Development Director

Inside Philanthropy; Louisville (KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) is seeking a Development Director to provide strategic leadership for fundraising and to diversify the organization’s private philanthropy model. The role will grow donor relationships across Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky and lead strategies across individual giving, major gifts, events, and planned giving.

The Development Director will supervise development staff, oversee campaigns and budgets, and partner with executive leadership to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–7+ years nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven success securing major gifts and growing philanthropic revenue.
• Experience managing staff and fundraising strategy.
• Strong donor engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Experience with donor CRM systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive development program that diversifies funding beyond federal sources.
• Create fundraising strategies across multiple revenue streams (individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, annual campaigns, events, planned giving, peer-to-peer).
• Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to maximize results.
• Prepare development forecasts, reports, and pipeline updates for leadership and board committees.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects; lead cultivation and stewardship.
• Support board fundraising and train board members in fundraising practices.
• Supervise development staff and consultants and foster cross-team collaboration.
• Oversee fundraising campaigns and donor events; monitor progress toward revenue goals.
• Develop and manage the development department budget; report to executive leadership.

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

5–7+ years nonprofit fundraising

Cross-cultural experience

Staff management

Major gifts fundraising

Donor engagement

Communication skills

CRM systems experience

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Summary

The Development Director provides strategic leadership for KRM’s fundraising efforts, leading the development of a comprehensive fundraising program designed to accelerate the organization's transition from federal funding dependence to a diversified, sustainable private philanthropy model. The role will spearhead the organization's strategic shift from reliance on federal funding, creating the systems, strategies, and relationships that will fuel long-term growth and impact. The Development Director is responsible for growing philanthropic revenue, strengthening donor relationships across Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky, and overseeing fundraising strategy across individual giving, major gifts, annual campaigns, corporate partnerships, events, and planned giving.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Build and lead a comprehensive development program that accelerates the organization's transition from federal funding to a sustainable private philanthropy model
• Create and manage fundraising strategies across multiple revenue streams, including: individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, annual campaigns, events, planned giving, and peer-to-peer fundraising
• Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to maximize results
• Prepare development forecasts, reports, and pipeline updates for leadership and board committees

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects
• Lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Develop donor engagement plans that deepen relationships and increase giving
• Partner with executive leadership on major donor meetings, proposals, and stewardship

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Support board fundraising efforts and donor engagement strategies
• Train and coach board members in fundraising best practices
• Staff development or fundraising committees
• Assist with volunteer fundraising leadership initiatives

Team Leadership

• Supervise development staff and consultants
• Establish performance goals and accountability measures
• Foster collaboration across development, finance, communications, and program teams
• Support professional growth of fundraising staff

Campaigns & Events

• Oversee fundraising campaigns and donor events
• Ensure strategic donor engagement before, during, and after events
• Monitor campaign progress toward revenue goals

Budget & Reporting

• Develop and manage the development department budget
• Analyze fundraising ROI and performance metrics
• Present fundraising updates to executive leadership and board stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 5–7+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience
• Previous cross-cultural work experience
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and growing philanthropic revenue
• Experience managing staff and fundraising strategy
• Strong relationship‑building and donor engagement skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Experience with donor CRM systems preferred

Agency Profile

A nonprofit organization founded in 1990, Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) serves refugees and immigrants through offices in Louisville, Lexington and Covington.

KRM provides clients with comprehensive case management; coordination of medical and mental health care; employment services; youth services, from early childhood to college readiness; ESL and cultural orientation; legal services and citizenship education; advocacy for victims of crime; and arts and culture programming.

KRM has a diverse staff who do not engage in any religious messaging in connection to delivery of client services.

Position Status

• Full‑time exempt position
• Reports to KRM Executive Director in Louisville