Director, Development

The Director, Development is a core member of our client’s development team, responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major individual donors with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 and above. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role serves as a frontline relationship manager and strategic partner in growing the client's individual giving revenue in support of our 10-year vision. 

This is a relationship-intensive role for a development professional who brings both sophistication in donor cultivation and a genuine commitment to centering lived experience and systems change. The ideal candidate brings an understanding of the philanthropic landscape, a track record of closing major gifts, and the ability to translate the client's complex, multi-layered work into compelling donor-facing narratives. 

• 5 or more years of experience in nonprofit development, with at least 3 years in a frontline major gifts role 

• Demonstrated track record of personally soliciting and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information for diverse audiences 

• Strong relationship-building instincts and comfort engaging high-net-worth individuals 

• Experience managing a donor portfolio with structured moves management 

• Proficiency with a CRM platform (experience with Raiser's Edge NXT a plus) 

• High degree of organizational discipline and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment 

• Commitment to the mission of transforming the child welfare system and centering the lived experience of foster youth 

Preferred 

• Experience fundraising within or adjacent to child welfare, youth development, or systems change organizations 

• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape around foster care, lived experience leadership, or public systems reform 

• Experience supporting or collaborating with organizational leadership in donor engagement 

• Background in campaign fundraising or experience contributing to a fundraising campaign launch