Director of Development

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-DC) Washington, DC Metro Area Chapter; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Council For Adoption in Alexandria, VA seeks a Director of Development to drive donor strategy and execution. You will build the framework, materials, preparation, and follow-through to enable frontline fundraising led by the CEO, while expanding relationships with donors and foundations.

The role focuses on annual revenue planning, grant proposals, donor communications, and leading sponsorship activities, reporting to the CEO. Nonprofit fundraising experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in nonprofit development with fundraising focus.
• Proven success obtaining foundation/individual gifts.
• Excellent grant writing and donor communications.
• Experience managing fundraising pipeline and CRM.
• Strong project-management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Good judgment and discretion partnering with CEO.
• Experience in small/mid-sized nonprofits preferred.
• Adoption or child-welfare familiarity is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage annual development strategy and revenue plan.
• Set fundraising goals, forecasts, and performance metrics.
• Draft grant proposals, reports, letters of inquiry, appeals, and donor communications.
• Conduct donor research and prepare CEO for meetings and solicitations.
• Manage development pipeline, calendar, donor records, acknowledgments, gift processing, stewardship.
• Build relationships with selected donors and funders; support CEO as frontline fundraiser.
• Lead conference sponsorships and exhibitor revenue from prospecting to stewardship.
• Prepare briefings and materials for external and internal meetings.

Skills

Donor relations

Grant writing

Fundraising strategy

CRM management

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

CEO collaboration

Job description

Location: National Council For Adoption - Alexandria, Virginia

Director of Development

Reports To: President and CEO

Supervises: None

Employment Status: Full-time

Business type: Nonprofit

Position Title

Director of Development

Position Overview

This position would be primarily responsible for development donor strategy and execution. The CEO would remain NCFA’s primary frontline fundraiser and senior donor relationship-builder. This person would create the structure, materials, preparation, and follow-through needed to make those efforts successful.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage an annual development strategy and revenue plan.
• Establish fundraising goals, forecasts, and performance measures.
• Draft grant proposals, reports, letters of inquiry, appeals, donor communications, and other fundraising materials.
• Conduct donor and prospect research and prepare the CEO for donor meetings, cultivation, and solicitations.
• Manage the development pipeline, fundraising calendar, donor records, acknowledgments, gift processing, stewardship activities, and follow-up.
• Develop relationships with selected donors and funders while supporting the CEO as the primary frontline fundraiser.
• Lead conference sponsorship and exhibitor revenue, including prospecting, recruitment, solicitation, tracking, benefit fulfillment, and ongoing stewardship.
• Prepare briefings, talking points, presentations, and other materials for important external and internal meetings.

Collaboration & Relationships

Internal: President and CEO, NCFA staff, and other leadership as needed to advance fundraising and selected organizational priorities.

External: Donors, prospective donors, foundations and other funders, partners, and other external contacts relevant to development and CEO-led initiatives.

Other Duties

This position may be asked to perform other duties and responsibilities that are reasonably related to the position and support NCFA’s mission and organizational needs.

Salary range

$70,000-90,000

Qualifications

NCFA recognizes that not every candidate will bring all of the knowledge, skills and experiences listed below, and welcomes candidates with a variety of experiences.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible nonprofit development experience, including demonstrated success with institutional and individual fundraising, plus experience managing complex organizational initiatives
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding significant foundation and individual gifts.
• Excellent grant writing, donor communication, and case-development skills.
• Experience managing a fundraising pipeline and CRM.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to move work across organizational boundaries.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and ability to work closely with a CEO.
• Experience in a small or midsized nonprofit, where senior staff combine strategy with hands-on execution.
• Adoption, child welfare, or family-services experience preferred, but not required.

Salary: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2026