Director of Development

Director of Development

Position Overview

The Director of Development (DoD) will be based in Indiana, with required statewide and some national travel. The DoD will serve as a senior fundraising leader responsible for growing philanthropic revenue through individual giving, corporate partnerships, and strategic fundraising initiatives.

This position works closely with the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO) to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that support Foster Success’s strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.

The ideal candidate is a highly relational fundraiser who excels at being donor-centered, a self-starter in identifying opportunities, building meaningful partnerships, crafting compelling cases for support, and securing transformational investments.

This role reports directly to the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO). This position supervises the Assistant Director of Donor Relations.

Primary Responsibilities

Individual Giving

• Lead the Individual Giving program and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with gift-making capacity up to $10,000 annually.

• Develop and execute individualized donor engagement strategies with the Assistant Director of Donor Relations.

• Conduct regular donor meetings to move donors through the donor cycle process.

• Partner with the CDCO on major gift solicitations and leadership-level donor strategies.

• Identify opportunities to upgrade annual donors into major gift supporters.

• Support planned giving identification and relationship development.

Corporate & Community Partnerships

• Develop and manage relationships with corporate partners and community organizations.

• Identify sponsorship, volunteer engagement, cause-marketing, and philanthropic opportunities.

• Create customized partnership proposals aligned with Foster Success priorities.

• Lead sponsorship strategy and revenue generation for organizational events and initiatives.

• Steward corporate relationships throughout the year through impact reporting, recognition, and engagement opportunities.

• Represent Foster Success within the business community and professional associations.

Team Leadership & Strategy

• Supervise and support the Assistant Director of Donor Relations.

• Establish, with support from the CDCO, annual fundraising goals for Individual and Corporate giving, performance metrics, and professional development plans.

• Support the Asst. Director of Donor Relations in establishing goals and performance metrics on donor retention, donor relations/stewardship, and volunteer engagement.

• Partner with the CDCO to establish fundraising priorities, strategies, and revenue goals.

• Contribute to annual budget development and revenue forecasting.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and donor-centered philanthropy both internally and externally.

• Embrace innovation, thoughtful risk-taking, and continuous improvement.

Stewardship & Engagement

• Support the Assistant Director of Donor Relations in developing and overseeing comprehensive stewardship strategies that improve donor retention and lifetime value.

• Support the Assistant Director of Donor Relations in the planning and execution of events.

• Ensure timely donor acknowledgment, reporting, and impact communications.

• Partner with the Program and Marketing & Communications teams to create compelling donor-facing content.

• Utilize storytelling, program outcomes, and participant experiences to demonstrate impact.

Data Management & Fundraising Operations

• Maintain accurate donor records and prospect activity within Salesforce and Tableau.

• Monitor fundraising performance and pipeline activity.

• Analyze donor trends and giving patterns to inform strategy, and pivot when needed.

• Support the Asst. Director of Donor Relations in preparing fundraising reports and dashboards for leadership and board review.

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and ethical fundraising standards.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience.

• Demonstrated success in individual giving and managing donor portfolios.

• Experience cultivating corporate and foundation partnerships.

• Experience supervising staff and managing fundraising goals.

• Experience in speaking to small and large groups conveying mission and needed support.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience with CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.

Preferred

• CFRE or CFRM credential or pursuit of certification.

• Experience working with youth-serving organizations.

• Experience managing comprehensive fundraising programs.

• Knowledge of planned giving and donor-advised funds.

• Experience in sponsorship development and grant management.

All Foster Success employees are required to:

• Display a strong commitment to the inclusion of all individuals in the workplace.

• Adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the Foster Success employment agreements and the organizational Handbook, including all confidentiality requirements for all client information.

• Proficiency in computer skills and experience with and knowledge of relevant software, particularly Salesforce, Zoom, Google, and Microsoft Products.

• Have access to a secure and reliable internet connection.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes some weekends and/or evenings in order to meet responsibilities of this position and organizational goals.

• Must have reliable transportation for work-related travel.

• All team members are required to pass a background check and undergo fingerprint screening.

Competencies

Candidates will be evaluated on the following competencies during the selection process, reflecting our values of Equity & Inclusion, Innovation, Impact, and Collaboration:

Relationship-Based Fundraising Builds authentic relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, and community leaders. Creates meaningful opportunities for supporters to connect with Foster Success’s mission and impact.

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth Develops and executes strategies to grow individual giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, foundation support, and other philanthropic revenue. Identifies opportunities, manages donor pipelines, and helps advance long-term sustainability. Successfully manage multiple priorities, donor portfolios, and special projects while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high level of organization an attention to detail. 

Equity & Inclusion Approaches fundraising with a commitment to equity. Ensures donor engagement and fundraising practices honor the dignity, strengths, and lived experiences of young people with foster care experience.

Leadership & Collaboration Provides clear direction, coaching, and accountability to development staff. Works closely with program, finance, marketing and communications, and executive leadership to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities.

Data, Strategy & Problem-Solving Uses donor data, giving trends, and revenue projections to inform fundraising strategy. Maintains strong systems, accurate records, and ethical fundraising practices while bringing creativity and a solutions-focused approach to new opportunities.