Description

Blue Watermelon Project (BWP), established in 2016, was formed to increase access to fresh foods for students. With plans to serve 50 schools in SY 2025-2026 in 4 counties across the state of Arizona, BWP is growing. We see a future in which all people have a taste for a diverse array of foods, schools serve students fresh and healthy options, families  have equitable and culturally-appropriate access, and all have the knowledge and freedom to be nourished, ready to learn and poised for academic and social success.

We work at the community level of schools and school districts in Arizona to rethink relationships with food. We do this through our three key programs:  

Chef in the Garden - We partner with classroom educators to deliver hands-on culinary and garden lessons. AZ Chefs design recipes inspired by an ingredient that can be grown in Arizona school gardens. Culinary and garden activities are tied to the recipe to reinforce curriculum concepts taught in the classroom. Each CITG experience, or kit, includes all the ingredients and materials needed to complete the lesson. Kits come with resources such as  an instructional video, teacher's guide, parent letter, planting instructions and school garden tips.

Feeding the Future - A culinary contest that challenges students to create healthy, great-tasting meals that meet the real-life requirements of federal meal programs. Local chef mentors from around the state are paired with student teams to develop recipes that are school food compliant and delicious. Participation in the program helps students and the surrounding community better understand the challenges that school food professionals face and celebrate the opportunities for creating #abettertrayeveryday. 

School Food Lab - This pilot program aims to support K12 school meal operations in reaching their goal(s) in scratch cooking, seasonal food sourcing, and/or engaging with students on menu offerings. Over time, BWP hopes to standardize the planning, training, and youth engagement activities that work to support K12 operations interested in increasing school meal performance through shifts in K12 professional job satisfaction.

For more information, visit https://www.bluewatermelonproject.org/. 

Position Description

BWP is actively seeking a part-time Development Consultant who will report to and work collaboratively with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to support fundraising and development efforts with a focus on expanding foundation and corporate sponsorship and individual donor cultivation. We have set specific goals for FY 25-26 and are looking for an experienced, connected and focused development professional to guide our strategy over the next 6-12 months.

Key Responsibilities:

• Complete a fundraising audit of BWP including review of past data, efforts, partnerships plus organizational readiness for enhanced fundraising efforts (i.e., tools, staff, marketing).
• Grow foundation, corporate, individual sponsorship by 50%.
• Research, write, and submit aligned sponsorship requests, securing 10-12 sponsorships.
• Grow individual giving by 50%, diversifying within each donor category including new donors.
• Support the execution of donor stewardship activities, including thank-you communications, engagement activities and impact reporting using Neon One donor platform.
• Align goals with annual campaigns and fundraising events (Feeding the Future contest, Giving Tuesday, Spring Fundraiser dinner).
• Provide regular updates and recommendations on fundraising progress and opportunities using a monthly scorecard aligned with development goals. 

Requirements

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in sales, business, communications, or related field
• 3+ years of fundraising experience in Arizona
• Demonstrated track record securing significant gifts, ranging from five to six figures.
• Skilled in managing donor portfolios, with a focus on closing gifts through personalized cultivation strategies
• Ability to design data-driven donor pipelines, including skills in donor segmentation, prospect research, creating cultivation timelines and annual touch points
• Proficient in CRMs or donor management systems and in fundraising best practices
• Clear, succinct, and inspiring written and verbal communication skills
• Self-direction, integrity, and a "let's make this happen” attitude
• A genuine passion for our mission and alignment with our values are essential for success in the role

Compensation

For this role, the Consultant will receive a monthly retainer, with all terms outlined in a contract. The monthly retainer range is between $2,500-$3,500. The retainer amount will vary based on factors including market and individual qualifications, objectively assessed during the interview process.  The retainer serves as a fixed monthly payment for the Consultant's services, ensuring their ongoing availability and commitment to BWP’s fundraising goals. A transparent monthly scorecard will be used to evaluate specific deliverables and the contract can be terminated at any time. An extended timeline or increased monthly retainer may be offered if fundraising goals are exceeded. 

Hybrid Work Environment

This position is a hybrid role; that means there is remote work and some on-site work (strategy meetings, board meetings, etc).  We are requiring that this employee be 1) located in Arizona and 2) travel to Scottsdale an average of twice per month.