Director of Development

Goddard House; Brookline (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Starting salary $100,000+

Job summary

Goddard House in Brookline, MA seeks a Director of Development to lead and grow its philanthropic program. This newly created role reports to the President & CEO and drives a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support the assisted living community and Creative Aging Connections.

The position blends strategic planning with hands-on donor engagement, overseeing advancement functions, donor relations, reporting, and staff/partners to expand philanthropic investment and impact across Boston-area

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven track record cultivating and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Experience managing donor databases and interpreting fundraising data.
• Experience implementing or contributing to a comprehensive fundraising strategy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy in partnership with the CEO and leadership.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, foundations, and corporate partners, building a robust pipeline.
• Lead major gift strategy and coordinate with the CEO and Board to solicit significant gifts.
• Expand the donor base with new engagement opportunities across giving levels.
• Oversee donor database management, gift tracking, and development reporting; ensure stewardship and acknowledgment practices.

Skills

Relationship building

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Fundraising strategy

Project management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Goddard House, a nonprofit leader in innovative approaches to healthy aging, seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven Director of Development to lead and grow its philanthropic program. This is a newly created position designed to expand Goddard House’s philanthropic impact and strengthen a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, this role offers a unique opportunity to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports both the Goddard House assisted living community and the continued expansion of Creative Aging Connections, a Goddard House initiative that advances creative arts engagement and healthy aging for under-resourced older adults living in Boston and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Director of Development will have responsibility for the organization’s fundraising strategy and results, while overseeing key advancement functions that support donor engagement and philanthropic growth. This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring the ability to develop long-term fundraising strategy while actively managing donor relationships and driving near-term results.

Working closely with the President & CEO and Board of Trustees, the Director will strengthen relationships with donors and community partners and expand philanthropic investment in Goddard House’s mission to support purpose, autonomy, and choice as we age.

Leadership & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the President & CEO to develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy and foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Develop and lead annual fundraising goals and strategies supporting programmatic priorities and capital and facility-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to articulate compelling opportunities for philanthropic support.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners, building and managing a robust pipeline of prospects.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects, building long-term relationships and securing significant philanthropic gifts.
• Lead major gift strategy and partner with the CEO and Board of Trustees to cultivate and solicit significant gifts.
• Expand the donor base by developing new opportunities for philanthropic engagement and making targeted asks across all giving levels.
• Represent Goddard House at donor events and community outreach activities.

Brand, Storytelling & Visibility

• Advance Creative Aging Connections (CAC) brand and storytelling to support fundraising and donor engagement; collaborate with the marketing team to align messaging.
• Strengthen Goddard House and CAC’s visibility through events, campaigns, partnerships, and public engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with program and leadership teams to ensure consistent messaging about mission and impact.

Board Engagement

• Support the Board of Trustees and Development Committee in advancing fundraising goals.
• Partner with board members to identify, engage and cultivate new donor prospects.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress and donor engagement.

Development Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee donor database management, gift tracking, and development reporting.
• Ensure effective stewardship and acknowledgment practices.
• Track key metrics including donor retention, acquisition, and revenue performance.
• Use fundraising data and donor analytics to inform strategy, forecasting, and performance tracking.
• Provide leadership and oversight for staff and external partners, including grant writers and consultants.

First-Year Priorities

During the first year, the Director of Development will focus on strengthening the organization’s fundraising foundation while beginning to expand philanthropic support.

Key priorities include:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy in partnership with the President & CEO.
• Expanding the donor pipeline and increasing philanthropic support for Creative Aging Connections.
• Cultivating relationships with residents, current and former families, and community supporters.
• Strengthening fundraising infrastructure, systems, and reporting organization-wide.
• Supporting the Board of Trustees and Development Committee in advancing fundraising engagement.

Key Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with demonstrated success meeting revenue goals.
• Proven track record cultivating and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Experience managing a personal donor portfolio and building a strong fundraising pipeline aligned to annual revenue targets.
• Experience implementing or contributing to a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Experience managing donor databases and interpreting fundraising data.
• Highly organized with strong planning and project management abilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to grow fundraising initiatives.
• Passion for improving quality of life and wellbeing for older adults.

Preferred

• Experience in healthcare, aging services, arts, or community-based organizations
• Experience with planned or legacy giving programs.

Compensation

Starting Salary of $100,000+, commensurate with experience, plus a competitive benefits package.

About Goddard House

Goddard House is a nonprofit organization with more than 175 years of service to older adults in the Greater Boston community. Located in Brookline, Massachusetts, Goddard House operates an innovative assisted living and memory care community with 115 residences, including 17 affordable units. Goddard House is known for providing high-quality care and creative, enriching experiences that support purpose, autonomy, and engagement for residents.

In addition to its residential community, Goddard House leads Creative Aging Connections, an initiative that sponsors and develops creative engagement programs and partnerships designed to expand access to creative aging opportunities across the region. Through these efforts, Creative Aging Connections engages more than 1,500 under-resourced older adults annually throughout the Greater Boston community, helping to reduce isolation and promote connection, wellbeing, and lifelong creativity.

Together, these initiatives reflect Goddard House’s commitment to compassionate care, innovation in aging services, and expanding opportunities for meaningful engagement as people grow older.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Goddard House is committed to nurturing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where older adults, employees, families, and leadership are respected, valued, empowered, and feel a strong sense of belonging. Through compassion, innovation, collaboration, and curiosity, we deliver high-quality care, meaningful programs, and a supportive culture that upholds dignity and engagement for all.