Director of Development

The Barker Adoption Foundation; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful mission

Hybrid work arrangement

Excellent benefits

80+ year legacy

Job summary

The Barker Adoption Foundation is seeking a Director of Development to lead Barker’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, and donor stewardship.

This role reports to the Executive Director/CEO and collaborates with the Board and staff to expand services and support for families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent, 5+ years in development/fundraising.
• Proven track record raising revenue and meeting goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with donor databases and donor stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute Barker's fundraising strategy with leadership and board.
• Grow donor pipeline from acquisition through major gifts and planned giving.
• Lead major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Launch and manage planned giving/bequest programs.
• Oversee annual appeals and campaigns including events.
• Supervise development staff and coordinate with marketing.
• Maintain DonorPerfect database and fundraising reporting.
• Represent Barker at donor meetings and community events.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor cultivation

Communication skills

DonorPerfect/Donor databases

Leadership & supervision

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

DonorPerfect

Microsoft Office

Virtual meeting tools

Job description

Director of Development

The Barker Adoption Foundation | Hybrid (Virtual + In-Office) | Full-Time

Make a Profound Difference, Every Single Day

For over 80 years, The Barker Adoption Foundation has helped build and strengthen families through ethical, child-centered adoption services and lifelong support for birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive families. We're looking for a Director of Development to lead the fundraising strategy that makes this work possible - and to help even more children find permanent, loving homes.

This is a role for someone who wants their work to matter. Every gift you help secure, every donor relationship you build, and every campaign you lead directly expands our ability to serve the families who count on us - from an expectant parent navigating a difficult decision, to a family bringing home a child, to an adoptee seeking support decades later.

About the Role

As Director of Development, you'll own Barker's comprehensive fundraising strategy - annual giving, major gifts, donor cultivation and stewardship, planned giving, grants, special events, and corporate and foundation relations. You'll work closely with our Executive Director/CEO, Board of Trustees, and a collaborative staff team, and you'll serve on Barker's Management Team.

You'll build and manage a structured donor pipeline from first gift through legacy giving, lead major gift strategy, and oversee the systems and reporting that keep our development program running smoothly. You'll also supervise development staff and partner closely with marketing to tell Barker's story in ways that inspire people to give.

What you'll do:

• Design and execute Barker's fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director/CEO, Marketing, the Board, and staff
• Build and grow a donor pipeline - acquisition through major and planned gifts - using donor-centered, relationship-driven methodologies
• Lead major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Launch and grow a planned giving/bequest program
• Manage annual appeals, including #GivingTuesday, DOMORE24, workplace giving, and our Phone-A-Thon
• Support the Friends of Barker Endowment campaign
• Design and lead fundraising events that expand our donor base and visibility
• Oversee grant proposal development, reporting, and institutional funder relationships
• Maintain and grow the DonorPerfect database and fundraising reporting
• Supervise and mentor development staff, consultants, and volunteers
• Represent Barker at donor meetings, conferences, and community events

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree plus 5+ years in development/fundraising, or equivalent experience
• A proven track record building fundraising strategy, cultivating donors, and meeting revenue goals
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Comfort with donor databases (DonorPerfect preferred), Microsoft Office, and virtual meeting tools
• A natural relationship-builder - with donors, board members, staff, and community and corporate partners
• Sound judgment and discretion handling confidential donor and organizational information
• Self-direction, strong follow-through, and comfort leading projects independently
• Strong leadership, organizational, and supervisory skills, with real attention to detail
• Cultural competence and a genuine commitment to working across diverse backgrounds
• Flexibility for occasional evenings/weekends, and reliable transportation for periodic local and regional travel

Why Barker

• A meaningful, mission-driven role where your work directly changes children's and families' lives
• A collaborative, supportive team culture - you won't be building this alone
• A hybrid work arrangement that combines flexibility with in-person connection to our team and community
• Excellent benefits
• A respected, 80+ year legacy in ethical, child-centered adoption services, with the room and support to build a modern, sustainable development program

Salary

Salary Range: $125,00 - $150,000 annually. Placement within the hiring range will be based on the selected candidate's experience, education, demonstrated skills, and alignment with the position's responsibilities, while maintaining internal equity.

Apply

If you're ready to bring your fundraising talent to work that changes lives, we'd love to hear from you. Please provide a cover letter along with your application and resume.