Head of Development Management

The development director will be Child Care Answers' first dedicated fund development leader. This person will build our development plan from the ground up and guide us toward sustainable, diversified funding to support early care and education across central Indiana.
Today, team members carry pieces of our funding work alongside their other roles, managing funder relationships, writing grants, and reporting on outcomes. The development director will bring that work together into one clear, intentional strategy. They will listen first, learning from our current and potential funders, staff, and board, then lead the creation of a development plan that reflects what funders value and what our community needs.
This role stewards current funding partners and funding streams, cultivates new ones, and supports the board of directors in setting and reaching its fundraising goals. The development director tracks and analyzes funding data so leadership can weigh options with confidence and leads or supports grant writing and proposals. Working closely with the executive director, the communications and data manager, and program staff, they will create a path to long-term financial sustainability for Child Care Answers.
Child Care Answers will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
Build and lead Child Care Answers' development plan
Assess our current funding landscape, including sources, gaps, and risks
Create and regularly update a multi-year development plan that diversifies funding across grants, contracts, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and events
Serve as the primary relationship manager for current funders, coordinating reporting, deliverables, and renewals with program and finance staff
Identify and cultivate new funders aligned with our mission, including foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individual donors
Represent Child Care Answers to funders and stakeholders, and share funder feedback to inform decisions

Lead grant writing and proposals
Write and submit compelling proposals, coordinating staff input, data, and budgets
Create and maintain a grants calendar, timeline, and proposal pipeline from research through reporting
Lead fundraising strategy and donor engagement
Develop and lead the annual fundraising strategy, including but not limited to fundraising and cultivation events
Partner with the communications and data manager to align fundraising messaging across platforms and pair data with storytelling that shows the measurable impact of our work
Track and analyze funding data
Analyze funding options and report progress to leadership and the board, in collaboration with the communications and data manager

Bring our team together around development
Clarify development roles and coach staff to share our story and impact with funders
~ Ensure compliance with funder requirements and confidentiality standards, and contribute skills as requested to move Child Care Answers forward

Bachelor's degree required in nonprofit management, business, communications, public administration, or a related field. Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of experience in nonprofit fund development, grant writing, or institutional giving, including a proven record of securing and managing grants and funder relationships; preference for three (3) years of management or leadership experience and experience building a development program or plan
Experience working with foundations, corporate funders, and government grants and contracts; Experience with donor/grants management systems and/or customer relationship management (CRM) tools to use data to guide funding decisions
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and a variety of software and cloud-based applications, including virtual meeting applications such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Familiarity with Microsoft Teams/SharePoint, PowerBI, and Canva preferred
Conversational skills in a language other than English a plus
Position is hybrid, with flexibility to work from home with some onsite office requirements
travel to offsite events required
Some weekends and nights as determined by funder events, board meetings, and other all-staff required events

speaking with funders, board members, and community audiences is an area of comfort and confidence.
They ask good questions, seek out diverse perspectives, and build fresh connections and networks.
They listen deeply to funders and partners, build lasting relationships, and inspire commitment from staff, board members, and community leaders.
Problem Solving / Decision Making: The director uses data and sound judgment to weigh funding options and develop effective solutions when faced with obstacles. All offers of employment at Child Care Answers are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check and drug screen.