Director, Development

ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers); New York (NY); Remote; USD 140,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

ASME Foundation seeks a Director of Development to advance fundraising strategy and open doors of opportunity for the next generation of engineers. You will manage the annual giving program, support major gifts, and drive corporate, foundation, and planned giving initiatives from a remote-capable position.

You will oversee a portfolio of major donors, collaborate with senior leadership, and ensure sound stewardship, reporting, and compliance across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• CFRE credential preferred.
• 7–10+ years fundraising experience with a track record of meeting targets.
• Experience securing annual, major, corporate, foundation, and planned gifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation's annual giving program and multi-year fundraising strategy.
• Grow annual giving through acquisition, retention, upgrade, recognition, and stewardship.
• Oversee donor relations, prospect research, and pipeline management in Salesforce.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and cultivate corporate/foundation funders.
• Provide leadership to coordinators and collaborate across ASME and partners.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Leadership

Communication

Strategic partnerships

Salesforce analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree (Business/Nonprofit/Communications)

CFRE preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Donor databases

Wealth screening tools

Job description

About ASME

ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real-world challenges. Founded in 1880 as The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a nonprofit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. From college students and early-career engineers to project managers, corporate executives, researchers, and academic leaders, ASME's members are as diverse as the engineering community itself.

Role Summary

ASME is seeking a purpose-driven and results-oriented Director of Development to advance fundraising strategy for the ASME Foundation and help open doors of opportunity for the next generation of innovators. Reporting to the Senior Director of Philanthropy, this role leads the Foundation's annual giving program, supports major gift relationships, and drives corporate, foundation, legacy, and planned giving initiatives. The Director will manage an annual fundraising target of $1.35 million, supervise the Donor Relations Coordinator and Program Coordinator, and build relationships that support training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, and engineering scholarships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation's annual giving program and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy in partnership with the Senior Director of Philanthropy.
• Grow annual giving through integrated, data-informed acquisition, retention, upgrade, recognition, engagement, and stewardship strategies.
• Execute multi-channel campaigns across digital, recurring, workplace, peer-to-peer, and emerging giving platforms.
• Partner with Customer Experience, Marketing, Strategic Communications, consultants, and vendors to apply donor insights and create donor-centric impact narratives.
• Steward a defined portfolio of no more than ten major gift donors capable of investments of $10,000 or more, in coordination with the Senior Director.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, gift agreements, and pipeline records, and engage Board members, executive leadership, and volunteers in major gift efforts as directed.
• Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate and foundation funders through grants, sponsorships, strategic alliances, and emerging collective impact models.
• Grow the Foundation's legacy and planned giving program, cultivate planned gifts, develop donor education and storytelling, and ensure sound stewardship and documentation.
• Own prospect research and pipeline development across individual, corporate, and foundation audiences, including wealth screening, capacity and inclination ratings, and prospect qualification.
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records within Salesforce and use research, analytics, and moves management to inform cultivation, forecasting, and pipeline health.
• Set and monitor annual giving goals, KPIs, and pipeline metrics against the $1.35 million annual fundraising target, and contribute to revenue forecasting and reporting.
• Provide direct leadership and daily supervision to the Donor Relations Coordinator and Program Coordinator, aligning their work with development and engagement goals.
• Collaborate across ASME, support enterprise engagement events and strategic initiatives, and represent the Foundation with donors, partners, and volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and organizational policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field.
• Advanced degree or CFRE credential preferred.
• 7 to 10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising or development experience, with a proven record of meeting or exceeding ambitious revenue targets.
• Demonstrated success securing annual, major, corporate, foundation, and planned gifts and managing donor portfolios for sustained growth.
• Track record of building strategic partnerships and institutional funding relationships.
• Proven leadership managing and motivating staff, volunteers, nonprofit boards, and executive stakeholders.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to articulate mission and craft compelling cases for support.
• Deep expertise in donor cultivation, moves management, and planned giving strategies.
• Proficiency with prospect research and wealth screening tools and methodologies.
• Proficiency with Salesforce, donor databases, and fundraising analytics.
• Strong strategic, project management, and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
• High emotional intelligence, cultural competency, integrity, initiative, creativity, and discretion with confidential matters.
• Collaborative leadership style and passion for advancing education, workforce development, and innovation in engineering.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

This role is eligible for a remote work arrangement. Periodic business travel may be required, including but not limited to, ASME offices, globally.

ASME is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. At ASME, we nurture an inclusive environment, and we encourage, support, and celebrate diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, disability, or protected veteran, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Our Equal Employment Opportunity policy pertains to every aspect of an individual's relationship with the organization, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training and development, promotion, programs, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Annual base salary may vary based on geographic location. The New York metro salary range for this position is estimated to be between $140,000 - $148,000 per year.