Position Summary
The Director of Development is YWCA St. Paul’s senior fundraising leader, responsible for growing contributed revenue through a disciplined fundraising strategy, strong donor relationships and reliable development systems. The role leads major gifts and individual giving, donor stewardship, fundraising data and performance management, while providing strategic guidance to the Grants Manager.
This position is intentionally focused on fundraising. Marketing, communications and broader community engagement are led by other staff or contractors; the Director works with those partners to develop effective donor-facing messages and materials.
Essential Responsibilities & Approximate Time Allocation
Time allocations are approximate and may shift based on campaigns, deadlines and organizational priorities.
Fundraising Strategy, Major Gifts & Leadership — 55%
- Develop and lead an annual fundraising plan with clear revenue goals, strategies, timelines, ownership and performance measures.
- Build, qualify and actively manage a portfolio of current and prospective major donors.
- Lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, closing and follow-up, with tailored strategies based on donor interests, capacity and connection to the mission.
- Strengthen annual, recurring, reactivation and donor-upgrade strategies; develop planned giving opportunities as capacity grows.
- Maintain a diversified funding strategy and translate organizational priorities, program outcomes and capital needs into compelling cases for support.
- Monitor fundraising performance, pipeline health, risks and opportunities; provide regular forecasts and recommendations to the CEO, finance leadership and Board.
- Prepare the CEO, Board members and other ambassadors for donor meetings and solicitations.
- Lead philanthropy staff and resources as assigned, establishing clear expectations, accountability and ethical fundraising practices.
Donor Stewardship & Engagement — 20%
- Implement a consistent, personalized stewardship approach that strengthens donor retention, engagement and lifetime value.
- Ensure timely gift acknowledgments, recognition, impact reporting and follow-up on donor commitments and restrictions.
- Create meaningful donor touchpoints and mission experiences in partnership with program staff.
- Collaborate with marketing and communications staff or contractors on donor stories, appeals, campaigns and impact materials.
- Support institutional funder stewardship and represent YWCA St. Paul at select donor and fundraising events.
Development Operations, Data & Grants Coordination — 25%
- Ensure the donor database is accurate, complete and consistently used for relationship management, reporting and forecasting.
- Establish sound workflows for gift entry, acknowledgments, contact reports, prospect stages, pledge tracking and data hygiene.
- Monitor key performance indicators, including revenue, retention, acquisition, upgrades, portfolio activity and pipeline value.
- Partner with finance to reconcile contributed revenue, track restrictions and maintain consistent reporting across systems.
- Provide strategic guidance and prioritization to the Grants Manager so grant activity aligns with organizational strategy, capacity and revenue goals.
- Maintain visibility into the grants pipeline, calendar, probability, reporting obligations and results without serving as the primary grant writer.
- Help shape institutional funding strategies and cases for support, coordinating with program and finance leaders as needed.
Qualifications/Required
- At least five years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including demonstrated success with individual giving and major gifts.
- A record of developing fundraising strategies, personally soliciting significant gifts and producing measurable revenue growth.
- Strong knowledge of donor stewardship, moves management, prospect development and fundraising performance measurement.
- Experience using a donor database or CRM to manage portfolios, maintain clean data and produce useful reports and forecasts.
- Ability to turn organizational priorities and program impact into compelling cases for support.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication, judgment, organization and follow-through.
- Experience working effectively with executive leaders, staff and nonprofit Board members.
- Commitment to YWCA St. Paul’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
- Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience and demonstrated results will be considered; a four-year degree is not required.
Preferred
- Seven or more years of fundraising experience, including leadership of a development or philanthropy function.
- Experience in a multi-program human services, health, housing, workforce or social justice organization.
- Experience guiding grant strategy and collaborating with dedicated grant staff.
- Experience with capital campaigns, planned giving or corporate partnerships; CFRE or relevant professional development.
Working Conditions
This role requires regular computer use, local travel for donor meetings and events, and occasional evening or weekend work. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Equal Opportunity
YWCA St. Paul is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in the E-Verify program.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
