Director of Development

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION: Director of Development
Reports To: Vice President of Mission Advancement
Job Type: Full-time Exempt
Location: Milwaukee, WISUMMARY JOB DESCRIPTIONThe Director of Development is a key member of All-In Milwaukee’s Mission Advancement team, responsible for leading institutional fundraising strategy, with primary responsibility for foundation giving and grant development, while also building and managing a growing individual giving program.

This experienced fundraiser will manage a portfolio of foundation funders and individual donors, lead the full grant lifecycle, and develop strategies to retain, engage, and grow philanthropic support. The Director will also help build a more intentional individual giving program through annual appeals, donor engagement, stewardship, and targeted cultivation.

This role requires a development professional who is both an exceptional writer and a disciplined relationship manager, able to develop compelling grant proposals, thoughtfully steward longtime donors, identify new prospects, and strategically move relationships toward increased investment.

The Director will be accountable for measurable fundraising outcomes, including, but not limited to, institutional and individual giving revenue, donor retention and growth, new prospect development, grant renewals, awards, and other institutional fundraising outcomes.ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES This list is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate.
Foundation Fundraising & Grant Management

• Develop and execute a comprehensive institutional giving strategy, with primary responsibility for foundation fundraising and grant development.
• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective private, family, and community foundations, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, renewal, and stewardship.
• Partner with the Director of Corporate Partnerships on corporate foundation opportunities, leading grant strategy, proposal development, submission, reporting, and related grant administration while the Director of Corporate Partnerships owns the overall corporate relationship.
• Lead the development of compelling letters of inquiry, grant proposals, funding requests, reports, and other institutional funder communications.
• Manage the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, cultivation, proposal development, submission, reporting, stewardship, renewal, and compliance, with operational support from the Mission Advancement Manager.
• Collaborate with program and finance colleagues to develop accurate and compelling narratives, budgets, outcomes, and impact reports.
• Build and strengthen relationships with foundation staff and leadership to deepen engagement, increase investment, and position All-In Milwaukee for long-term support.

Individual Giving, Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Plan and execute individual giving initiatives, including annual appeals, direct mail, digital outreach, renewal campaigns, and other donor acquisition and retention strategies.
• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, developing appropriate cultivation, solicitation, renewal, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests and giving potential.
• Develop meaningful cultivation and stewardship opportunities, including donor meetings, site visits, scholar and alumni engagement, events, and impact communications, that strengthen donor relationships and connection to All-In Milwaukee’s mission.
• Identify donors with potential for deeper engagement or significant gift opportunities and partner with the Vice President of Mission Advancement and Executive Director on cultivation and solicitation strategies as appropriate.
• Partner with the Mission Advancement Manager on the execution of donor acknowledgements, stewardship communications, events, and engagement activities.

Fundraising Performance & Operations

• Meet or exceed established annual fundraising goals for institutional and individual giving, including revenue, donor retention, new donor development, and other agreed-upon performance measures.
• Maintain timely and accurate donor, prospect, grant, proposal, and activity information in Salesforce to support effective relationship management and organizational reporting.
• Monitor grant deadlines, reporting requirements, donor commitments, and stewardship activities to ensure timely and effective follow-through.
• Partner with the Vice President of Mission Advancement and Executive Director on significant funding opportunities and donor relationships as appropriate.

Mission Advancement & Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with Mission Advancement colleagues to execute an integrated fundraising, communications, and donor engagement strategy.
• Partner with program, finance, and organizational leadership to develop compelling cases for support and accurately communicate All-In Milwaukee’s impact.
• Represent All-In Milwaukee at donor, scholar, alumni, and community events and serve as an ambassador for the organization and its mission.
• Contribute to a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented Mission Advancement culture focused on expanding opportunities for All-In Milwaukee scholars.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Demonstrated expertise in fundraising, donor cultivation, and portfolio management, with the ability to strategically move relationships from identification through solicitation, renewal, and stewardship.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with donors, foundation leaders, colleagues, and community partners.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with demonstrated success developing compelling grant proposals, reports, and donor communications.
• Strong knowledge of foundation fundraising and the full grant lifecycle, including prospect research, proposal development, reporting, stewardship, and renewal.
• Ability to develop fundraising strategy while effectively managing the detailed execution required for successful foundation and individual giving programs.
• Ability to develop and execute data-informed individual giving strategies, including donor retention, annual appeals, acquisition, stewardship, and pipeline development.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple grants, donors, deadlines, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Comfort working toward and being accountable for measurable fundraising goals.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
• Experience using CRM systems; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to occasionally travel throughout and outside the geographic area for various meetings.
• Strong commitment to All-In Milwaukee’s mission and to expanding educational and career opportunities for scholars.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five or more years of progressive fundraising, development, or related experience.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic support from foundations and managing the full grant lifecycle.
• Significant grant writing experience, including development of compelling proposals, reports, and funder communications.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and managing donor or funder relationships and moving opportunities toward philanthropic commitments.
• Experience with individual giving, annual giving, donor stewardship, or fundraising campaigns strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of meeting fundraising goals and effectively managing a development pipeline.
• Nonprofit fundraising experience strongly preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENTThe physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to meet the demands.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, or walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach or grasp with hands and arms, including overhead and from floor to waist, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to operate a motor vehicle. The employee is occasionally required to bend, stoop or kneel; lift, carry and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to read from a computer or electronic device, and the vision required to operate a motor vehicle.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The employee is exposed to outdoor weather conditions during work-related travel.BENEFITS OF WORKING AT ALL-IN MILWAUKEEAt All-In Milwaukee, you’ll be part of a mission-driven, high-impact organization dedicated to advancing educational equity and scholar success. You’ll be part of a collaborative, innovative, and supportive team where your work makes a lasting difference in the lives of scholars and the Milwaukee community.

We cultivate a connected and engaging workplace through team gatherings, celebrations, and outings to local events like Brewers, Bucks, and Admirals games. From team days and milestone recognitions to everyday camaraderie, we prioritize a positive and dynamic work environment where collaboration thrives.

Financial Security & Retirement

• Competitive salary (starting base salary for this role is $80,000) with opportunities for performance-based pay
• Excellent retirement plan with employer contributions and match
• Employer-provided basic life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Access to voluntary life insurance options
• Financial planning resources to help secure your future

Life Balance & Paid Time Off

• Generous paid holidays, vacation, and other times
• Parental leave to support growing families
• School activities leave to participate in important family moments
• Flexible hybrid work policy allowing for some remote workdays

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your family
• Access to an indoor fitness center for employee well-being at the Milwaukee office

Professional Growth & Development

• Professional development funds for training, conferences, and career advancement
• Opportunities for leadership and skill-building within a mission-driven team

Join All-In Milwaukee and be part of a team that is transforming educational outcomes and creating pathways to success for scholars across the region.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled with a target start date of November 2, 2026.

All-In Milwaukee is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a work environment free from harassment and discrimination. All-In Milwaukee provides equal opportunity to all applicants for employment in accordance with a