EMMETT TILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER

“Emmett Till was my George Floyd. He was my Rayshard Brooks,

Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor.” - Congressman John Lewis
 

About the Organization: The Emmett Till Interpretive Center
The Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC), located in Sumner, Mississippi, exists to tell the story of the Emmett Till tragedy and to point a way towards racial healing. Specifically, the Center uses storytelling to help process past pain and to imagine new ways of moving forward. Following the July 2023 designation of the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, the ETIC is now re-envisioning our work. In 2025, we are undertaking a strategic planning process and are setting our priorities and core mission for the next three years. Public education, supporting the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, and purchasing, restoring, and interpreting key historic sites will be a vital part of that mission.

The Center's mission is deeply rooted in the historical significance of Emmett Till's story, aiming to educate and inspire visitors toward a better future. The organization is committed to leveraging beauty, innovation, and design to transport visitors back to the summer of 1955, when 14-year-old Emmett Till visited the Mississippi Delta and became the spark who ignited the Civil Rights Movement.

About the Role - Director of Development & Stewardship
This role will continue to build and grow the development function at ETIC by driving the planning, executing, and managing of fundraising campaigns, events, and donor relations. The Development Operations & Stewardship Director works closely with the senior team and Board to identify potential donors, maintain donor databases, and prepare grant applications and reports.  In this role, you will leverage various skills, from developing creative engagement solutions to attracting prospective supporters to creating a communications system to ensure ongoing touchpoints with our existing base of supporters. Your attention to detail also gives way to high emotional EQ as you pick up on the small things, knowing it goes a long way to be personable and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

This role presents a unique opportunity to contribute to an organization with an annual budget of approximately $2 million. ETIC has a strong fundraising track record but is seeking to formalize and enhance its development approaches. With the purchase and development of key historic sites, ETIC will need to execute a large capital campaign in the next few years. We understand that successful development and fundraising takes time, resources, and support, and we are committed to providing the new Director with all three. 

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will be responsible for the day-to-day execution of development strategies (including major donor research, database maintenance, and acknowledgments). As a cross-functional member of the organization, you will collaborate with the Chief Program Officer, Chief Operations Officer, the Board of Directors’ Development Committee, and others as assigned by the Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, communicative, creative, and organized.  

Your responsibilities will include:

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Cultivate and Manage Donor Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, major donors, and prospective donors. Support the Executive Director, Chief Program Officer, and Board members in their donor engagement efforts.

• Expand Funding Opportunities: Lead initiatives to establish and nurture new partnerships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations, both locally and nationally.

• Foster a Culture of Philanthropy: Promote an entrepreneurial and philanthropic mindset among staff and the Board of Directors.

• Enhance Organizational Visibility: Create and manage strategic partnerships, programs, and initiatives to elevate ETIC's profile within the community, locally, and nationally.

• Support Fundraising Events: Assist in the planning and execution of fundraising events, managing logistics, invitations, and on-site activities, in collaboration with the Board and event planners.

Prospect Research and Grant Development

• Identify and Qualify Prospects: Conduct proactive research to identify and qualify potential major gift, grant, and other funding prospects.

• Develop and Submit Grant Proposals: Prepare and submit compelling grant proposals and reports to foundations, corporations, and other funding sources.

• Implement Fundraising Strategies: Execute long-term fundraising strategies, encompassing all potential revenue streams, including grant writing, campaigns, corporate and individual donations, and events.

Development Operations and Administration

• Maintain Accurate Donor Records: Maintain precise records of current and potential donors, diligently track donations, and ensure prompt acknowledgment of all contributions.

  • ETIC currently uses Bloomerang as its donor database. 

• Track and Maintain Donor and Prospect Information: Track and maintain detailed donor and prospect records, including outreach activities, interests, and contribution history.

• Generate Fundraising Reports: Create and distribute regular fundraising reports, providing the ED and Board with up-to-date information on the organization's fundraising performance.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• An Effective & Excellent Writer. You write well and take pride in your ability to do so, especially when communicating an idea, topic, or vision that you are passionate about.

• A Convener. You recognize that a well-prepared and supported community can achieve far more than a single, highly talented individual. 

• A Relationship Builder. You thrive on meeting new people and like to foster relationships. You like learning what motivates people, what inspires their giving, and what makes them feel appreciated.

• Meticulous. You’re highly organized, with an eye for detail and excellent proofreading skills.

• Resourceful and Adaptable. You’re at ease with ambiguity and rapid change. You possess a positive attitude and identify creative solutions to obstacles. You can juggle many important responsibilities at once and are rigorous about prioritizing.

• Self-motivated. You proactively take the initiative, identifying problems and opportunities across your portfolio, developing recommendations, and taking action on those recommendations.

What You'll Need 

• At least 7 years of related and progressively responsible experience, with at least 3 years in fundraising and development.

• Ability to handle multiple deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace.

• Impeccable organization; you are highly detail-oriented and someone who gets a real sense of satisfaction from producing polished work and managing smooth and orderly processes.

• A commitment to diversity and inclusion. You're always asking: "whose voice is not at the table?" You have experience working with diverse teams and successfully navigating cross-cultural communication in both local and remote contexts, and you deeply value creating a workplace that is supportive of difference.

Compensation and Location
ETIC provides a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Employer-covered medical insurance, dental, vision, and life insurance.

• 14 paid holidays per calendar year.

• A 401k plan with employer contributions.

• 15 PTO days each calendar year (combined sick and personal time).

The hiring range for this position is an annual salary of $92,000-$100,000. The final salary within this range will be determined based on relevant experience.

As for location, please read carefully: This is a remote position, but the candidate will be expected in Sumner quite often (on average, once a month) and, therefore, should live within a decent driving distance. Memphis and Jackson would be great, though cities further away, Birmingham, New Orleans, Nashville, and even Atlanta would suffice. If you have roots and/or existing connections to the Mississippi Delta, we would be willing to support you with relocation expenses. 


The Application Process
ETIC has engaged Equitable Hiring Group to support this hiring process. To apply, please visit the job listing on Equitable Hiring and complete the process there. 

Individuals who apply by Friday, April 4th, will be given priority; therefore, we encourage you to submit yours soon!

When you apply, we kindly ask you to remove your schools from your resume. There is no need to reformat your resume and leave your degree as is; simplify it to “B.A. Economics,” for example. Just remember to remove any undergraduate and graduate school name references where possible. This “bias-reduced” process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments instead of resume proxies (e.g., where you went to school).

This evaluation process will follow practices shown to reduce bias in decision-making and may be different from other application processes you have experienced.

The overall evaluation process will look to follow this anticipated timeline:

• Early April: Selected candidates will be asked to complete a short answer questionnaire. 

• Mid-April: Selected candidates will participate in a video interview with ETIC staff. 

• Late April: Selected candidates will be asked to complete a paid, timed trial project. 

• Early May: Selected candidates will participate in a video panel interview with multiple team members. 

• Mid-May: Selected candidates will be invited for an in-person meet & greet and a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. 

• Late May: Offer extended.
   

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please email abe@equitablehiringgroup.com.