International Students, Inc. (ISI)
Colorado Springs, CO
INTRODUCTION
International Students, Inc. (ISI) exists to share Christ's love with international students, and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others. It's ISI's vision to see every student led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be discipled for His service to complete the circle of full-cycle evangelism.
Over 660,000 international students and scholars are studying in universities in the United States. They represent the best, the brightest and often the most affluent people from their countries. While more than 60% historically have never seen the inside of an American home, many want to understand the culture and make friends. ISI is changing that statistic! Sometimes the opportunity to share the Gospel comes through something as simple as making a friend, and sometimes it's through community service like teaching English as a Second Language. Often these students return home to positions of influence and leadership in government, business, science, and education.
ISI recruits and trains its own staff and works with the local church to recruit and train volunteers. ISI is also strategically positioned to spearhead and coordinate the collaborative efforts of any evangelical organization whose purpose includes outreach to international students.
Founded in 1953, ISI is a non-denominational Christian organization. With a staff of more than 180, a national network of volunteers and churches, and thousands of Friendship Partner families, ISI works to match international students with pre-trained Christian friends.
THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The Development Team of ISI is dedicated to strategically increase current and planned gifts while strengthening and upgrading existing development programs. The base of friends, supporters, volunteers and partner organizations needs to be increased by various initiatives including retaining and increasing donors at every level.
By implementing programs to reach a new generation of philanthropists, ISI can continue to increase ministry efforts. Expanding giving programs calls for more volunteers and donors to become involved in their own communities, which not only raises the visibility of ISI throughout the United States, but also correlates with the overall plan to refresh the image of the organization to donors and volunteers alike.
THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for the comprehensive leadership, management and organization of development and gift support strategies for ISI. The CDO is charged to collaboratively plan, market and implement the fundraising goals and policies and procedures to increase charitable gifts to ISI.
Integral to the President's Leadership Team, the CDO provides staff support and counsel to the President and the team in development, marketing and gift support matters.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience Desired
- Ten to fifteen years in Development with demonstrated progressive responsibility, including the most recent three to five years with executive leadership responsibility for marketing and fund development.
- Proven track record in the development and implementation of comprehensive business and marketing plans. A demonstrated understanding of marketing as a component of development.
- Proven track record in the ability to develop and implement a comprehensive development plan, with extensive experience in all development areas including, but not limited to appeals, planned giving, direct mail, annual campaigns, capital campaigns, and donor acquisition. Track record should include a demonstrated ability to increase donors, funds donated, and the ability to set and meet development goals.
- Demonstrated ability through experience to function as a department head including responsibility for all administrative aspects of running a department.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and (preferable) involvement with international student ministry through church, community, or personal opportunities.
Management Background
Finalists for the position have directed the ongoing activities of relevant functional areas regarding defined goals, procedures, budgets, development and utilization of people resources, and timetables. They have functioned with integrated areas of responsibility to collaborate across departments to contribute a higher revenue yield year after year whether in the for-profit or not-for-profit arena.
Successfully managing a group with diverse personalities and responsibilities is important. Proven skills should be evident, including the following:
- Innovative thinking and planning; a track record of problem solving, particularly with regard to the acquisition, lifting, retention and recovery of customers, constituents or donors.
- Staff selection and development particularly of professional staff by recruiting and fostering personal and professional growth as potential is demonstrated. Second-nature capability to identify the skills, aptitude, and attitude required in new and open positions. Leads by example.
- Utilization of resources for optimum cost effectiveness and economy. A history of accountable, results-oriented operations as an administrative leader and financial manager.
Initial Job Priorities
- To become thoroughly familiar and conversant with the history, values, philosophy and fundraising plans of ISI and be able to communicate these to others.
- To prepare a comprehensive business plan for the various functional areas (major gifts, planned gifts, annual programs, capital campaigns, donor relations, foundation relations, and special projects) with a timeline for implementation and standards for accountability.
- To meet major donors and friends of ISI and begin to present specific charitable gift opportunities to them.
- Ideally, this person would ¡§hit the ground running¡¨ in terms of maintaining and increasing funds while becoming familiar with ISI and developing a plan for the future. This position requires a delicate balance of meeting immediate financial needs while planning for future development needs.
- To quantitatively increase ISI's donor base as rapidly as possible, realizing the need for quality along the way.
Educational Requirements
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent is essential.
- An advanced degree is preferable, particularly with an emphasis in the areas of resource development or marketing.
- Additionally, certificates of specialized study, relevant executive training institutes or theological study would be welcome.
SUMMARY
Individuals who would find a high degree of compatibility and resonance with International Students, Inc. reflect the following:
- An articulated enthusiasm for and commitment to the vision, mission, purpose and community standards of ISI as set forth in its relevant statements. A God-directed sense of calling to ISI.
- An understanding of and agreement with the job description and performance expectations for this position.
- A mature Christian faith with demonstrated godly character, spiritual depth and theological convictions tempered by a realistic self-image and self-assessment.
- A broad thinker with a bent to discovering hidden opportunities. In this regard, a visionary who inspires others to participate in the adventure and who can move the vision to tangible results. Theirs should be a positive attitude caused by infectious optimism regarding the future. A firm belief that if God directs, it can be done.
- Patience, humor and the desire to lead an ambitious staff with various levels of experience.
- The ability to meet each new challenge with a creative response and to express this response in a useful form.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with a social sensitivity to read situations accurately and respond effectively.
- Possession of the talent of persuasiveness with integrity and the good judgment to know how to use this talent.
- A credible, professional appearance and cultivated communication skills, both oral and written, to engage donors on behalf of ISI and successfully seek support for funding needs.
- A family supportive of a transition to this position, with the implied demands of time, energy and travel.
- Honest, trustworthy, faithful, persistent, and teachable.
The Cedarwood Group is a Human Resource Group, assisting those in Christian enterprise leverage their most important asset; their people. We are privileged to serve International Student, Inc. in the identification and selection of the individual qualified, motivated and called to this opportunity. Inquiries, nominations and recommendations are welcome and invited. Please contact:
Susan S. Eames, President
The Cedarwood Group
3010 Poston Avenue, Suite 210
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-321-5888
Fax: 615-321-6434
Email: president@cedarwoodgroup.com
Please refer to this ad in your response.
