Development Director

The Mav Group; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars in Plymouth, MI seeks a strategic Development Director to lead and grow our fundraising program. You will manage annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based initiatives while supervising the development and communications team.

As a member of the leadership team, you will collaborate with the Executive Director and Board to build sustainable fundraising, engage donors, and advance DEI values across activities.

Qualifications

• Five years nonprofit fundraising experience with success across major gifts, grants, events, and annual giving.
• At least one year of experience supervising staff.
• Proven ability to develop and implement fundraising strategies and meet revenue goals.
• Experience diversifying revenue streams and growing major donor relationships.
• Experience with foundation fundraising, grant writing, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising strategy with the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Develop, execute, and monitor annual and long‑term fundraising plans aligned with priorities and revenue goals.
• Manage fundraising budgets, revenue forecasting, performance tracking, and regular reporting.
• Ensure fundraising systems, processes, and data support decision‑making and growth.
• Lead and execute all fundraising programs, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based initiatives.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and donor development efforts.
• Provide strategic leadership to the development and communications team and engage board members and volunteers.
• Develop board members and volunteers with tools and guidance for donor relationships.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Education

CFRE certification

Tools

Donor databases

Reporting tools

Email marketing platforms

Job description

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) empowers and supports students throughout Southeast Michigan to achieve post-secondary success. Founded in 1990, DRDFS provides equitable opportunities for students to access and earn a post-secondary degree, reach their goals, and strengthen our communities.

Through our Next Level Scholars Program, scholars are engaged beginning in 10th grade and continue through post-secondary credential or degree attainment. The program inspires and prepares students to pursue post-secondary education, accomplished through tailored campus visits, SAT preparation, leadership workshops, FAFSA completion, one‑on‑one coaching and more. DRDFS awards each scholar a $4,000 scholarship upon high school graduation and continues to provide resources, coaching and support until they earn a post‑secondary degree or credential. Our students outpace their peers in post‑secondary enrollment, persistence, and graduation, a point of pride for the organization.

Over the past 35 years, what started as a small group of committed neighbors who established the organization to support their local school has evolved into a comprehensive, award winning post‑secondary access and success program, serving 16 partner high schools and more than 1,000 students across Southeast Michigan annually.

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) is seeking a strategic, results‑driven Development Director to lead and grow the organization’s fundraising efforts in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. This role is responsible for the overall direction, execution, and performance of DRDFS’s fundraising strategy and serves as a key member of the organization’s leadership team.

The Development Director will oversee all fundraising functions, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based fundraising initiatives. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of major donors, the Development Director will oversee fundraising systems, budgets, and performance tracking to ensure sustainable growth and alignment with organizational priorities.

This role also provides direct supervision and strategic leadership to the development and communications team and plays a central role in engaging board members and volunteers as active partners in fundraising. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of fundraising success, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategy with hands‑on execution in a dynamic nonprofit environment.

As part of the leadership team, the Development Director will help advance DRDFS’s mission of empowering students to achieve post‑secondary success by building meaningful, long‑term relationships with individuals, foundations, schools, and businesses across the region, while modeling the organization’s values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This is a full‑time position based in Plymouth, MI with a predominantly in‑office work environment from 8am-5pm M‑F.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the organization’s overall fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Develop, execute, and monitor annual and long‑term fundraising plans aligned with organizational priorities and revenue goals.
• Manage fundraising budgets, revenue forecasting, performance tracking, and regular reporting to leadership and Board.
• Ensure fundraising systems, processes, and data support effective decision‑making and sustainable growth.
• Lead and execute all fundraising programs, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based fundraising initiatives.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Ensure fundraising activities are mission‑aligned, donor‑centered, and designed to deepen long‑term engagement.
• Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision to the development and communications team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Facilitate, recruit, support, and partner with fundraising and event committees to advance fundraising goals.
• Develop and equip board members and volunteers with tools, training, and guidance to effectively engage in fundraising and donor relationships.

Systems, Communications & Stewardship

• Oversee donor communications and stewardship strategies, including appeals, acknowledgments, and ongoing engagement, in collaboration with the Communications Manager.
• Ensure effective use of the donor database and fundraising systems to support accurate reporting, grant management, and timely donor stewardship.
• Monitor and evaluate fundraising performance to maximize return on investment and ensure best practices are consistently applied.

Organizational Leadership & Culture

• Serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team, contributing to cross‑functional collaboration and organizational planning.
• Model and uphold DRDFS’ culture, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all fundraising and leadership activities.

Qualifications

• Five years of nonprofit fundraising experience with demonstrated success across all aspects of fundraising, including: major gifts, grants, events, and annual giving.
• At least one year of experience supervising staff.
• Proven experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies and meeting revenue goals.
• Demonstrated success in diversifying revenue streams, with specific focus on growing relationships with major donors.
• Experience with foundation fundraising and grant writing, including proposal development and reporting.
• Experience creating, managing, and monitoring fundraising budgets and revenue projections.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to represent an organization effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience using donor databases, reporting tools, and email marketing platforms to support and elevate fundraising and stewardship efforts.
• Deep alignment with the mission, values, and culture of Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• CFRE certification is a plus.

Organizational Culture and Values

All team members are expected to demonstrate our organizational culture and values, also known as our ways of being. The DRDFS team created these statements to encompass the perspectives, knowledge, skills and attitudes of how we approach our work both collectively and individually. By following our ways of being and seeking out ways to improve in these areas, team members can successfully contribute to DRDFS’ mission, vision and long term strategic goals as a dedicated team member.

• Connect Meaningfully: Be respectful and compassionate first.
• Engage Fully: Show up as your best.
• Be Brave: Assume positive intent and deliver feedback and ideas respectfully to keep moving forward.
• Embrace Differences: Collaboration amongst diverse perspectives and voices leads to results.
• Aim High: Set big goals and strive to meet them with a sense of ambition and a growth mindset.
• Celebrate Success: Infuse joy, recognition and gratitude into daily wins both big and small.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars strives to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We value differences in experiences, perspectives, and identities, including but not limited to ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, gender identity, and disability status. The need for post‑secondary education applies equally to all students, and since its inception, DRDFS has focused support efforts to ensure students from all backgrounds have equitable access to higher education.