Director of Development

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Days / Shift: Monday through Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

Position Type/Classification: Full-Time; Exempt 

Position Summary:

The Director of Development is the senior fundraising leader responsible for strategy, revenue performance, team leadership, and Board/CEO partnership. This role manages the annual development plan, drives major donor and corporate/foundation relationships, ensures strong stewardship, and maintains a performance culture using KPI dashboards and clear workflows.

Job Responsibilities:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain an all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. 

• Strategic leadership: Own the annual development strategy and 18-month calendar; set quarterly priorities, budgets, and revenue projections by stream; course-correct based on KPI results.
• Major gifts & mid-level strategy: Build and manage a portfolio of major and mid-level donors and prospects; partner with the CEO/ED on top relationships; lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Board ambassador activation: Partner with the Board Development Committee to assign and coach Board ambassadors; provide tools (call sheets, scripts, one-pagers) and track ambassador activity.
• Corporate partnerships: Lead corporate prospect strategy; pursue sponsorships, employee giving, workplace presentations, and cause-marketing opportunities; ensure sponsor benefits are fulfilled on time.
• Foundation/DAF leadership: Oversee foundation relationship strategy, stewardship calendars, reporting, site visits, and DAF engagement (including year-end focus).
• Campaign oversight: Provide strategic direction and approvals for spring, fall, and year-end appeals, DV Awareness Month fundraising tie-ins, and monthly giving pushes.
• Event fundraising strategy: Ensure events align with revenue targets, donor pipelines, and lead capture goals; oversee post-event follow-up standards and donor journey integration.
• Team leadership & systems: Supervise and coach development staff; ensure clear role ownership, SOPs, and cross-department coordination with Programs, Finance, and Communications.
• Data & performance management: Ensure monthly KPI dashboard reviews; establish targets for retention, upgrades, acquisition, and conversion; maintain compliance with ethical fundraising standards.
• Adhere to SafeSpace, Inc. ethics, policies, procedures, and contractual standards.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 7+ years progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, including major gifts and corporate/foundation strategy; CFRE or comparable credential
• Bachelor's Degree in Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field
• Demonstrated success leading teams and achieving revenue goals across multiple streams
• 10+ years advancement experience with a $3M+ annual fundraising program and/or $5M+ operating budget organization
• Extensive experience with donor CRM/database systems 
• Experience partnering with Boards and volunteer leadership on cultivation and solicitation
• Knowledge of legal implications of charitable giving
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience
• Outstanding stewardship and relationship management skills, including building external relationships
• Ability to communicate efficiently utilizing strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple projects, establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines with little direct supervision
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed
• Maintain and protect the confidentiality of the program participants and shelter locations within agency guidelines and state statutes
• Lead and serve on the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency
• Must embrace the mission of SafeSpace, Inc. 
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license with reliable transportation
• Must pass Level 2 background screening

Core Competencies

• Professionalism and compassion
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and accountability
• Cultural humility and inclusivity
• Problem-solving and initiative
• Team collaboration

Training Requirements:

Required onboarding training will be conducted at the Administrative office or designated location during the hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday regardless of shift schedule. Must successfully complete CORE Competency training provided by the agency within 90 days of employment and participate in ongoing mandatory education and skills training on relevant topics as required by statutory funding, certification of the agency or personnel, or as identified to improve employee performance. Must maintain annual training requirements outlined in the employee manual. 

Work Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job at times operates in public community locations and office settings. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Local travel for donor meetings, corporate visits, and events is required. Evening/weekend availability during peak campaign and event periods is also required. Primarily office-based; hybrid work possible. Must be able to manage occasional lifting of mail/event materials (reasonable accommodation available).

Physical Demands:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require sitting at a desk, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching. The employee must lift and/or move items up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work will be performed in both inside and outside environments.

Notice to Applicants: All finalists for employment with SafeSpace, Inc. are required to undergo screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit  

SafeSpace is an Equal Opportunity Employer.