Director of Development

The Director of Development is a senior leadership position responsible for developing and executing Village of Promise's comprehensive fundraising strategy. They will lead efforts to grow and diversify contributed revenue, strengthen donor engagement, and build a sustainable fundraising model that supports the organization's mission and long-term growth.

A primary responsibility of the Director of Development is to establish, strengthen and steward relationships with current and prospective donors. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, Development Committee, staff, and community partners. They will lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention.

The Director of Development will oversee a diversified development portfolio that includes individual and major giving, corporate partnerships, foundation and institutional giving, grants, fundraising events, multi-year and planned gifts, and digital giving.

Essential Duties:

Fundraising & Revenue Growth
• Develop and execute annual and long-term fundraising strategies with measurable goals for revenue growth and sustainability.
• Lead a diversified fundraising program that includes annual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, grants, events, multi-year commitments, and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Identify new funding opportunities and build a strong pipeline of prospective donors and partners.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
• Establish, strengthen, and steward meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other key prospects.
• Develop strategies to increase donor retention, recurring giving, multi-year commitments, and overall donor engagement.
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to experience the impact of Village of Promise through meetings, tours, events, and other engagement.
• Ensure timely and meaningful donor acknowledgement, recognition, communication, and stewardship.

Major Gifts & Executive Fundraising
• Build and manage a major gifts pipeline, moving prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer on major donor relationships, solicitations, and strategic funding opportunities.
• Prepare the CEO and board members for donor meetings by providing research, strategy, talking points, and appropriate follow-up.

Grants & Institutional Giving
• Collaborate with the CEO and program staff to identify funding opportunities and develop competitive grant proposals.
• Coordinate grant-writing efforts, including independent contractors, and ensure proposals, renewals, and reports are completed accurately and on time.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with local, regional, and national foundations and institutional funders.

Events, Board & Community Engagement
• Provide strategic leadership for fundraising and donor engagement events, including the Speaker Series and One Table.
• Lead and support the Board Development Committee and engage board members in donor cultivation, introductions, stewardship, and fundraising.
• Collaborate with staff to strengthen volunteer and community engagement and identify opportunities to deepen relationships with supporters.

Development Operations & Communications
• Ensure effective use of the organization's donor management system, including donor records, gift acknowledgement, prospect tracking, and fundraising reporting.
• Work closely with the Finance Director to ensure accurate gift processing, reconciliation, and reporting.
• Provide strategic oversight of fundraising and external communications, ensuring that the organization effectively communicates its mission, impact, and opportunities for investment.
• Coordinate with external marketing and communications partners responsible for the website, social media, marketing materials, and other communications.

Executive Leadership
• Serve as a member of the Village of Promise leadership team and contribute to organizational strategy and planning.
• Represent Village of Promise with donors, corporations, foundations, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
• Perform other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Education & Experience

The ideal candidate will have:
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. A Master's Degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated nonprofit fundraising or development experience, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience with major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, grants, and fundraising events.
• Proven ability to build authentic relationships and translate those relationships into philanthropic investment.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and project-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with the CEO, staff, board members, donors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Proficiency with donor database/CRM systems and standard productivity and presentation software.
• Knowledge of the North Alabama philanthropic and community landscape is preferred.
• Ability to successfully complete required fingerprinting and background screening.

Measure of Success

The Director of Development will be expected to:
• Grow and diversify contributed revenue.
• Increase the number and strength of donor relationships.
• Improve donor retention and long-term engagement.
• Expand major gifts and multi-year commitments.
• Develop new individual, corporate, and foundation partnerships.
• Strengthen fundraising systems and donor stewardship.
• Position Village of Promise for sustainable philanthropic growth.