Director of Development

Department: Development

Reports To: VP of Strategic Advancement

Directly Manages: Manager, Donor Engagement; Associate, Development Operations; Associate, Grants Coordination

Employment Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Location: Hybrid, New Bedford, MA

Salary Range: $70,000 - $98,000

Posting Date: 8/26/26

About The Zeiterion

The Zeiterion (The Z) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to steward our historic theater as a gathering place for performing arts experiences where learning, connection, and creative expression thrive. Our work is guided by five core values: Imagination, Connection, Equity, Transparency, and Discovery. These values inform how we deliver on our mission and how we work together every day.

We are committed to cultivating a workplace where all individuals feel respected, valued, and are encouraged to contribute. As a team member, you’ll be part of a culture that supports creativity, collaboration, continuous learning, and inclusion. Learn more here:

Position Summary

The Director of Development leads execution of the organization’s fundraising program, translating advancement priorities into actionable plans that drive contributed revenue, donor engagement, and long-term pipeline growth.

The Director manages development staff, fundraising operations, individual and institutional giving, stewardship, campaigns, and prospect management, ensuring internal systems support consistent donor relationship-building and fundraising momentum.

The role balances operational leadership with regular donor-facing activity, portfolio management, and partnership with the Vice President and CEO to advance high-value donor relationships.

This is a pivotal moment for the organization's philanthropic growth, with an emphasis on building long-term giving capacity and donor readiness for future organizational priorities.

Core Accountabilities

This role is ultimately accountable for:

• Growing annual contributed revenue through individual giving, membership, leadership gifts, and major gifts.
• Executing fundraising plans, forecasts, and performance metrics that support organizational growth goals.
• Increasing donor acquisition, retention, renewal, and donor upgrades through data-informed fundraising strategies.
• Expanding leadership and major gift giving through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Managing fundraising performance across individual, institutional, event, and campaign-based giving programs.
• Building, qualifying, and advancing a strong donor and prospect pipeline, with an eye toward long-term giving capacity and multi-year commitment strategies.
• Ensuring donors experience meaningful, personalized, and mission-driven engagement with the organization.
• Strengthening staff capacity through supervision, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Monitoring fundraising trends, results, and key performance indicators and making recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Creating an inclusive, relationship-centered fundraising culture aligned with organizational values.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Leadership & Revenue Management

• Develop and implement annual fundraising plans aligned with organizational revenue goals.
• Establish fundraising objectives, performance measures, and benchmarks across all giving programs.
• Monitor revenue performance and pipeline activity, adjusting strategies as needed.
• Manage fundraising calendars, campaign schedules, and stewardship initiatives.
• Identify growth opportunities across individual, institutional, and corporate giving programs.
• Prepare regular fundraising forecasts and revenue reports for organizational leadership.
• Support long-range donor readiness planning in partnership with the VP and CEO, including cultivation strategies for future leadership-level and multi-year giving opportunities.

Donor Pipeline, Major Gifts & Executive Engagement

• Build and manage a strong donor and prospect pipeline, with emphasis on identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and advancing relationships toward increased giving.
• Manage a focused portfolio of mid-level and selected major gift donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship where appropriate.
• Develop donor strategies that clarify the role of the Director, Vice President, CEO, board members, and other relationship holders in advancing major gift opportunities.
• Prepare and activate the Vice President and CEO for major donor meetings, solicitations, stewardship conversations, and follow-up.
• Coordinate timely next steps, documentation, and relationship management activity to ensure prospects continue moving through the pipeline.
• Ensure meaningful stewardship and engagement opportunities for contributors.

Institutional Giving Oversight

• Oversee grant development, submission, and reporting processes.
• Review and approve grant proposals and funder reports before executive review.
• Monitor institutional fundraising pipelines and funding opportunity strategies.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements and reporting commitments.

Donor Engagement & Campaign Management

• Oversee annual giving, donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to align fundraising messaging, storytelling, and donor communications.
• Support planning and execution of donor events and engagement experiences.
• Monitor campaign effectiveness and donor retention metrics.

Development Operations & Analytics

• Ensure accurate donor records, gift processing, reporting, and data governance practices.
• Oversee CRM management and fundraising reporting systems.
• Review fundraising analytics and recommend improvements to performance and efficiency.
• Monitor departmental processes, standards, and workflows.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising policies and data management practices.

Team Leadership & Management

• Supervise, coach, and develop Development staff.
• Establish individual goals, work plans, and performance expectations.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and accountability.
• Build team capacity through training, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Promote an equitable, inclusive, and values-aligned workplace culture.
• Other duties as assigned

Decision-Making Authority

This role has final decision-making authority for:

• Development work plans, fundraising priorities, and departmental workflows.
• Donor portfolio assignments and fundraising pipeline management.
• Campaign execution plans and stewardship activities.
• Development department processes, systems, and reporting standards.
• Fundraising performance metrics and operational improvements.
• Staff supervision, performance expectations, and workload allocation.
• Grant proposal and report approval prior to executive review.
• Development vendor recommendations and operational expenditures within approved budgets.

Success Measures

Success in this role is demonstrated through:

• Achievement of annual fundraising goals.
• Growth in qualified prospects, donor touchpoints, cultivation moves, and donor pipeline performance.
• Increased contributed revenue across giving streams.
• Timely and accurate grant submissions and reporting.
• Effective donor stewardship and engagement outcomes.
• Reliable fundraising forecasts and performance reporting.
• Strong staff engagement, development, and retention.
• Continuous improvement of development processes and systems.
• Growth in donor readiness for future leadership-level and multi-year giving initiatives.

Qualifications

Required:

• 7-12 years of relevant experience
• Fundraising strategy execution
• Donor pipeline development, major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Donor engagement and annual giving
• Institutional fundraising and grants management
• Development operations and CRM management
• Data analysis and performance reporting
• Project management and prioritization
• Team leadership and staff development
• Relationship building and communication
• Commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and values-based fundraising

Preferred:

• Experience with CRM platforms – Patron Manager or Salesforce
• Arts & culture sector fundraising experience
• Capital or endowment campaign experience
• Experience in organizations of comparable budget/staff scale
• Familiarity with planned giving strategies
• Experience building donor relationships within immigrant or historically underrepresented communities
• In addition to English, multilingual Spanish, Portuguese, Kriolu (Cape Verdean Creole), Haitian Creole, or K'iche

As the Development function grows, we anticipate this role evolving to include a deeper focus on major-gift portfolio management and donor pipeline strategy. We're looking for someone excited to grow with that trajectory

What We’re Looking For

In addition to relevant experience, we’re looking for a colleague who:

• Brings a spirit of curiosity, creativity, and openness
• Communicates with clarity, honesty, and care
• Thrives in a collaborative, relationship-centered team
• Shares our commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism
• Is excited to learn, grow, and imagine new ways forward

Our Workplace Culture

As part of your onboarding, you’ll be welcomed into a culture that reflects our values:

• Imagination – We encourage creative problem-solving and fresh ideas from every level of the organization.
• Connection – We work with empathy and respect, building strong relationships across teams.
• Equity – We actively address inequities in our systems and strive for inclusive representation in all we do.
• Transparency – We communicate openly, share information proactively, and make decisions with integrity.
• Discovery – We support risk-taking and learning from mistakes as essential parts of growth.

We create a workplace where you can bring your full self, feel supported, and know your contributions matter.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The Z is a collaborative work environment, and employees are expected to be open and willing to collaborate across departments and teams

The Zeiterion is on an active, and ongoing, journey to be anti-racist organization - advancing anti-racist policies and practices, and fostering and sustaining a culture that values community, social justice, and equity

Physical Requirements

• The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods and occasionally required to stand, walk, and move throughout the building. The employee must be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds occasionally (e.g., files, supplies). This position is primarily indoor office work, with occasional need to move between floors via stairs or elevator.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Background Check

Employment with The Zeiterion is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, including a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, in accordance with Massachusetts law and The Z's background check policy.

Equal Opportunity

The Z is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate equity and are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving environment for all employees including, but not limited to, a culture of antiracism in which we build policies, procedures, and a safe space for people from all backgrounds to feel safe and seen in our employ, in our seats and on our stage.

Benefits

• Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, retirement plan with employer match, paid time off, professional development
• Additional perks: Tickets to performances, wellness programs, remote and schedule flexibility.

How to Apply

Please apply through our applicant tracking system on The Z's Careers page:

The Z is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the application and interview process. If you need an accommodation to participate, please email View email address on click.appcast.io with the subject line "Accommodation Request," and we will work with you to identify an appropriate solution.

We deeply value diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe this diversity strengthens our institution and enriches our community. While we've outlined the qualifications and experience that we think will help someone thrive in this role, we also recognize that talent comes in many forms. If your background doesn’t perfectly align with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - your unique perspective might be exactly what we need.

TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To be considered, please submit:

1. Your resume
2. A brief cover letter expressing your interest in the role

We deeply value working with individuals from a rich mix of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe this diversity strengthens our institution and enriches our community. While we've outlined the qualifications and experience that we think will help someone thrive in this role, we also recognize that talent comes in many forms. If your background doesn't perfectly align with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - your unique perspective might be exactly what we need.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Zeiterion is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate equity and are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving environment for all employees, including but not limited to a culture of antiracism in which we build policies, procedures, and a safe space for people from all backgrounds to feel safe and seen in our employ, in our seats, and on our stage. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status