Director of Development

Director of DevelopmentBack to the Bible is an 87-year-old ministry that exists to help everyone, everywhere know, love, and be transformed by God's Word. Founded in 1939, the organization served as a radio ministry through 2020 before entering a new chapter built around digital biblical content and Bible engagement research. The ministry does two things well: producing daily biblical content and conducting transformative research at the Center for Scripture Absorption. Since 2025 it has experienced renewed momentum, growing its YouTube audience to more than 130,000 subscribers, and the CSA undertaking research projects on a global scale. The organization is moving quickly and changing fast.Back to the Bible is looking for an experienced fundraising leader to build the strategy, systems, and rhythm behind a development operation entering a season of renewed momentum. Over the past year the ministry has stabilized and rebuilt its operations & focused heavily on renewing & expanding its donor base. The Director of Development will take that foundation and operationalize it. The ministry carries a rich legacy and a large existing donor base. Roughly one third of revenue comes from planned and estate gifts, one third from major donors, and one third from general donors. Appeals and newsletters already generate a strong response and have real room to perform better. Digital fundraising is largely untapped beyond a monthly email appeal and a digital newsletter, even as the ministry's digital audience grows rapidly. This role is split roughly in half. One half is designing and running the annual giving program: appeals, newsletters, monthly donor acquisition, digital fundraising, donor journey and appreciation, and reactivation of lapsing donors. The other half is direct donor work: carrying a portfolio, upgrading donors with the capacity to give more, and meeting with supporters in person where it is strategic. The Executive Director remains highly active in fundraising, particularly in new major donor cultivation. The Director of Development will work alongside a major gifts officer and a donor relations coordinator and will partner closely with the Directional Leadership Team on organizational fundraising priorities. The central priority is converting a fast-growing audience into donors and strengthening the donors the ministry already has, so that revenue relies less on unpredictable estate gifts.Key ResponsibilitiesAnnual Giving, Digital, and Direct ResponseDesign and run the annual giving calendar, including print appeals, newsletters, and email campaignsBuild the ministry's digital fundraising program and convert viewers, listeners, and readers into donorsDevelop and execute a monthly donor acquisition strategy alongside the development team w/ the goal of growing recurring revenueCreate a donor journey and appreciation strategy that measurably improves retentionIdentify lapsing donors and design reactivation campaignsDonor Portfolio and Major GiftsCarry and manage a portfolio of donors, with a particular focus on upgrading donors who have the capacity to give moreIdentify and qualify new prospects using wealth screening and data analysisCultivate, solicit, and steward gifts, tailoring outreach to each donor's connection to the missionVisit donors in person where appropriate and strategicPartner with the Executive Director and major gifts officer on cultivation and solicitation strateFundraising Operations, Data, and ReportingUse Virtuous CRM to segment audiences, track activity, and evaluate fundraising performanceEstablish metrics and reporting rhythms for each fundraising channelReport regularly to the Executive Director and Directional Leadership Team on progress toward goalsCollaborate with the content and marketing teams to produce fundraising materials, collateral, and donor communicationsEvents and Community EngagementPlan and execute fundraising and donor appreciation events, with an emphasis on Kansas CityRepresent Back to the Bible at conferences and community functionsConduct meetings and presentations with donors and prospective ministry partnersQualificationsRequiredA personal commitment to Jesus Christ and a genuine passion for the mission of Back to the Bible. This is the most important qualification.Five or more years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in the nonprofit or ministry sectorDemonstrated success in annual giving, direct response, or digital fundraisingExperience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donorsStrong data and analysis skills, with working comfort in a donor CRMExcellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to engage donors, board members, and staffStrong project management skills and a proactive approach to achieving goalsWillingness to travel for donor meetings and eventsBachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experiencePreferredResidence in the Kansas City metroExperience with Virtuous CRM or similar donor management softwareDigital fundraising experience with a media, ministry, or content-driven organizationCFRE credentialExperience planning and executing fundraising eventsWhat Success Looks Like in the First YearBack to the Bible measures first-year success by the strength and predictability of the fundraising operation. Clear markers include:A documented annual giving calendar that the team runs onMeasurable improvement in appeal and newsletter performanceA functioning digital fundraising program tied to the ministry's content platformsMeaningful growth in the monthly donor fileA reporting rhythm that gives leadership a clear view of performance by channelA qualified portfolio with documented cultivation activity and upgraded donorsTo ApplyInterested candidates should submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing their interest in the mission of Back to the Bible to Karmin Powell, Chief Operating Officer, at View email address on click.appcast.io. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Back to the Bible is a religious organization and, consistent with applicable law, considers religious belief and practice in hiring for this position.Job Type: Full TimeBack to the BibleKarmin Powell