Director of Development

NEADS World Class Service Dogs; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer Matched 403B

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

NEADS World Class Service Dogs is seeking a strategic Director of Development to spearhead donor cultivation and fundraising initiatives. You will lead a four-person team, build a sustainable pipeline, and expand NEADS reach across the Northeast.

The role reports to the leadership team, drives major gifts, grants, and corporate partnerships, and collaborates with Marketing to align donor outreach with brand standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior development leadership with a track record of closing major gifts.
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts philanthropic landscape.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Salesforce (or similar CRM) and data-driven donor pipeline management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and monitor an annual fundraising plan targeting individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors, expanding regional reach in Boston, Worcester, New England.
• Oversee grant proposals and develop long-term corporate partnerships and sponsorships.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Stakeholder management

Storytelling

Data-driven decision making

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

NEADS Service Dogs is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that trains and provides Service Dogs for people with physical disabilities, hearing loss, veterans with PTSD, children with autism, and professionals in hospital, courthouse, and educational settings. We are proud to be an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI).

The Opportunity

NEADS is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and experienced Director of Development (DOD) to spearhead our donor cultivation and fundraising strategy. You will be responsible for building a sustainable funding pipeline, managing a four-person development team, and expanding our reach across the Northeast. You will also serve as a key member of the NEADS Leadership Team, contributing to the overall stability and growth of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Revenue Generation

• Annual Strategy & Growth: Design, execute, and monitor a comprehensive annual fundraising plan to secure support from individuals, foundations, and corporations while actively expanding the donor pipeline and increasing average gift size.
• Major Gift Cultivation: Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors, with a specific focus on expanding our footprint and deepening regional connections in the Boston, Worcester, and New England markets.
• Corporate & Foundation Relations: Oversee the submission and tracking of grant proposals and develop long-term corporate partnerships and sponsorships.

Departmental Oversight & Team Management

• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor professional staff responsible for:
  • Grant & Foundation Fundraising: Driving foundation pipeline growth, managing corporate partnerships, and overseeing the timely submission of grant proposals.
  • Database & Gift Operations: Maintaining high data integrity, gift processing, and pipeline tracking within Salesforce to ensure reliability in our reporting.
• Event Management: Champion 1-2 fundraising events annually, ensuring they meet financial targets and provide a high-quality donor experience.
• Collaborative Marketing: Work closely with the Marketing Department to ensure messaging is aligned with donor outreach goals and brand standards.

Organizational Leadership

• Leadership Team Member: Participate as an active member of the NEADS Leadership Team, providing a fundraising perspective and revenue updates, and contributing to organization-wide goal setting.
• Board Engagement: Partner with the CEO to support the Board of Directors in their fundraising efforts and provide transparent reporting on development KPIs.

Who You Are

• A Proven Builder: You have 5+ years of senior development experience, a track record of meeting ambitious fundraising targets, and a talent for mentoring staff.
• A Natural Connector: You have high emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal and storytelling skills, with the ability to represent NEADS passionately to diverse stakeholders. You can navigate a room of corporate executives as easily as a group of volunteers.
• Tech-Savvy: You value data-informed decision making. You are proficient in Salesforce and can use it to to track pipelines, evaluate campaign effectiveness, and strategically cultivate major gifts..
• A Strategic Risk-Taker: You look at challenges as opportunities to innovate, and you aren't afraid to try new fundraising models or pivot when a strategy isn't yielding results.
• Mission-Driven: You have a genuine passion for the human-canine bond and the community we serve.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5+ years of progressive fundraising leadership experience with a track record of closing major gifts.
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts philanthropic landscape.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Salesforce (or similar CRM) and a data-driven donor pipeline management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Compensation

• Starting at $125,000
• Employer Matched 403B
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program