Development Director

Central Ohio Youth for Christ; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Ohio Youth for Christ is looking for a passionate Development Director to lead our fundraising and resource mobilization efforts. This critical role includes overseeing a dedicated team, developing strategic plans to engage donors, and ensuring effective branding and communications. The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in donor engagement and leadership within a mission-oriented environment. If you’re committed to transforming youth lives through faith-based initiatives, we invite you to apply.

Qualifications

• Strategic leader with passion for mobilizing resources.
• Experience in managing multi-faceted teams.
• Strong communication skills for donor relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Development staff effectively.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Strengthen donor relationships with engagement strategies.
• Oversee branding, marketing, and communications.
• Maintain donor data systems for integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Donor Engagement

Fundraising

Strategic Planning

Branding/Marketing

Team Management

Data Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Job description

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for mobilizing resources to transform the lives of youth? Central Ohio Youth for Christ (COYFC) is seeking a dynamic Development Director to lead our mission‑driven efforts in identifying, cultivating, and inspiring "financial champions". In this high‑impact leadership role, you will oversee a multi‑faced team—spanning grants, communications, events, and donor relations—to implement a comprehensive development strategy that fuels our vision. If you are a collaborative builder who excels at managing donor relationships, branding, and strategic growth within a faith‑based environment, we invite you to help us "give life to the story" of the young people we serve.

Goal

To advance the mission and vision of Central Ohio Youth for Christ by mobilizing financial and relational resources that sustain and expand our ministry impact. This is accomplished through a comprehensive development strategy focused on identifying, cultivating, and inviting individuals and organizations to become committed champions of our mission.

Key Objectives

• Provide leadership, management, and accountability for all Development staff and functions
• Achieve annual fundraising goals in alignment with the approved budget
• Strengthen and steward donor relationships through intentional engagement strategies
• Oversee branding, marketing, and communications to ensure mission clarity and consistency
• Ensure integrity and effectiveness of donor data systems and reporting
• Lead and support core development areas: events, grants, planned giving, and donor relations
• Collaborate as an active member of the Shared Services Director Team

Specific Duties

Leadership, Management & Accountability (LMA)

• Ensure execution of the annual Development Work Plan and achievement of KPI goals
• Maintain updated job descriptions, training plans, policies, and performance metrics for all team members
• Conduct regular supervision (minimum twice monthly) and annual performance reviews
• Set and document annual goals through the Review and Refocus process
• Develop volunteer teams to support events and strategic initiatives
• Manage departmental budget responsibly and within approved limits
• Maintain and annually update the Development Plan (submitted by March 30)

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• Partner in setting annual fundraising goals and budget projections
• Achieve or exceed revenue targets across all funding streams
• Grow planned giving to ensure long‑term financial sustainability
• Maintain cost efficiency to maximize net ministry impact

Donor Engagement & Cultivation

• Design and implement strategies to identify and acquire new donor prospects
• Cultivate meaningful relationships through events, communication, and personal engagement
• Clearly communicate ministry vision, impact, and financial needs
• Invite individuals into deeper involvement as donors, volunteers, and advocates
• Develop donors into long‑term champions of both the ministry and the broader Kingdom mission

Branding, Marketing & Communications

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing and communications plan
• Ensure brand consistency across all platforms and materials
• Oversee media, digital presence, and external messaging
• Manage print, social media, web, and electronic communications strategies

Donor Data & Systems Management

• Maintain accurate and high‑quality donor records and reporting systems
• Ensure compliance with organizational and financial policies
• Oversee donor platforms, giving systems, and data integration with accounting
• Conduct annual IT and data security review in partnership with IT leadership

Department Oversight

• Provide leadership and accountability for:
  • Grants
  • Planned Giving
  • Events
  • External Communications
  • Donor Relations

Organizational Leadership

• Actively participate in Management and Shared Services Director Team meetings
• Contribute to annual budgeting and strategic planning processes
• Submit growth‑focused initiatives to expand Development outcomes
• Foster a collaborative, anti‑silo culture across departments

Spiritual Responsibilities

• Consistently represent and uphold the mission, values, and beliefs of COYFC
• Engage in and lead spiritual activities such as prayer, devotionals, and worship
• Ensure all communications reflect Christ‑centered integrity and character
• Seek God’s guidance in decision‑making, donor relationships, and ministry direction
• Communicate Biblical foundations in a thoughtful and respectful way, especially with those of differing beliefs