Director of Development

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Loveland (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) is looking for a Director of Development to lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan. This role emphasizes building relationships with donors, supervising development staff, and ensuring financial sustainability for Project Self-Sufficiency.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree, at least five years of experience in fundraising, and proven success in securing significant donations. The position is located in Loveland, Colorado, offering an exciting opportunity to drive philanthropic efforts.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in a fundraising or development role with supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing fundraising campaigns and managing donor portfolios.
• Demonstrated track record of securing major gifts of $10,000 and up.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute the organization’s annual development plan.
• Lead donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention.
• Produce reports on donor activity and fundraising performance.

Skills

Fundraising strategies

Donor cultivation

Leadership

Event planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or marketing

Job description

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Search has been retained by Project Self‑Sufficiency to identify a Director of Development to serve their team. The Development Director is responsible for leading and executing a comprehensive fundraising plan to support the mission of Project Self‑Sufficiency. This role requires a dynamic and strategic leader who can cultivate relationships with donors, oversee fundraising initiatives, and develop effective strategies for long‑term financial sustainability. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Development Director works closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to drive philanthropic support in support of full execution of the mission.

What You’ll Do

• Build, own, and execute the organization’s comprehensive annual development plan, including revenue goals, stewardship strategies, and donor engagement pathways.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive resource development plan, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, annual giving, and special events.
• Lead the full lifecycle of donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention using a structured moves management approach.
• Maintain and actively manage a portfolio of 50–75 donors, including major gift prospects, corporate partners, and long term philanthropic relationships.
• Monitor and analyze fundraising trends to refine strategies, maximize impact, and support long term financial sustainability.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Develop compelling donor engagement and recognition strategies that deepen donor commitment and increase long term giving.
• Partner closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to steward and cultivate donors, leveraging their networks and strengths.
• Provide training and support to board members and staff involved in fundraising activities.
• Engage donors through personalized communication, impact storytelling, and stewardship touchpoints.
• Provide ownership and oversight of the donor database, ensuring accurate data entry, segmentation, and maintenance of donor records.
• Produce regular reports on donor activity, portfolio movement, revenue progress, and campaign performance.
• Track ROI and effectiveness of fundraising strategies, events, and campaigns to inform improvements and resource allocation.
• Use data analysis to evaluate development program performance and design strategies for growth.
• Collaborate with Events Coordinator to plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns, ensuring alignment with donor engagement strategies and organizational revenue goals.
• Develop and manage sponsorship opportunities for events and programs.
• Evaluate event and campaign goals and outcomes to inform future planning and continuous improvement.
• Supervise development staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors on fundraising strategies and donor cultivation activities.
• Provide training and support to board members and staff involved in fundraising activities.
• Prepare and manage the development budget, ensuring financial sustainability and effective resource allocation.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising performance and donor engagement metrics.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to develop fundraising materials and campaigns.
• Define strategy and messaging for donor specific communications, including segmented outreach based on giving levels and program affinity (scholarships, childcare, housing, transportation, etc.).
• Track and evaluate effectiveness of strategies, campaigns, and overall results using key metrics.
• Ensure all fundraising and donor communications align with organizational branding and messaging.
• Supervise the communications team in the development of compelling content for campaigns, newsletters, social media, and press releases.
• Participate in storytelling efforts to effectively communicate impact to donors and stakeholders.
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support organizational goals and the success of the development program.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or marketing is preferred.
• Minimum five years in fundraising or development role with supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing fundraising campaigns and managing donor portfolios.
• Demonstrated track record of securing major gift at $10,000 and up.
• Event planning and coordination experience.
• Prior success in leadership roles.