Development Director – $5M Fundraising Goal Nonprofit

ThisWay; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ThisWay is seeking a Development Director for a remote role based in the United States. You will lead corporate and foundation partnerships, managing a 90–100 prospect portfolio and driving multi-year commitments to support nationwide youth initiatives.

Expect high-level engagement with executives, board members, and cross-functional teams to craft integrated proposals and secure multi-million-dollar gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, sales management, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience securing multi-million-dollar, multi-year corporate or foundation partnerships.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience managing relationships between private-sector and nonprofit organizations.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business development to exceed team fundraising goals of $50M and individual goal of $5M.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 90–100 national prospects from outreach to closing.
• Develop fundraising strategies integrating philanthropic investment, corporate engagement, and brand alignment.
• Establish and maintain relationships with C-suite executives and foundation decision-makers.
• Collaborate across leadership to execute cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Provide fundraising expertise and pipeline development to strengthen team performance.
• Lead complex opportunities with defined strategies, timelines, and next steps.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop integrated proposals and deliverables.
• Mentor one or more direct reports and grow the portfolio through effective donor stewardship.

Job description

This is a senior-level fundraising role with real weight behind it — a $5M individual annual goal and contribution to a $50M+ team target signals this organization is a large, nationally recognized nonprofit. The scope and budget place this firmly at the Director level in major nonprofit fundraising hierarchies.

Compensation context: No salary is listed, but Development Directors with $5M+ portfolios at national nonprofits typically earn $120,000–$180,000 annually in the US, with top-tier organizations exceeding $200K for proven closers. The lack of posted salary is a mild yellow flag — always negotiate based on your track record of closed gifts.

Skills you'll build:

• C-suite relationship management and enterprise-level negotiation
• Multi-stakeholder proposal development across program, marketing, and finance teams
• CRM pipeline management (Raiser's Edge NXT is an industry-standard tool)
• People management and mentoring of direct reports

Green flags: The role offers genuine leadership scope, cross-functional collaboration, and direct access to board members and executives — excellent for career visibility. Supporting youth-focused STEM and civic engagement initiatives adds mission-driven appeal.

Red flags to watch: The 50% travel requirement is substantial and may affect work-life balance significantly. The lack of benefits disclosure and salary transparency warrants careful due diligence before committing. Confirm team culture and turnover in the development department during interviews.

Our partner is looking for a Development Director for a Remote role.

The Development Director will lead corporate and foundation partnership development to expand opportunities for young people nationwide. This role focuses on securing multi-million-dollar, multi-year commitments and building relationships with executive decision-makers at national corporations and foundations.

Reporting to the Senior Development Director, this position will contribute to a team fundraising goal of more than $50 million, with an individual annual fundraising goal of $5 million. The Director will manage a portfolio of 90–100 national prospects and lead partnership opportunities from initial outreach through proposal development, negotiation, and closing.

Working with organizational executives, board members, and cross-functional teams, the Development Director will develop proposals that align philanthropic investments, corporate engagement, and program priorities. Partnerships will support initiatives focused on hands‑on learning, career readiness, STEM, agriculture, healthy living, and civic engagement.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business development through outreach and relationship cultivation to support a team fundraising goal of more than $50 million and an individual annual fundraising goal of $5 million, focusing on multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitments.
• Build, cultivate, and manage a portfolio of 90–100 national prospects from initial engagement through solicitation and closing.
• Develop fundraising strategies for complex opportunities, incorporating philanthropic investment, corporate engagement, consumer activation, employee engagement, and brand alignment.
• Establish and maintain relationships with C-suite executives, senior corporate leaders, and foundation decision-makers.
• Collaborate with organizational executives, board members, and senior leaders to develop and execute cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Contribute fundraising expertise, pipeline development strategies, and recommendations to strengthen overall team performance.
• Build long‑term relationships with prospects and qualify potential partnership opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of corporate and foundation giving interests, personnel, and industry trends.
• Manage portfolio activities, including accurate and timely tracking of prospect engagement, pipeline progress, and next steps in the CRM.
• Lead complex fundraising opportunities by establishing strategies, responsibilities, timelines, and next steps throughout proposal development, negotiation, and closing.
• Partner with program, marketing, digital, relationship management, and finance teams to develop integrated proposals and meet deliverables.
• Collaborate with the research team and Donor Communications Director to develop prospecting materials and outreach templates.
• Manage and mentor one or more direct reports, as needed.
• Collaborate with team members to grow the portfolio and maintain effective donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Lead additional projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, sales management, or a related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years of experience securing multi‑million‑dollar, multi‑year corporate or foundation partnerships, or other relevant experience.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience planning, managing, and initiating relationships between private‑sector and/or nonprofit organizations.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Proficiency in Raiser's Edge NXT or equivalent fundraising/CRM software.
• Ability to work effectively in a team‑oriented environment and navigate complex organizational structures.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and organizational levels.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple project deadlines and deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building and maintaining multi‑million‑dollar, multi‑year corporate and foundation partnerships at a national nonprofit organization.
• Experience navigating complex nonprofit organizations to develop comprehensive partnerships with national and local reach.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, locally, regionally, and nationally, using air, car, or rail transportation.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodations as needed.
• Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
• Ability to handle routine work materials and perform occasional bending or standing.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
• The role is primarily sedentary, with some movement required.

Is this Development Director role truly remote? The role is designated as remote, but requires up to 50% travel domestically — locally, regionally, and nationally. You must be based in the United States and available for frequent in‑person meetings with corporate and foundation partners.

What is the individual fundraising goal for this position? The Development Director is expected to meet an individual annual fundraising goal of $5 million, while contributing to a broader team goal of more than $50 million.

How many prospects will I manage in this role? You will manage a portfolio of 90–100 national prospects, guiding them from initial outreach through proposal development, negotiation, and closing.

What experience is required to apply? The role requires 10+ years of experience securing multi‑million‑dollar, multi‑year corporate or foundation partnerships, along with 8+ years of progressively responsible relationship management experience between private‑sector and/or nonprofit organizations.

Will I have direct reports in this role? Yes, the Development Director may manage and mentor one or more direct reports as needed, depending on team structure.