Director of Development

Director Of Development

The Director of Development serves as YWCA Evanston/North Shore's lead fundraising professional and is responsible for expanding philanthropic support through strategic donor cultivation, relationship management, annual giving, and revenue diversification. Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, this position develops and implements fundraising strategies that inspire investment in YWCA's mission to eliminate racism and empower women.

This position focuses primarily on building meaningful relationships with individual donors, cultivating new prospects, strengthening donor stewardship, increasing annual and recurring giving, and expanding philanthropic revenue. The Director of Development will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects while partnering with the President & CEO to cultivate and solicit major gifts.

The ideal candidate is an authentic relationship builder, an exceptional communicator, and a results-oriented fundraiser who enjoys spending time in the community connecting people to mission.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Growth (35%)

• Develop and implement annual fundraising strategies that increase philanthropic support and diversify revenue.
• Partner with the President & CEO to establish annual fundraising goals and measurable performance targets.
• Develop strategies to increase donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades.
• Expand recurring giving and annual fund participation.
• Identify new revenue opportunities including individuals, family foundations, corporate giving, workplace giving, and community partnerships.
• Monitor fundraising performance and recommend adjustments throughout the year.

Donor Cultivation & Major Gifts (40%)

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and qualified prospects through active cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Schedule and conduct donor visits independently and jointly with the President & CEO.
• Develop individualized cultivation and stewardship plans for major donors.
• Prepare donor briefings, talking points, and solicitation strategies for the CEO.
• Ensure timely follow-up after meetings, gifts, and organizational engagements.
• Build long-term relationships that increase donor loyalty and lifetime giving.

Campaign Management & Stewardship (15%)

• Lead annual fundraising campaigns including: Giving Tuesday, Year-End Appeal, Monthly Giving Program, Donor Renewal Campaigns, Legacy Gift Campaigns.
• Develop stewardship strategies that demonstrate donor impact.
• Coordinate personalized donor acknowledgments and recognition.
• Partner with Marketing to ensure fundraising communications effectively tell the organization's story.

Donor Operations & Reporting (10%)

• Maintain accurate donor records within DonorPerfect.
• Monitor donor pipeline activity and fundraising metrics.
• Prepare monthly fundraising dashboards and reports.
• Ensure gift acknowledgments are timely and IRS compliant.
• Utilize donor analytics to inform fundraising strategy.

Additional Duties

• Attends staff training and participates in agency committees.
• Pursues professional development.
• Understands and adheres to all YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as YWCA Employee Handbook.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree.

Experience and/or Training:

• 7-10 years progressive fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success securing five-figure and six-figure gifts.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio.
• Experience planning annual fundraising campaigns.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Experience utilizing donor databases (DonorPerfect preferred)
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Licenses/Certificates: Current driver's license and auto insurance.

Technology/Equipment:

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced proficiency with Donor Perfect Online or comparable donor database.
• Reliable access to a personal auto to conduct business.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: MBA or master's degree in communication or non-profit administration

Experience and/or Training:

• Certified Fund Raising Professional (CFRE) preferred
• Experience within a nonprofit human service organization.
• Experience fundraising around racial equity, gender equity, violence prevention, housing, or human services.
• Experience partnering directly with CEOs and Boards
• Knowledge of moves management and donor pipeline development

Licenses/Certificates: CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Professional) or progress toward certification.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Frequent nights and/or weekends required for events or meetings.
• Frequent local and intermittent statewide travel required.
• Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer
• Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the facility.
• Must be able to operate controls for computers and other equipment.

The mental and physical requirements described here represent those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Environment

• Employee may be required to share office space.
• Employee may be required to work from home.
• Employee will frequently have meetings or work in other buildings.

The work environment characteristics described here represent those individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

Salary: $85,000 - $100,000 / Yearly. A starting salary above $85,000 is based on experience and education that significantly exceed the minimum requirements and is commensurate with the compensation scale.