Development Officer

Hildebrand; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Hildebrand, a Boston‑area nonprofit addressing homelessness, seeks a Development Officer to expand donor engagement and secure funding. You will drive donor relations, write grants, and manage campaigns to advance strategic growth while collaborating with leadership to meet annual financial goals.

The role emphasizes compelling storytelling, data‑driven stewardship, and partnerships with individuals and organizations to disrupt the cycle of homelessness in greater Boston.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience in nonprofit fundraising, communications, or development.
• Minimum of 5 years in fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
• Proven success in grant writing, major gift solicitation, and multi‑channel campaigns.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong storytelling ability.
• Experience with donor CRM databases (Donor Perfect, Salesforce, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge) and MS Office.
• Experience with digital marketing tools (Constant Contact, Mailchimp, Canva, social media).
• Ability to manage multiple projects with organization and sound judgment, and work with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate new donor prospects and strengthen relationships across individuals, corporations, and organizations.
• Promote Hildebrand’s mission and story to build community partnerships.
• Research funding opportunities and write compelling grant proposals aligned with strategy.
• Track grants and ensure compliance with funder guidelines and reporting obligations.
• Plan and oversee fundraising campaigns, events, and multi‑channel appeals to grow giving.
• Collaborate with leadership to set annual development goals and priorities.
• Draft internal and external communications to enhance Hildebrand’s public profile and donor stewardship.
• Maintain accurate donor records and analyze data to report fundraising outcomes and trends.

Skills

Donor Relations

Grant Writing

Campaign Management

Communications

Data Reporting

Project Management

Public Speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Donor Perfect

Salesforce

Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge

Excel

Constant Contact

Mailchimp

Canva

Job description

For more than 30 years, Hildebrand has been solely focused on housing families experiencing homelessness throughout greater Boston. Over that time, we've established a strong reputation for reliability and consistency based on our proven theory of change, while remaining flexible to meet the changing needs of our communities. What sets us apart is the lengths we go to in getting to know our family members and their goals as they work to achieve self-sufficiency.

We are looking for people to partner with us to achieve our goal of disrupting the cycle of homelessness for greater Boston families and are seeking a Development Officer to join our team.

What Will You Do:

Donor Relations & Engagement

• Conduct research and create innovative programs to identify new donor prospects and cultivate relationships.
• Expand relationships with existing individual, corporate, and organizational donors to maximize long-term engagement and investment.
• Serve as an organizational ambassador, sharing Hildebrand’s story and mission to build strong community partnerships.

Grant Writing & Compliance

• Research funding opportunities across private foundations, corporate sponsors, and government sources.
• Write compelling, winning grant proposals that align with Hildebrand’s strategic direction and growth priorities.
• Manage grant tracking and reporting to ensure full compliance with funder guidelines and obligations.

Fundraising & Campaign Management

• Plan, execute, and oversee fundraising campaigns, special events, and direct mail or digital appeals.
• Focus on driving major gift strategies to significantly increase overall giving.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to establish annual development goals and priorities.

Communications & Marketing

• Draft and issue internal and external communications, including social media posts, advertising, and marketing collateral, to enhance Hildebrand’s public profile.
• Leverage targeted communications to inspire, educate, and steward donors and key stakeholders.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of all gifts, pledges, and constituent interactions within the donor CRM database.
• Capture and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to report on fundraising outcomes, trends, and progress toward financial goals.
• Ensure accurate documentation and timely reporting in accordance with agency standards of excellence

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, sales, donor relations, or non-profit development.
• Proven track record in grant writing, major gift solicitation, and managing multi-channel fundraising campaigns.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated public speaking and storytelling abilities.
• Technical proficiency in donor CRM databases (e.g., Donor Perfect, Salesforce, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge) and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
• Experience with digital marketing tools and platforms (e.g., Constant Contact, Mailchimp, Canva, social media advertising).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with agility, organization, and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated commitment to innovative strategies to address the needs of families experiencing homelessness.
• Experience working effectively with individuals from broadly diverse ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds