The Director of Development is responsible for leading and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances the organization's mission, financial sustainability, and community impact. This position oversees all aspects of philanthropy, including major gifts, annual giving, workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, grants, sponsorships, planned giving, donor stewardship, and special events.
The Director of Development serves as a key member of the leadership team and works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, community partners, and staff to cultivate meaningful relationships and generate resources that support strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan with measurable revenue goals.
- Lead all fundraising activities to ensure diversification and growth of revenue streams.
- Identify emerging philanthropic opportunities and trends.
- Provide regular reporting and analysis of fundraising performance to leadership and the Board of Directors.
- Collaborate on long-term strategic planning and organizational growth initiatives.
- Utilize fundraising analytics, donor data, and performance metrics to identify opportunities, evaluate campaign effectiveness, and inform strategic decision-making.
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, stewardship, and overall fundraising performance.
Major Gifts & Donor Relations
- Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospective supporters.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual gifts at all giving levels.
- Develop personalized engagement strategies that deepen donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
- Coordinate donor recognition and stewardship activities.
- Support leadership and board members in donor cultivation and solicitation efforts.
Events & Community Engagement
- Provide strategic oversight for fundraising events and donor engagement activities.
- Collaborate with staff and volunteers to maximize event sponsorships, attendance, and revenue.
- Ensure events align with organizational goals and provide exceptional donor experiences.
- Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and networking opportunities.
Planned Giving & Legacy Giving
- Develop and grow planned giving and legacy society programs.
- Educate donors about charitable estate planning opportunities.
- Work with professional advisors and community partners to promote long-term philanthropic investments.
Board & Volunteer Engagement
- Support Board members in fundraising activities and donor relationship management.
- Recruit, train, and engage fundraising volunteers and committees.
- Provide development-related education and resources to Board leadership.
Team Leadership
- Supervise and mentor development staff.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
- Encourage collaboration between development, programs, marketing, and community engagement functions.
- Establish performance goals and support professional development for team members.
QualificationsRequired
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of five years of progressive fundraising, development, or nonprofit leadership experience.
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic investments.
- Strong relationship-building and donor stewardship skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities.
- Experience working with volunteers, boards, and community leaders.
- Proficiency with donor databases, CRM systems, and fundraising reporting tools.
Preferred
- Experience leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
- Knowledge of planned giving and legacy fundraising strategies.
- Experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
Desired Competencies
- Strategic thinker with strong business acumen
- Relationship-focused and highly collaborative
- Results-oriented with a proven ability to meet ambitious goals
- Strong leadership and team development skills
- Excellent project management and organizational abilities
- Skilled communicator and storyteller
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community impact
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience, including opportunities for professional development and leadership growth.
Position Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer
Supervises:
Development staff, contractors, interns, and fundraising volunteers as assigned
Classification:
Full-Time, Exempt
Work Environment:
Hybrid office, community engagement, donor meetings, and event participation, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Please submit cover letter and resume. No inquiries please.
Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- nonprofit or business development: 5 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
