Director of Development

World Help; Forest (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

World Help is seeking a Director of Development to lead the Donor Growth department, manage donor outreach, and implement strategic fundraising initiatives with a focus on major gifts, church relations, and planned giving.

You will guide data-driven donor development, collaborate across teams, and grow donor retention while ensuring alignment with World Help’s mission worldwide.

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in a related field.
• 8+ years of fundraising and management experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated success raising funds with measurable outcomes.
• Experience with fundraising software and tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Donor Growth department.
• Grow major/mid-donor programs and cultivate key donors.
• Oversee Church Relations and expand church involvement.
• Develop planned giving initiatives and deferred gift programs.
• Oversee fundraising events and donor stewardship.
• Coach and mentor Major Gift Officers and Church Relations staff.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Donor-Acquisition teams to optimize workflow.
• Maintain dashboards tracking donor portfolios and outcomes.

Skills

Fundraising & Management

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Microsoft Office

Education

B.S. Degree

Tools

Fundraising Software

CRM systems

Job description

(Fully Formatted Job Requisition Attached Below)

Mission & Values

World Help is a Christian humanitarian organization serving the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world. We are searching for a devout follower of Christ whose worldview correlates with the company’s mission and values.

Position Purpose

The Director of Development serves as an overseer to the entire Donor Growth department and as an expert on direct donor fundraising for World Help. The role will provide a thorough strategic donor development plan based on accurate data analysis of donor data, manage assigned donor/church caseloads for supporter-facing staff who would cultivate long-term relationships with current and prospective donors, and establish a planned giving and corporate business programs that would help World Help meet its needs and goals. This role also provides administrative, direct management, and strategic planning oversight to the Donor Growth department to create cohesiveness and collaboration between team members, improve areas that are lacking growth, and enable efficiency across the department. Together, these responsibilities allow the Director of Development to ensure that World Help is committing to the most effective and efficient strategies in securing and retaining donors, meeting organizational fundraising goals, and providing greater resources for those we serve around the world.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Meet weekly with Exec. Dr. Of Mktg & Dev. to report on Donor Growth updates & progress.
• Grow a major/mid-donor program including identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major/mid donors.
• Oversee Church Relations Team, focusing on increasing church involvement with World Help.
• Grow the planned-giving program with a focus on deferred gifts such as bequest expectancies.
• Provide oversight of fundraising events.
• Manage/steward a small caseload of high-capacity donors and ensure that current relationships are continuously cultivated, asking for donations, thanking them for giving.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Donor-Acquisition teams, as well as other directors, to optimize workflow and meet organizational needs.
• Maintain a dashboard monitoring the success of fundraising staff portfolios; regularly inspecting and strategizing with fundraising staff on how to grow donor giving.
• Work closely with Programs staff to secure appropriate project information, to make donor offers as well as report to donor on impact of their giving.
• Recruit, train, coach, and mentor Major Gift Officers, Mid Officers, and Church Relations Representatives to better understand donor cultivation and implement wealth screening.
• Maintain a working knowledge of relevant fundraising trends within the nonprofit community.
• Become fully apprised of World Help’s organizational culture and donor development philosophy to reinforce these principles over time.
• Cultivate new & existing foundations; securing grants that meet World Help’s needs/goals.
• Participate in attending World Help events and traveling for donor trips as needed.
• Any additional duties needed to drive World Help’s mission, vision, and organizational values.

Your Time

75% - Lead Donor & Church Relations Teams

• Provide strategic oversight, train, and equip donor/church relations teams while holding accountable their assigned donor management.

10% – Donor Caseload Management

• Manage a small caseload of donors and ensure they are asked, thanked, and reported back to regarding their giving to World Help.

10% – Donor Event Oversight – Eventual

• Assist Events Manager in helping donors plan/execute events with a focus on growing donor involvement in World Help.

5% – Planned Giving Oversight

• Execute giving program so donors are aware of giving opportunities and equip the Development team to share this program with our donors.

Director Responsibilities

• Represent World Help
• Timecard Approvals
• Coaching/Direction
• Strategy/Budget

Role Classifications

• Director
• Full-Time
• Exempt

Structure

• Direct Lead: Executive Director of Marketing & Development
• Direct Reports: Yes
• Team: N/A
• Department: Development
• When You Work: Normal Operating Hours

Required Skills/Education

• B.S. Degree
• 8+ Years of Fundraising & Management
• Microsoft Office Suite Experience
• Demonstrates Experience Raising Funds & Examples of Positive Outcomes
• Fundraising Software and Tools Expertise

Preferred Skills/Education

• Association of Fundraising Professionals: CFRE and ACFRE accreditations.
• Requires Sitting Most of Day
• Travels Often to Visit/Meet with Major Donors

Attachments (1)

Director of Development - Job Description - 08.21.2026.pdf