Development Director

United Way Forsyth and Dawson Counties; Cumming (GA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

United Way Forsyth & Dawson Counties is seeking a Development Director to lead fundraising strategy and execution. You will oversee workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, major gifts, and events, while managing a portfolio of major donors and collaborating with the CEO and board.

The role requires a track record in fundraising leadership, strong public speaking ability, and exceptional relationship management to grow donor engagement and revenue.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Proven success in leading campaigns and securing major gifts.
• Strong donor stewardship knowledge and prospect research.
• Excellent public speaking and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for events and donor meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive annual fundraising plan across workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, individual giving, sponsorships, and events.
• Forecast revenue, monitor results, and adjust strategies to meet goals.
• Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of donors, including major gifts.
• Oversee donor engagement, stewardship, and communications with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with CEO, staff, and volunteers to strengthen organizational philanthropy.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor cultivation

Public speaking

Relationship building

Portfolio management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Donor CRM

Job description

The Development Director serves as the senior fundraising leader for United Way of Forsyth & Dawson Counties and is responsible for developing and achieving the organization’s comprehensive annual resource development plan. The director leads strategies across workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, individual and major giving, sponsorships, and fundraising events while managing a portfolio of key donors and prospects.

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Development Director supervises the Events & Donor Engagement Manager and works closely with the CEO, staff, board members, and volunteers to build a strong culture of philanthropy. This position brings strategy, discipline, and accountability to donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, pipeline management, revenue forecasting, and fundraising performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive annual fundraising plan with clear goals for workplace campaigns, corporate partnerships, individual and major giving, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals by monitoring results, forecasting revenue, identifying risks and opportunities, and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Partner with the President & CEO to pursue significant individual, corporate, foundation, and community investment opportunities.
• Evaluate fundraising performance, donor trends, and return on investment to guide strategy and resource allocation.
• Manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and major-gift prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors, with documented next steps, ask amounts, anticipated timelines, and relationship strategies.
• Develop personalized engagement and stewardship strategies that strengthen donor retention, increase giving, and reactivate lapsed donors.
• Coordinate donor strategies and follow-up for relationships involving the President & CEO, board members, staff, and volunteers.

Workplace Campaigns & Corporate Partnerships

• Provide strategic direction of United Way’s annual workplace campaign, including the retention, reactivation, and acquisition of corporate partners.
• Build relationships with corporate leaders, workplace campaign coordinators, sponsors, foundations, and other community partners.
• Equip workplace campaign coordinators with the tools, messaging, and support needed to increase employee participation and giving.
• Develop corporate engagement opportunities that connect workplace giving, sponsorships, volunteerism, and community impact.
• Track campaign performance and use results to strengthen partner engagement and future revenue.

Events, Donor Engagement & Communications

• Provide strategic direction for fundraising and donor engagement events, including revenue goals, sponsorship strategy, audience development, donor experience, and post-event cultivation.
• Supervise the Events & Donor Engagement Manager, who leads event coordination, logistics, sponsorship fulfillment, and related donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate with staff, board members, and volunteers to maximize event participation, revenue, and relationship-building opportunities.
• Guide the development of donor-centered cases for support, appeals, campaign materials, impact communications, and stewardship content.
• Represent United Way at community events, donor meetings, networking opportunities, and speaking engagements.

Development Operations & Leadership

• Supervise, coach, and develop the Events & Donor Engagement Manager, establishing clear goals, expectations, and accountability for performance.
• Oversee the effective use of the donor CRM, ensuring timely and accurate documentation of donor information, interactions, gifts, pledges, portfolio activity, and next steps.
• Partner with the finance team to reconcile fundraising revenue, pledges, sponsorships, and donor records and to maintain consistent reporting.
• Provide regular fundraising dashboards, pipeline reports, revenue forecasts, and performance updates to the President & CEO and Board of Directors.
• Engage and equip board members and organizational leaders to participate effectively in donor cultivation, introductions, stewardship, and solicitation.
• Lead regular portfolio and fundraising performance reviews with the President & CEO and development team.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Proven success in leading campaigns, securing major gifts, and building corporate partnerships.
• Sales professionals welcome to apply.
• Strong ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, corporate partners, and volunteers.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and prospect research.
• Excellent public speaking skills and the ability to represent United Way at community events.
• Ability to engage and motivate volunteers and board members to support fundraising efforts.
• Strong analytical skills for tracking fundraising performance and donor trends.

Additional Requirements:

• Passion for United Way’s mission and a commitment to community impact.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends for events and donor meetings.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for donor visits and community events.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required. The United Way of Forsyth County reserves the right to modify, add, or remove job responsibilities as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Employment with the United Way of Forsyth County is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

The United Way of Forsyth County is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.