About We’ve Got Friends (WGF)

We’ve Got Friends (WGF) is a program founded in New Jersey that provides FREE social opportunities for teens with disabilities to form lifelong friendships of their very own.

Our Mission

We create inclusive social spaces for teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to form meaningful connections with their peers. We host hangouts and special events where teens can make friends, share their unique talents and abilities, strengthen their sense of belonging, and gain self-confidence along the way.

Our programming is free to participants and their families; we believe friendship should be accessible to all, regardless of race, gender, national origin, religion, or economic status.

With increased demand and growing interest across New Jersey and neighboring areas, WGF is at a pivotal moment for sustainable growth. To meet the growing needs of our community and expand our capacity, we are preparing to launch a fundraising initiative with a preliminary goal of $500-750k. The ideal candidate for this role boasts over eight years of experience in a consultant role at a nonprofit, with a proven track record of strategizing and executing successful capital campaigns for a nonprofit organization.

We are seeking a Development Director to assist us on a contractual basis and are interested in reviewing candidates for this role via RFP submissions.

Project Overview

We are seeking proposals from experienced fundraising professionals or firms with a proven track record in capital campaign planning, strategy, donor cultivation, and campaign execution. The selected Development Consultant will help assess and identify any gaps in our readiness, provide recommendations, design a campaign plan, and offer ongoing counsel throughout the campaign lifecycle.

The Development Consultant will collaborate with the board and Director of Operations, with the expectation of providing regular updates and strategic input throughout the campaign. This project is projected to be a 12-month engagement, with flexibility based on progress.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be expected to:

Conduct a feasibility study and campaign readiness assessment
Develop a comprehensive campaign strategy and case for support
Identify and help engage major donor prospects
Advise on campaign structure and timeline
Provide training for board and campaign committee members (where necessary)
Support solicitation strategies for major gifts
Collaborate with Grant Writer to achieve specific goals
Offer ongoing counsel and reporting throughout the campaign phases
Leverage existing donor and funder relationships, where appropriate, to help open doors and accelerate campaign momentum.

Qualifications

The ideal consultant will bring:

Demonstrated success leading capital campaigns of similar size and scope
Strong experience with donor cultivation and major gifts
Knowledge of local and regional, (NJ and NYC-area), philanthropic landscapes
Excellent communication, strategic planning, and project management skills
Familiarity with nonprofit board engagement and volunteer-led campaigns
An established network of philanthropic contacts, major donors, or institutional funders especially within the NJ/NYC area is strongly preferred.

Proposal Requirements

Please include the following in your proposal:

Letter of interest and summary of relevant experience
Proposed approach to the campaign and timeline
Examples of past campaign success, preferably with references
Proposed budget and fee structure
Availability to begin work and estimated duration of engagement

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

Experience and track record with capital campaigns
Strategic approach and feasibility
Qualifications of key personnel
Cost-effectiveness
Fit with our organization’s mission and values

Submission Instructions

All proposals must be submitted electronically by Friday, September 5 via:

The "Apply Now" button on this posting

OR

Rana Barclay
WGF Board Member
barclayworks@gmail.com