KARM VP of Development OP - 2016

Our mission is to seek to rescue the poor and needy of the
Knox area by providing recovery services in Jesus’ name.
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
KNOX AREA RESCUE MINISTRIES
www.jobfitmatters.com

Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) is a non-profit organization founded in December 1960 as the Knoxville
Union Rescue Mission. At that time the organization’s purpose was to provide food and shelter to homeless men.
Today, KARM serves nearly 1,000 meals daily and shelters nearly 400 men, women and children each night.
KARM’s mission is to rescue the poor and needy in the Knoxville area by providing recovery services in Jesus’
name. Emergency services provided by KARM are the essential first step to helping the homeless out of their crisis
and introducing them to the One who can bring real restoration.
KARM serves a variety of people, including the homeless, the working poor, the mentally ill, veterans, persons
dealing with drug or alcohol addictions, and people escaping family violence – men, women and families of all
ethnic backgrounds. Indeed, the face of homelessness has changed since KARM opened the doors in 1960. No
longer is it only the bent, broken older man stumbling down the sidewalk. Rather, it is also the faces of hungry,
frightened children and parents overwhelmed by their circumstances, women in crisis, and teens who have aged
out of foster care with nowhere else to go. The need is even more critical today because whole generations are in
danger of becoming enslaved to poverty and addiction.
While KARM is unapologetically a Christian organization, no one seeking help at KARM is denied services
for not participating in Christian services or professing faith in Jesus Christ. Living out the Christian faith by
fulfilling the biblical mandate to care for “the least of these” drives all that KARM does each day.
KARM is the largest homeless service provider in East Tennessee and the only emergency shelter in the region.
KARM strives to work in partnership or collaboratively with other service providers to facilitate optimal service
delivery to those in need. Professional affiliations include membership in the Association of Gospel Rescue
Missions (AGRM) and the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA).
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Crossroads Welcome Center
KARM’s Crossroads Welcome Center acts as the
first point of contact and engagement for those
coming to KARM. Crossroads draws its name
from Jeremiah 6, allowing a person to “choose”
a path for moving forward. Through initial
triage, intake into the Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS), and a needs
assessment, a person is referred to the best place to
have their needs addressed. At Crossroads, guests
have access to personal bag storage, mail box
service, computers, telephones, and restrooms,
as well as collaborative co-location/office space
to many other key organizations that serve the
homeless. About 150 people visit Crossroads
daily..
Food & Shelter
Each day KARM serves nearly 1,000 meals
(breakfast, lunch and dinner) and provides warm,
safe shelter to nearly 400 men, women and
children each night.
LaunchPoint
LaunchPoint is a 30 day program for men and
women who do not typically participate in
residential recovery. Students learn that God has
a plan and purpose for our lives and that they can
have a plan for their life that fits within His plan.
Focusing on 12 key life domains class participants
develop their own life plan with realistic goals, and
learn to implement their plan in manageable steps
as they move forward to rejoin their community
as productive and contributing members. Hope
is awakened and vision is rekindled for living the
life God intends for us all.
The Bridge Transitional Program
Men who have completed LaunchPoint may
apply to The Bridge, KARM’s recently completed
transitional housing program. The floor houses up
to 44 men who are working on their LaunchPoint
action plans to end their homeless. Bridge
residents live in a dorm-like setting and receive
support from a care coordinator, mentors and
others living there who are who are also working
on their plans. Most are employed or looking
for employment and other resources to resume
life in the community. Women who complete
LaunchPoint receive transitional housing at
Serenity (see below).
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Job Training
Through LaunchPoint, many homeless come
to realize that they need additional help such as
job training or recovery services. The abundant
Life Kitchen and Clean Start are multi-week
job training programs. Students spend several
weeks in the classroom/laboratory followed by
an unpaid internship with a local business. The
Abundant Life Kitchen teaches food services
training in a commercial kitchen environment,
and Clean Start teaches commercial cleaning/
janitorial services. The KARM Stores also provide
training and a first job for many who are learning
customer service/retail job skills.
Recovery
Serenity is KARM’s long term, biblically-based
residential recovery program for women, serving
as many as 30 women on site. Upon graduation,
Serenity clients are employed (or with a source of
income), able to move into their own affordable
home, have learned to live within a reasonable
budget, and have made or are making restitution
for past poor choices. They have been restored
in their relationships to God, self, family and
community. Women completing LaunchPoint
may also reside at Serenity while working on their
LaunchPoint action plans. The KARM men’s
recovery program is currently on hiatus to be
redesigned and housed in an appropriate location
away from the main campus.
Today KARM is more equipped and better
prepared than ever before to fulfill its mandate
and pledge to the hurting and homeless of the
greater Knoxville area. Rescue and recovery
services that provide emergency care, educational
and vocational training, addiction and crisis
intervention programs, as well as compassionate
spiritual care, are fully operational with impressive
results.
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The essential core values and commitments of
KARM to the clients and community they serve
are summarized in the following core values:
God Dependent
We recognize our dependence on God for
all things, and we strive to walk in humble
recognition of that fact. We seek God’s will and
mind by making prayer a vital element in every
endeavor of organizational life.
Biblically Grounded
We seek to act in faith and obedience to Scripture.
People Centered
We recognize that all people are created by God
and strive to value all people by demonstrating
love and respect through our programs, policies
and relationships.
Church and Volunteer Rooted
Because serving the poor and needy is a call to the
Church and, therefore, God’s people, we seek to
be a place where His people can use their Godgiven
gifts and talents to fulfill that call. As such
we seek to engage volunteers from local churches
in every aspect of the ministry.
Excellence Minded
We endeavor to deliver our services with
excellence in every regard; and to that end we will
steward our resources for maximum Kingdom
impact in a way that pleases our Lord. While not
legitimized by conventional, secular outcomes, we
will use those as measures to gauge effectiveness
and efficiency.
Dedicated to the Homeless,
Poor and Needy for Christ’s Sake
In Jesus’ name we concentrate the ministry on the
homeless, poor, and needy and those impacted by
poverty.
KARM continues to diversify its ministry to
meet the needs of hurting individuals in the
Knoxville community. Inasmuch as homelessness
in Knox County has both increased and changed
significantly over the last ten years, KARM has
expanded to meet the demand and adapted
its programs accordingly. The programs have
changed—the mission of restoring lives in
Jesus’ name has not. The Board of Directors and
ministry staff are fully committed to that end.
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The following equation depicts KARM’s emphasis and is currently in use in all KARM materials:
RESCUE + RELATIONSHIPS = RESTORATION
Rescue
Rescue, at its simplest point of definition, comes in the form of an immediate response to men, women
and children who are in crisis and need a life preserver to pull them to safety. Rescue is provided
through a needed meal, safe shelter, a clean bed, and the services of our staff and volunteers, offered
with overwhelming biblical hospitality.
Relationships
Relationships with God and healthy Christ-like relationships with others are vital to moving forward
toward restoration. Relationship building is woven into the fabric of every ministry opportunity, and
is integral throughout the Crossroads, LaunchPoint, residential recovery and The Bridge transitional
housing programs. Separate residential recovery programs for men and women provide the extended
intensive relationship care in which the issues surrounding addiction and abuse can be addressed
through a biblically sound program.
Restoration
Restoration is the desired result for those who come to KARM in need…restoration to God, self,
family and community. When one is rescued and then develops healthy relationships, true restoration
becomes possible. Hope is awakened and visions for a new life become attainable.
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Knox Area Rescue Ministries serves Knox County and an extended area throughout East Tennessee as a
non-profit Christian ministry providing rescue and recovery services in Jesus’ name. As such it receives
no federal, state or local funding for the daily operational costs associated with the mission, nor does it
receive funding through the annual effort of the United Way of Knox County.
The KARM operating budget is just over $6 million with $1.5 million coming from thrift stores and
$4.5 raised by the development team through individual contributions, direct mail and special events.
Overall, KARM is a $13 million a year ministry with income from eighteen thrift stores and a robust
Gift-In-Kind program.
KARM is in the final stages of their $5 million “Restoring” capital campaign which will complete main
campus facility enhancements and renovate the Serenity campus for women. Increased funding is
necessary to expand our services to families, re-launch men’s residential recovery in a new location and
move forward with the New Job New Life job training program. Further, the ministry has embarked
on a bold new initiative that completely transforms the main campus into a model with an emphasis
on learning, labor, and service that resembles Berea College in Berea, KY.
KARM is a non-profit Christian ministry that holds 501(c) 3 status, thus allowing tax exemptions
for all donated monetary and in-kind gifts. The work of the mission is carried out by the CEO under
the oversight and care of a dedicated Board of Directors comprised of committed Christian men and
women representing a diversity of backgrounds and expertise.
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Knoxville is a city with a number of cultural amenities ranging from arts and entertainment to sports
and cuisine. The city’s population is around 200,000 people with a metro area consisting of nearly
750,000. There are a number of well-known suburban cities a short drive away from downtown. The
city and its surrounding metro area schools are consistently ranked as some of the best in the nation
and there is a strong magnet program as well as a number of private school options available. The
area is also home to the University of Tennessee and a number of other prestigious colleges. For more
information about Knoxville visit: www.visitknoxville.com.
KARM is located in the heart of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, at 418 North Broadway (intersection
of Broadway and Magnolia, the area of the city where the homeless and destitute tend to gather.
Located only a few blocks from Knoxville’s railway district and bus terminal, KARM’s campus provides
immediate shelter and care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Serenity, KARM’s residential recovery program for women, is situated approximately three miles from
the main campus. Spacious grounds complement this facility and provide the refuge and solitude
needed by those in recovery.
The eighteen KARM Stores are located in Knox County and adjacent counties. KARM’s thrift stores
have received wide popular recognition and support from the community, and expansion of the stores
continues. For more information about KARM Stores, visit www.karm.org.
For a more comprehensive overview of KARM, visit the web site at www.karm.org.
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Knox Area Rescue Ministries is currently seeking a Vice President of Development. The VP of
Development reports directly to the President/CEO, is a member of the senior leadership team, and
is responsible for leading all fundraising and development activities to significantly increase KARM’S
financial support over the next few years. KARM is renowned throughout the country as one of the
best, most successful, and innovative rescue missions. Actively serving on this senior leadership team is
a privilege, an honor, and a great responsibility to learn from and contribute to the best.
The VP of Development will forge new relationships to build KARM’s visibility, impact and financial
resources. The successful candidate will design and implement a comprehensive plan for key alliances
by cultivating individual and philanthropic support. He/She will have a primary responsibility for
establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to provide those revenues today and in the
future through a comprehensive, sustainable development program that includes direct response, major
gifts, signature events, and planned giving.
In addition to ensuring the development program includes all facets to support KARM’s ministry
efforts, a major focus of the VP of Development will be on developing and implementing a robust
major gift program. He/She will oversee all major giving efforts and will carry a portfolio of key
donors and prospects. In addition to personal efforts, he/she will position KARM’s President, and
other integral leaders, to maximize their efforts in situations with key donors and opportunities. The
VP of Development will ensure that development efforts are properly staffed by professionals who are
sufficiently trained and directed to successfully meet fundraising goals and objectives.
The incoming VP of Development will possess the experience, skills and ability to function successfully
across a broad and diverse landscape in which KARM operates. He/She will work closely with, and
be attuned to, the hopes and needs of the various communities they serve, while having the ability to
effectively develop a narrative of the diverse services the ministry provides. He/She will put in place a
sound development infrastructure, setting goals and objectives for performance. In addition, the new
VP of Development will ensure that systems are in place to monitor results, ensuring the department
is fully engaged and fundraising is reaching its potential.
The expectation is that the next VP of Development will build a development infrastructure and grow
a major gifts program such that KARM revenue from development activities grows from $5 million to
$7 million per year over the next 3 years.
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• A commitment to Christ is at the center of the mission of KARM. Candidates should have
personal warmth that invites trust. S/he should be a spiritually-maturing Christian who is
able to work with a wide range of people.
• Candidates should sense a call from God to ministry. The mission of KARM should energize
this person. S/he should have a high energy level and a readiness to take on a significant
challenge. In addition, the successful candidate’s family situation should allow for meeting
the time demands of this position.
• The successful candidate will be known as a leader. The primary criterion is that s/he comes
with a successful track record of leading development efforts; specifically, applying strategy,
passion for mission, and relational skills to build organizations that make a difference in
their area of influence.
• The successful candidate must be known for creating work environments that encourage all
staff to develop fully their personal and professional lives. S/he must have a verifiable track
record of productive, collaborative team leadership.
• The successful candidate must be known in the workplace as a collaborator – someone who
is both comfortable and adept at navigating relationships both internally and externally.
The VP of Development will represent KARM with many different community and
governmental entities — both secular and faith-based.
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Development Success
This person will have measurable success in direct
one-on-one major gift fundraising, as well as
a proven track record of leading and growing a
comprehensive development department.
Inspirational Communicator
The incoming VP of Development should be
enthusiastic and exhibit outstanding interpersonal
and relationship-building skills, and demonstrate
excellent writing and presentation skills.
Mature Faith
We are seeking a leader of deep personal faith,
in agreement theologically with KARM. The
right leader will have the ability to think and act
decisively with purpose and integrity.
Proven Team Leadership
The successful candidate will be a proven leader
with the experience, vision and energy required
to partner with senior leadership within KARM,
its Board and high-capacity stakeholders who are
committed to fundraising success. The incoming
VP of Development will have the ability to assess
the development organization and its resources,
and to work collaboratively and successfully with
staff to implement changes and enhancements to
KARM fundraising programs.
Exceptional Ability to Prioritize
The successful candidate will possess exceptional
judgment, flexibility, and the demonstrated ability
to thrive in a fast-paced environment, juggling
multiple priorities and satisfying numerous
deadlines simultaneously.
Passion for Homeless
KARM ministers to the homeless and allows
the local church to partner with KARM, so the
right leader will have a passion for ministry to
the homeless. This person will have, or develop
quickly, credibility and relationships in the
community.
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• A bachelor’s degree; preferably an advanced degree in philanthropy, business, marketing, etc.
• Five to ten years of development leadership or related experience
• Commitment to KARM core values
• A demonstrated record of achievement leading others and raising money through traditional
and nontraditional channels
• Strong marketing sense
Compensation consists of a competitive base salary dependent on the qualifications and experience
of the successful candidate. A comprehensive benefit package is provided that includes the following:
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, holiday)
• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision) with company premium contribution of between
65-90% depending on coverage election
• Self-pay supplemental insurance options (accident, hospitalization, cancer, among others)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Individual life and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match (currently 4%)
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If after reading this Opportunity Profile you sense that the gifts and experience God has given you are a
good match for Knox Area Rescue Ministries, we invite you to begin the inquiry process. All candidate
information and conversations are handled confidentially. You may contact Laura Coverstone at any stage
of the process to get more information and to ask questions. Her contact information is below.
When preparing your resume for this position, please include the following for each position that you
have held during the past fifteen years.
• Name and location of company/organization
• Job title
• Years in the position
• Position to which you reported and positions that reported to you
• Primary responsibilities and achievements
• Aspects of the position which most directly prepared you to be the Vice President of Development
at KARM
• Reason for leaving current position
In order to help us get a more complete picture of you and your interest in this position, provide us with
responses to the following four questions:
1. Describe your faith in Jesus and how this has impacted the way you view work.
2. What is it about the position of Vice President of Development for KARM that attracts you?
3. Please share details of your most recent fundraising leadership position and your success. (e.g.
How much were you responsible for raising annually? How much was raised by the entire
team? )
4. Provide the names and contact information (telephone numbers and email addresses) for four
references who know you and your career well enough to comment on your suitability for this
role.
Please do not be overly concerned with brevity in assembling this package of materials. While we don’t
want to read volumes, we do want you to take the time to share enough meaningful information to allow
us to get to know you and why you would make a strong Vice President of Development at KARM.
Submit this information in ONE Microsoft Word document or pdf to:
Laura Coverstone
JobfitMatters Executive Search
resumes@simainternational.com
Phone: (615) 261-4623
In the subject line, please write “VP of Development – KARM.”
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