Development Director

The Little Light House Central Kentucky, Inc.; Louisville (KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

Job summary

KRM in Louisville is seeking a Development Director to lead our fundraising program as we transition from federal funding to a diversified private philanthropy model. You will design and oversee strategies across major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, events, and planned giving.

You'll cultivate high-capacity donors, manage staff and consultants, and report to the Executive Director. The role requires 5–7+ years nonprofit fundraising, a Bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred),

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–7+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising strategy across multiple revenue streams: individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, annual campaigns, events, planned giving, peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Build and manage a comprehensive development program transitioning from federal funding to a sustainable private philanthropy model.
• Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies; prepare forecasts, reports, and pipeline updates for leadership and board.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects; lead identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Support board fundraising efforts and train board members in fundraising best practices; staff development for fundraising committees.
• Oversee development department budget and analyze ROI and performance metrics.

Skills

Donor relationship management

Fundraising strategy

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

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
  • 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

Position Status, Compensation and Benefits

• Full-time exempt position
• Reports to KRM Executive Director in Louisville
• Salary based on background and experience , in range of $75,000 to $85,000 per year
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance; vacation, holidays, sick and personal days
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% fully-vested KRM match after one year of service

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 5–7+ years of nonprofit fundraising 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

Work Arrangements

• KRM staff are required to work at least four days a week, or 80% of scheduled hours, in-person, either in the office or the field, with remaining hours worked remotely
• Ability to work primarily out of KRM’s main office in Louisville—where a majority of agency staff, clients and financial donors are located is strongly preferred. However, exceptional candidates from Lexington or Northern Kentucky who commit to required travel, will be considered.
• The Development Director will need to periodically drive to the location of all KRM offices to meet with development staff and donors