Downtown Vision Inc.'s board of directors Wednesday approved the organization to hire a director of strategic partnerships, a new position with an annual salary and benefits package of up to $85,000.
The new hire will be responsible for creating and implementing an annual development plan and strategy; cultivating and nurturing relationships with sponsors, partners and donors; and writing at least five federal, state, county, corporate or foundation grant applications per year.
Qualifications listed on the job description include three to five years of nonprofit experience with an emphasis in corporate sponsorships, strategic partnerships and fundraising; a proven track record of achieving revenue targets; experience working with senior level executives in a corporate environment; and having a high-energy, positive "can do" attitude.
Downtown Vision Executive Director Terry Lorince said the new position will be funded through income generated by the person selected.
"This position will help us generate increased value for DVI. We need to develop an army of supporters," Lorince said.
The board approved an amended annual budget with a $40,000 line item for the new position through Sept. 30 and $85,000 in the proposed budgets through 2015-16.
Lorince said she plans to fill the new position by May 1.
In February, the board approved an expenditure of up to $5,000 to retain a consultant to assist the organization in the development of a three-year strategic plan.
When several board members said they were concerned that little could be done with that budget level, Lorince said she had in the past several years "collected a stack of strategic plans" from similar urban core advocacy organizations.
She suggested Downtown Vision staff could review the collection to determine common themes in strategic plans.
Lorince presented a draft plan Wednesday that included modifying the organization's mission statement and establishing four goals:
• Improving Downtown's public realm/street experience.
"We like to say we're all about the street with our ambassadors and our events," said Lorince.
• Being the proactive advocate for Downtown and its stakeholders.
"We want to be more proactive. We have been reactive, which is the nature of advocacy," Lorince said.
• Providing added value to Downtown stakeholders through information, communications, support and research.
"We can provide information and connect people to the right people to do things," Lorince said.
• Making Downtown Vision a self-sustaining organization; grow and maintain funding mechanisms and establish strong partnerships.
"It's an outline. It's not a work program," said Lorince.
"It seems everybody knows what we need to do. I think we need to get active. We need some action," said board member Pamela Smith, property owner's representative at EverBank Center.
The board deferred approval of the draft strategic plan and will evaluate another presentation in April.
Downtown Vision's board meets at noon the fourth Wednesday of each month on the 23rd floor of the SunTrust Building.
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