Job Title: Director of Advancement

Supervision: Vice President of Advancement & Communications

Job Purpose & Summary: The Director of Advancement provides strategic leadership for WGM’s donor engagement and fundraising efforts. This role is responsible for growing unrestricted revenue, strengthening long-term donor partnership, and developing coordinated donor journeys that inspire generous participation in WGM’s Great Commission work.

The Director leads major gift, annual giving, estate and planned giving, foundation, and donor stewardship strategies while ensuring Advancement communications, systems, and administrative processes are executed with excellence. This position works collaboratively across the organization to connect donor interests with ministry priorities and communicate the impact of WGM’s mission clearly and compellingly.

Location: Marion, Indiana

Employment Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Main Responsibilities:

1. Advancement Strategy & Donor Engagement
   1. Lead the execution of an integrated Advancement strategy designed to grow unrestricted revenue and strengthen long-term donor engagement and retention.
   2. Develop and oversee coordinated donor and foundation journeys for grants, annual giving, mid-level donors, major gifts, and estate and planned giving prospects in collaboration with the Vice President of Advancement & Communications and Major Gift Officer.
   3. Cultivate and steward assigned donor relationships through meaningful calls, correspondence, visits, proposals, presentations and timely follow-up.
   4. Communicate WGM’s mission, ministry impact, vision, and opportunities for partnership in ways that inspire and deepen donor engagement.
   5. Ensure donor records, touch points, solicitor actions, follow-up tasks, preferences, and other relevant information are maintained accurately and consistently.
   6. Review reports and donor data to identify opportunities for increased engagement, improved stewardship, stronger donor retention and revenue growth.
   7. Use Raiser’s Edge NXT, Financial Edge, MailChimp, SiteStacker, Asana, Microsoft Teams, and other tools to track donor activity, campaign progress, workflow, and fundraising outcomes.
2. Team Leadership & Supervision
   1. Supervise the Development Coordinator, providing direction, coaching, accountability, and support related to Advancement systems, administrative systems and donor communication projects.
   2. Coordinate Advancement team workflow, priorities, timelines, and cross-departmental handoffs to ensure donor-facing work is completed accurately, consistently and on time.
   3. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture that reflects WGM’s mission, values, and commitment to excellence.
3. Donor Communications, Stewardship & Campaigns
   1. Oversee the planning and execution of grants, donor appeals, newsletters, stewardship communications, estate and planned giving resources, surveys, and other donor-facing materials.
   2. Write donor communications and develop presentations that reflect WGM’s voice and brand while clearly communicating donor intent, ministry impact, and faithful stewardship.
   3. Provide strategic input on segmented messaging, mailing lists, donor queries, and follow-up plans for print and digital communications.
   4. Develop strategy and provide leadership support for donor cultivation and stewardship events, community events, special campaigns, and other donor engagement opportunities.
   5. Ensure communications and campaigns are coordinated, timely, relevant, and aligned with broader Advancement goals.
4. Organizational Collaboration & Mission Alignment
   1. Partner with missionaries, Communications, Mobilization, Coaching, Financial Services, and Executive Leadership to identify and communicate compelling stories of ministry impact.
   2. Serve as a bridge between WGM’s ministry priorities and donor interests, helping donors understand the value, impact, and eternal significance of supporting WGM as a mission-sending and mission-sustaining organization.
   3. Stay informed about fundraising best practices, donor engagement trends, emerging opportunities, and effective strategies that can strengthen WGM’s Advancement efforts.
   4. Perform Other duties as assigned.

Special Requirements:

1. Experience in cross-cultural ministry and/or missions service is helpful.
2. Demonstrated ability to track details while developing and implementing systems, and processes that support measurable outcomes.
3. Ability and willingness to occasionally travel within the US.
4. Exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with people representing a wide range of personalities, backgrounds and experiences.
5. A track record that reflects servant leadership, which is motivated by a personal commitment to Christian service.
6. Demonstrated ability to engage, influence, cultivate, and steward a wide range of donors while building long-term relationships.
7. Strong collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively with Executive Leadership, missionaries, staff, and ministry partners.
8. Ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Qualifications:

1. A committed Christ-follower with a heart for global missions and alignment with the mission and values of WGM.
2. Bachelor's degree in non-profit management, business, communications or a related field. A Master's degree or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is highly preferred.
3. Experience of 5 to 8+ years in nonprofit fundraising with demonstrated success in developing and growing unrestricted revenue through strategic donor engagement, cultivation and stewardship.
4. Experience in Christian missionary or non-profit organization.
5. Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building skills and communication skills including strong written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
6. Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and attention to detail.
7. Strong storytelling skills and emotional intelligence with the ability to communicate ministry impact in compelling and authentic ways.
8. Understanding of missionary support models, church-based giving, and Christian philanthropy is a plus.
9. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build strong internal and external partnerships.
10. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Asana, and MailChimp.
11. Raisers Edge NXT CRM experience is desired.

Application Process: 

The World Gospel Mission application process includes completing two forms: 

• Statement of Faith
• Application for Employment

Questions? Email [email protected].