The Organization
Mercy Chefs is a $20m faith-based, nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian organization. They exist to serve professionally prepared meals for victims, volunteers, and first responders in natural disasters and national emergencies. They partner with existing like-minded organizations to further their mission by providing food service in underserved communities across the country. Since their establishment in 2006, Mercy Chefs has prepared and served nearly 25 million meals in 28 states and 10 countries. Headquartered in Portsmouth, VA, Mercy Chefs currently owns six self-sustaining mobile kitchens placed across the country to respond to disaster at a moment’s notice. Mercy Chefs, with sixty-five FT and ten PT employees often partners with local churches in emergency deployments and works together with local ministries to station mobile kitchens and coordinate volunteers.
Beyond disaster relief, Mercy Chefs has established permanent community kitchens in Portsmouth, VA, and Nashville, TN as well as Dallas TX, Richmond VA, Lahaina HI, and the Beacon of Hope in Western Kentucky. The community kitchens provide nutritionally rich meals in low-income communities among food insecure populations. They have delivered millions of meals through grocery box distribution in places like Texas, Florida, Virginia, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and others. They have established deployment equipment storage sites in Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama to better facilitate rapid response in a time of crisis.
The Opportunity
Mercy Chefs seeks a Strategic Relationship Manager-Midwestern Region who will build real and meaningful relationships with ministry partners. This engaging and passionate individual will start as an individual contributor and should be systematic, kind and hard working. They will report to the Executive Director of Strategic Relationships. The position can be remote, with regular travel to meet donors in the Western region, as well periodic visits to the headquarters in Portsmouth, VA. Successful candidates can expect potential for the role to grow into a management position.
WHO THEY ARE
Mercy Chef’s Mission
“Just go feed people,” it’s that simple! Mercy Chef exists to provide professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders in natural disasters and national emergencies, and partner with existing like-minded organizations to further their mission by providing food service in underserved communities across the country.
Their Story
When Chef Gary LeBlanc founded Mercy Chefs in 2006, he could never have imagined all that God would do through us. At the time, his heart was broken by what he witnessed while volunteering in his hometown of New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The devastation was so intense and widespread. Lives were completely disrupted. The community was in ruins. After Katrina, he saw first-hand the incredible difference a hot meal could make, but with thirty-five years in the hospitality industry under his belt, he was surprised and outraged by the quality of food being served. He knew something more could be done, and he became inspired to the point of distraction by the idea of serving high-quality food in a disaster zone. Little did he know how far that distraction would lead. To date, Mercy Chefs has served over 25 million meals!
Doctrinal Statement
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom is equal in being, power, and glory.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sin nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and himself completely unable to remedy his lost condition.
We believe that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary for salvation and that we are justified by faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit whose indwelling enables the Christian to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation and eternal punishment.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and that all true believers are members of His body, the Church.
We believe that the purpose of the Church and of each individual Christian is to glorify God by loving God, loving their neighbor, and making disciples. Making disciples includes both evangelizing the lost and nurturing Christians.
WHAT THEY DO
Mercy Chef was founded on the principle of creating hot, chef-prepared meals in disaster zones. When someone has just lost everything, it becomes that much more important to have a well-rounded, nutritious meal to keep energy up and spirits high. Each Mercy Chefs meal is not only made with the best ingredients available, but it is prepared with love, filled with hope, and served with a smile, even in the hardest of places.
Mercy Chefs originated as a disaster relief organization, and this remains their primary focus. Outside of natural disasters and national emergencies, they recognize a responsibility to utilize their equipment, resources, skills, and volunteers to meet the needs of others. Consequently, when they aren’t responding to a crisis, the team is busy working on our other service initiatives.
Three defining pillars of Mercy Chefs:
Disaster Relief and Long-Term Recovery
Community Kitchens and Outreach
Food Insecurity Response
Mercy Chefs works with existing organizations within a community to maximize our joint efforts and to strengthen the community itself. Our focus is not solely placed on our immediate impact but on long-term recovery and enrichment, as well. By partnering with local organizations and volunteers, work can continue long after the Mercy Chefs’ team and trucks depart. They sustain long-term community enrichment by providing locals with the necessary equipment and materials, and by training them to staff and maintain operations for themselves.
POSITION PROFILE
Title: Strategic Relationships Manager
Classification: Full time/exempt, 40 hours per week
Reports to: Executive Director of Strategic Relationships
Direct Reports: None
Position Location: Remote, Western Region
JOB OBJECTIVE
The Strategic Relationships Manager (Major Donor Gift Officer) plays a pivotal role in a nonprofit organization's fundraising efforts by cultivating and maintaining relationships with major donors to secure substantial financial support. This position involves identifying potential major donors, developing real and meaningful relationships with them, and presenting compelling proposals/impact. Major Donor Gift Officers work closely with fundraising teams, use CRM systems, and coordinate events to achieve fundraising goals. The role requires strong interpersonal and communication skills, a deep understanding of fundraising best practices, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Successful candidates will have a passion for the organization's mission and values.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors to secure substantial financial support.
Identify and research potential major donors and develop strategies for engagement.
Create and implement individualized donor cultivation plans.
Develop and deliver compelling presentations and proposals to major donors.
Coordinate and manage donor recognition and appreciation activities.
Maintain accurate donor records and track donor interactions in a CRM system.
Collaborate with marketing and development teams to ensure alignment of major donor strategies with overall fundraising goals.
Conduct donor research to identify potential new major donors.
Assist with planning and executing major donor events, meetings, and campaigns.
Provide regular updates and reports on major donor engagement and fundraising progress.
Stay informed about industry trends and best practices in major donor fundraising.
Participate in regular training and professional development opportunities.
Adhere to ethical fundraising practices and donor confidentiality.
Represent the organization and its mission professionally and passionately.
Collaborate with other team members to ensure a coordinated and cohesive fundraising strategy.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
May perform other duties assigned by the Founder, Co-Founder
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s Degree required, in a relevant field (e.g., nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, businesss)
Several years’ experience with fundraising or development, with a focus on major gifts.
Competence
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in using fundraising software and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
Knowledge of fundraising best practices and ethics.
Data analysis and reporting skills.
Event planning and coordination skills.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Experience in direct solicitation of major gifts or investments.
Solid judgment and apparent leadership skills, Strong work ethic, Impeccable integrity
Ability to maintain donor confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
Strong presentation and negotiation skills.
Results-driven and goal-oriented.
Adaptability and a willingness to learn and grow in the role.
Demonstrated ability to build a viable network/pipeline of prospective donors or investors which to achieve YOY increases in revenue.
Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods in guiding individuals or groups.
Chemistry with the Culture
Ability to engage donors of diverse backgrounds with Mercy Chefs’ mission.
A genuine commitment to and ability to articulate the mission, values, and ministry of Mercy Chefs.
Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for Mercy Chefs mission and commitment to working collaboratively with a management team of professionals.
Mercy Chefs has an all-hands-on deck mindset.
Mercy Chefs is growing fast, and they are looking to add people into the team that are excited about innovating, growth, and teamwork.
Mercy Chefs is a Christian nonprofit, and teammates must be able to appreciate and endorse a faith-based approach to helping others.
Ability to travel with some overnight stays required
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
A competitive annual salary will be awarded based upon experience and credentials. Further details will be discussed in a personal interview.
Benefits:
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Ten (10) PTO days per year
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Opportunities
The organization has encountered expanded need for its services in recent years and as a result has experienced rapidly growth. A highly skilled professional will provide the structure and processes to continuously support this growth.
The team at Mercy Chefs is close knit and excited about the future. They eat well, have fun and serve tirelessly hundreds of people in need. The Strategic Relationships Manager will get to join a high performing team by utilizing strong communication, relationships, alignment, execution, and capacity.
Challenges
The Strategic Relationships Manager will need to be flexible and responsive, able to maneuver around the constant changing needs of the organization. A “status quo” personality won’t work here.
Every deployment is an opportunity for calling strategic relationships and saying “Thank you” as a way to continue the conversation about what is happening at Mercy Chefs.
The Strategic Relationships Manager will need to travel widely in the West to connect existing donors and establish new relationships in order to fully achieve the potential of the Westeran Regional.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you believe this role fits you well, or if you know someone you would like to recommend, please contact:
Dr. Rich Kidd
Partner
mobile :: (757) 642–0622
company main :: (615) 422–0884
email :: rich@missionleadership.org