission and strategic plan, and be effectively communicated to the Board, funders, and other constituents.
- Implement effective systems to track metrics and progress; regularly evaluate and revise systems/processes/procedures.
- Manage the finances of WFBR and, together with the Finance Committee, create proposed budgets for Board approval
- Supervise the Operations Manager, interns, and volunteers, creating a positive work atmosphere emphasizing efficiency, professional growth, positive thinking, and creative problem-solving.
- Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Serve as liaison to WFBR Board and committees; coordinate and plan meetings as necessary
Qualifications:
- Strong commitment to the mission and values of WFBR, and ongoing understanding of women’s issues, philanthropy, and the nonprofit landscape in northwestern NC.
- Proven experience as executive director or in other managerial position
- Demonstrated and progressive success in fundraising, donor relations, event planning and operations
- Excellent communication (oral and written) and public speaking skills.
- Effective planning, research and operational skills; demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive. Experience with or ability to learn QuickBooks and donor management software.
- Ability to take initiative and work as a responsible, self-managed leader, acting without day-to-day supervision.
- Ability to function as part of a team, and interact respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Patti Jupiter, WFBR Board Chairwoman, at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled.
WFBR is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Position Title: Operations Manager
Term: Full Time, exempt, seasonal flexibility
Location: 895 State Farm Road, Suite 404, Boone, NC 28607
Salary Range: $45,000-$54,000
Organization: The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge (WFBR) is a collective giving organization formed and
sustained by a group of women philanthropists striving to make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties, North Carolina. WFBR believes all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. We recognize our role as a leader in our community by working to achieve these
goals through grant making, advocacy, and community building. More information can be found at www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org.
Position Summary: This position keeps the WFBR operations and its systems working effectively and efficiently, and its programs well-coordinated and communicated. The Operations Manager must be an enthusiastic and energetic manager, who can negotiate multiple tasks and hands-on details. The Operations Manager is responsible for external communication channels, statutory compliance, fundraising events, volunteer and intern coordination, and financial processing. The position reports to the Executive Director or its designee.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Communications and Marketing
- Develop and maintain a positive brand for WFBR.
- Together with the Public Relations Committee, convey WFBR’s brand to members, businesses, donors, and the general public across WFBR’s service area.
- Create engaging, brand-positive content for quarterly newsletters, website, social media, brochures, press releases, and other publications.
- Raise community awareness about issues affecting women and their families through written and oral communications
- Enhance the public image of WFBR by being active and visible in the community and working with appropriate nonprofit and civic organizations.
Operations and Administration
- Process incoming and outgoing financial transactions and record in the respective financial system.
- Recruit and supervise interns and volunteers, creating a positive work atmosphere emphasizing efficiency, professional growth, and creative problem-solving.
- Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Ensure a positive constituent experience by ensuring office hours, communications and operations are effective, and correspondence/inquiries are addressed on a timely basis.
- Serve as liaison to designated Board committees; coordinate and plan meetings
as necessary.
Fundraising:
- Organize and manage the annual Power of the Purse Luncheon, Bourbon & BBQ event, and other membership events and “Friend-raisers.”
- Implement and maintain an effective donor/member database and relationship system; identify and track key metrics; regularly evaluate and revise systems/processes/procedures
- Research and submit funding requests to foundations and corporations
- Together with the Membership Committee, design and implement strategies to increase membership and engage members.
Grant-making:
- Together with the Grants Committee, review, revise, and distribute grant guidelines, applications, and reporting requirements.
- Provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, and assist in overseeing the
grant review and monitoring process - Maintain working knowledge of community needs in the counties served by WFBR.
- Maintain awareness of the work of other collective giving organizations and
nonprofits, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Qualifications:
- Excellent (oral and written) communications and demonstrated skill in development of engaging and informative newsletters, online channels, and brochures.
- Proficiency with Google Drive, Microsoft Office, Canva and WordPress.
- Success execution of donor/customer relations, event planning and operations
- Experience with or ability to learn financial (QuickBooks) and donor management software.
- Strong commitment to an ongoing understanding of women’s issues in northwestern NC.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
- Ability to take initiative and work as a responsible, self-managed leader, acting without day-to-day supervision.
- Ability to function as part of a team, and interact respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures
- Pursuit of continuing education and best practices regarding communication, fundraising and operational strategies unique to the nonprofit sector and collective giving organizations.
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Patti Jupiter, WFBR Board Chairwoman, at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled.
WFBR is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.