Director of Development

Feeding America; Chicopee (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Feeding America, located in Chicopee, MA, seeks a Director of Development & Engagement to lead comprehensive fundraising strategies and manage a dedicated team. In your role, you will collaborate with the Executive Director and oversee efforts to increase donor engagement, provide community support, and raise awareness about food insecurity.

The ideal candidate will have over 5 years in senior-level development roles, proven success in fundraising, and exceptional communication skills. Additional responsibilities include managing volunteer engagements and media relationships.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior-level development experience in nonprofit.
• Demonstrated success in major gift solicitations and foundation grants.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive fundraising plan with measurable outcomes.
• Oversee major donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Develop and execute integrated marketing and communications strategies.

Skills

Fundraising

Communication Skills

Nonprofit Marketing

Team Management

Donor Management Software

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Donor Management Software

Job description

Job Overview

Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director, the Director of Development & Engagement establishes multi-year strategies and workplans for the Development Division to establish and achieve (if not exceed) revenue, engagement, operational integrity and communications goals to raise public awareness about, support and engagement in our mission. Participates in individual major donor cultivation and stewardship, and supports division managers to innovate and meet division goals and objectives.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to: Executive Director
Supervises: Development Operations Manager, Donor Engagement Manager, Grants Relations Manager, Communications & Engagement Manager, Public Engagement Manager

Essential Functions

Development

• Lead and oversee a comprehensive fundraising plan with targeted goals, objectives, activities, and quantifiable outcomes to achieve budgeted goals for individual, business, and foundation revenue.
• Oversee and inform direct mail campaigns and events, including strategy and goals with multiple managers.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Donor Engagement Manager on major donor cultivation, stewardship, donor segmentation strategies, moves management and quarterly impact assessment.
• Undertake major donor portfolio cultivation and stewardship.
• Oversee the Public Engagement Manager to cultivate, steward, and engage businesses in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Oversee the Donor Operations Manager to ensure donor data integrity and security, and timely donor-centric acknowledgment procedures and relations.
• Oversee the Grants Manager to prospect, plan, prepare, and report on corporate, foundation, and government grant proposals.

Communications

• Oversee the Communications and Engagement Manager to develop and execute comprehensive and integrated marketing and communications strategies and content for branded, public-facing materials, events, media relations, social networking, website, and newsletters.
• Serve as an external Food Bank representative to the media, and corporate and major donors.

Engagement

• Oversee volunteer engagement at the Food Bank and Food Bank Farm.
• Oversee Food Bank signature events and other public-facing activities.
• Oversee brand strategy to expand and deepen public awareness of food insecurity, its causes, and the Food Bank’s two-fold mission.

Management

• As a member of the Leadership Team, actively participate in leading organizational priorities and strategic planning. Ensure that established objectives are met or exceeded.
• Guide and inspire division employee visioning, engagement, and effective participation in organizational planning and coordination.
• Oversee division management to establish annual work plans, including goals, objectives, activities and performance metrics to support strategic plan goals.
• Supervise, develop, motivate, and evaluate division managers.
• Support the Board of Directors Development Committee.
• Serve as ambassador of a culture of philanthropy to the Food Bank staff, board of directors, and the public.

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay abreast of philanthropy, marketing, and development trends.
• Produce quarterly reports for the Board of Directors and Board Development Committee.

Job Specifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and 5+ years of senior-level development experience.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, major gift solicitations, procuring foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.
• Experience with planning and implementing donor appeal, major gifts, and programs campaigns.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience.
• Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused).
• Exceptional communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation formats.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience with nonprofit marketing and social media.
• Experience in budgeting, planning, and staff and project management.
• Knowledge of and proficiency in donor management software.
• Experience working with volunteers and teams to achieve objectives.

Preferences

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• 5+ years of director-level experience in a mission-driven organization.
• Branding/rebranding experience.
• Extensive experience supervising and leading teams with diverse responsibilities.
• Spanish proficiency.

End Date

September 25, 2026