SUMMARY OF THE OPPORTUNITY
This is an exciting opportunity to join a globally recognized leader in “crossing barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ, making disciples, working with churches and facilitating cross-cultural ministry.” SIM is an organization with an incredible heritage and a promising future. Traditionally reliant on missionary support and specific project donations to generate revenues for their work, needs are changing and opportunities for SIM continue to grow. These opportunities necessitate a new approach to fund development and recruiting individuals with proven proficiencies in bolstering existing and new high-level major giving in a sustainable manner is a must.
ABOUT SIM USA
Transcending denominational identification, SIM has a rich history spanning 125 years in developing and supporting work globally, categorized by three main foci: responding to need, proclaiming the gospel and equipping the Church. In doing so, SIM’s purpose and passion is to “make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in communities where He is least known”.
SIM is an organization that has grown in part through partnership and merger. It is an amalgamation of ministries with strong heritages dating to the late 1880’s whose founders pioneered mission organizations committed to reaching people who had not known of the love of Jesus. Their work in Africa through Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) and Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), South America through Andes Evangelical Mission (AEM), Asia-Pacific through International Christian Fellowship (ICF) and Asian Access, and the Middle East through Middle East Christian Outreach (MECO) has been both difficult and challenging. Their commitment to and passion for the gospel allows them to focus on meeting the physical needs of those to whom they minister, proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ, and building and strengthening His Church. SIM is well-positioned to build on the heritage of its past while moving toward an exciting future of expansion and enhanced impact. Through well-established global ministries, SIM will continue to make a significant impact in the physical, social and spiritual needs of people around the world.
Today, SIM is based in Charlotte, NC. In cooperation with more than 40 other worldwide offices, its work continues to flourish with more than 4,000 staff in over 70 countries on six continents. They are uniquely positioned for impact in God’s Kingdom. Sometimes a greater impact is made through partnering with other agencies, ministries and non-governmental organizations around the world. Whether working individually or in partnership, SIM is engaging in a variety of ministries that effectively meet a wide range of physical, social and spiritual needs.
SIM’s mission is to Respond to Need, Proclaim the Gospel, and Equip the Church in clearly defined ways:
Respond to Need – A robust medical and health ministry that includes hospitals, clinics and health professionals who provide on-going services as well as responding to medical emergencies. SIM also provides support in many other types of ministries, including community development, children’s programs, and disaster response.
Proclaim the Gospel – The ultimate need of mankind is to know Jesus Christ as savior, and SIM proclaims the gospel through not only evangelism, but also through business ministries, childrens ministries, education and radio broadcasts among other initiatives.
Equip the Church – Training and equipping local church leaders is done through ministries like theological training, discipling believers and teaching leaders to use various platforms for outreach – like sports or HIV/AIDS ministries.
SIM’s impact around the globe is significant. SIM missionaries and staff are on the forefront of medical and natural disaster response while introducing the love of Jesus Christ to the world. Opportunities and challenges continue to grow and are being met through the passion, commitment and faithfulness to its mission. The new Senior Stewardship Officer (Officer) will support this continuing impact through participating on a team of people who are identifying and developing relationships with donors that result in their prayer support of and financial investment in the work of SIM. Through developing these ministry and financial partnerships, current and new, resources will be available to meet the ever-expanding needs of today and those in the future.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The vision for the new Officer is that through cultivating relationships with major donors and other identified stakeholders, current and potential, fund development efforts will continue to grow, providing much needed sources of funding for the ministry. Through building relationships with donors and potential donors, utilizing God-honoring practices that encourage Biblical stewardship, the Officer will engage with ministry donors who have capacity to make significant gifts to this work. The Officer will work to achieve fundraising results utilizing the resources available and his/her knowledge of best practices in fundraising and donor relationship development. His/Her skills will result in the identification, cultivation and provision of counsel that each donor needs to fulfill their stewardship calling as they fund the continuing ministry and growth of SIM.
In doing so, the Officer will grow a donor base that is ever-expanding, and providing new and on-going sources of prayer and financial support. Opportunities for increased resource development across the United States are significant and will provide the levels of support needed through employing sound fundraising practices and a dedication to the work at hand. He/She will be expected to achieve goals primarily through major gifts and will be involved in annual gift support, events and other initiatives. Much of the work will focus on preparing and encouraging current and potential donors to participate in a major annual fundraising event. This individual will possess the ability and skill to cultivate and secure large gifts, as well as to retain donors at this level. Through all of his/her efforts, the Officer will communicate the mission of SIM and personally model a mature, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
THE POSITION
The Officer will engage individuals to participate in the prayer and financial support of SIM ministries. Although SIM fundraising has traditionally taken a conservative posture, broader strategies and approaches that do not violate relationally based fundraising boundaries will be considered. He/She will effectively plan, organize, lead and administer all activities and operations with their respective portfolios, and will participate in collaborative efforts with the entire Stewardship Department. This individual will work to ensure the execution and implementation of the strategy as designed in consultation with the Vice President of Stewardship and the Director of Major Gifts. The Officer will creatively explore possibilities for current and future partnerships while representing SIM as a whole both internally and to the public at large.
The successful candidate will have an abiding faith in Jesus Christ and be heavily invested in an active personal prayer life. He/She will have a passion for the work of SIM and as such embrace its mission, operations and successes to enable him/her to communicate the vision in a manner that will truly inspire others. He/She will be an extension of SIM, modeling its Christian values and ethics, including: effective listening, attention to non-verbal cues, tact, patience and courtesy. He/She will establish rapport and maintain respect with leaders and individuals from a variety of Christian denominations, including those with theological beliefs that differ from their own. The successful candidate will take spiritual responsibility for the people God puts in their path by praying for and shepherding them, all while serving with an "open hand."
THE ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Officer will have the knowledge, skills and ability to articulate the vision, mission, identity and funding needs of SIM, to select individuals, foundations, and other current and potential partners and to engage their financial support. This Officer will be able to present SIM’s mission, work and needs, biblically and practically, focusing on identifying, developing and cultivating relationships with those individuals and entities that have the passion, motivation and capacity to support the work of SIM at the major donor level. In addition, he/she will be an ambassador for SIM, seizing every opportunity to further its work in responding to need, proclaiming the gospel and equipping the Church.
The successful candidate will possess spiritual maturity, humility, strong leadership skills and creativity to lead a team in starting and growing relationships with current and potential donors with a high comfort level to successfully make “the ask.” He/She will be engaging with a genuine, open demeanor while possessing persuasive communication skills and the ability to present SIM successes and needs with internal and external stakeholders in ways that motivate them to action and investment. He/She will have a passion for personal networking coupled with the business acumen to develop strategies for potential donors to insure approaches are well-thought out and appropriate to their interest, situation and capacity.
Specific responsibilities include, but not limited to:
THE QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation and benefits for this position are highly competitive with comparable opportunities. SIM is committed to attracting and retaining quality staff members.
THE LOCATION
While there is a preference for the new Officer to reside in a city with a concentration of SIM partners, consideration will be given to any location within close proximity to major transportation resources to facilitate travel requirements of the position.
THE SEARCH AND SELECTION PROCESS
SIM USA is conducting this search for an Officer. Candidates will be identified through a number of sources. SIM USA will review and evaluate all interested parties in the process of determining a final group for consideration. The search will be coordinated by the SIM USA senior leadership team who will be involved in all aspects of the process, including interviewing finalists and making the final selection decision.
The search will be conducted in a professional, consistent manner with a commitment to all potential candidates being afforded the same considerations by the search firm and the Client. SIM USA is an equal opportunity employer and strictly adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, color, sex, handicap or national origin. All reasonable efforts will be made to protect the confidentiality of candidates.