Job Title: Director of Development
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Department: Development
Reports to: VP of Development and Marketing
Updated: May 2026
The Director of Development is a dynamic and experienced leader responsible for advancing Hanna Center’s development growth, donor engagement, and community impact. This role provides executive-level leadership across fundraising and community development—building on an established foundation to take the organization to its next level of impact and sustainability.
Hanna Center has a strong and growing development function; this leader will refine and expand fundraising strategy while bringing strategic innovation to deepen partnerships, grow revenue, and strengthen community engagement. The Director will play a critical role in evolving and scaling fundraising efforts—strengthening systems, activating new opportunities, and driving measurable outcomes.
Serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Director will lead integrated strategies that connect donors, community, programs, and revenue. This role requires a forward-thinking professional who can enhance what is already working while building new pathways for growth, engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and performance
- Develop and implement strategies aligning development and community development with organizational goals
- Partner cross-functionally to align external engagement efforts with programmatic priorities and growth
- Contribute to long-term strategy, including revenue diversification, community impact, and sustainability
Development (including Major Gifts)
- Lead and execute a comprehensive development strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, and donor engagement across all levels
- Develop and drive a robust major gifts program, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-capacity donors
- Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, with clear revenue goals and relationship strategies
- Partner with the CEO and Board to support major gift cultivation and solicitation efforts
- Oversee grassroots and mid-level donor programs and campaigns to build a strong and sustainable base of support
- Lead and align donor pipeline strategy, messaging, and engagement across all giving levels
- Establish fundraising performance metrics, revenue targets, and reporting systems; monitor progress and adjust strategies
- Utilize data and analytics to inform strategy, optimize donor engagement, and increase revenue performance
- Provide direct oversight of key philanthropy functions, including the Development Manager and donor database/CRM operations
Fundraising Events
- Oversee the strategy and execution of all fundraising events as core components of the philanthropy program, including:
-
Gala
-
Crab Feed
-
Golf Tournament
-
Summit (in partnership with Training & Research)
-
Additional seasonal event (e.g., May or December)
-
Tennis
- Ensure events are fully integrated into donor strategy, pipeline development, and revenue generation
Community Development
- Build and lead a comprehensive community development function with a focus on external, community-facing programming
- Design, grow, and innovate community programs that expand engagement, visibility, and mission alignment
- Oversee and evolve existing programming, including camp and seasonal offerings, with a focus on growth
- Develop and expand strategic partnerships with community organizations, stakeholders, and local leaders
- Represent Hanna Center in public forums, coalitions, and community engagement opportunities
- Collaborate with Residential leadership to support internal community programming, while maintaining primary responsibility for outward-facing initiatives
- Activate Hanna Center’s campus as a hub for community engagement and programming
- Oversee facility rentals and campus use as part of community engagement and earned revenue strategy
Development Operations & Analytics
- Oversee donor systems and CRM strategy to support fundraising execution and long-term growth
- Direct fundraising analytics, reporting, and performance dashboards
- Ensure data integrity and effective use of insights to drive decision-making
- Build operational systems that support donor pipeline development and campaign effectiveness
Financial & Administrative Oversight
- Develop and manage budgets across development and community programming functions
- Establish annual goals, KPIs, and performance metrics aligned with organizational priorities
- Monitor performance and adjust strategies to ensure measurable outcomes
- Supervise staff, consultants, and external partners
- Direct supervision of the Development Manager and donor database/CRM functions
- Direct supervision of community development and programming personnel
- Oversight of staff and/or contractors supporting fundraising, events, and programming
- Strategic leadership and organizational planning
- Donor engagement and fundraising strategy (including major gifts)
- Community development and partnership building
- Event strategy and revenue generation
- Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
- Data-driven decision making and analytics
- Cross-functional leadership and team management
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
- 8-10 years of progressive leadership experience in philanthropy, development, or related fields
- Proven experience leading fundraising strategy with measurable revenue impact, including major gifts
- Experience managing CRM systems, analytics, and donor platforms
- Experience overseeing teams and cross-functional initiatives
- Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations preferred
- Clear background check, pre-employment drug screening, and TB test
- Certified or ability to become certified in CPR, First Aid, and Community Water Safety
- Valid California driver’s license with the ability to become insured under company policy
- Complete Mandated Child Abuse Reporting, Ethical Standards, Crossing Boundaries of Employee Conduct.
- Ability to remain seated or standing for extended periods
- Ability to travel locally for meetings, events, and community engagement
- Occasional lifting of materials up to 20 pounds
This position operates primarily on-site and within community settings. Regular participation in meetings, donor engagement, community programming, and events is required. Evening and weekend work is expected in support of events and community activities.
Hanna is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to change at any time. Other duties may be assigned as needed to support organizational goals.
