Director of Development

North Kent Connect; Rockford (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

401K with company match

Paid holidays

Job summary

North Kent Connect is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead our fund development strategy and deepen engagement with donors, volunteers, businesses, churches, foundations, and community partners who sustain our mission.

The Director of Development partners with the Executive Director and Leadership Team to grow philanthropic support, strengthen NKC's long-term sustainability, and tell our story in ways that inspire action and investment in the Northern Kent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Proven fundraising and donor stewardship experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead Development Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy aligned with NKC's priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Cultivate Meaningful Donor Relationships: Build and steward relationships with current and prospective donors to deepen engagement.
• Grow Individual & Major Giving: Identify prospects and develop cultivation strategies to grow giving.
• Build Community Partnerships: Strengthen relationships with businesses, churches, foundations, and community partners.
• Tell NKC's Story: Communicate NKC's mission, impact, and donor opportunities to inspire action.
• Provide Strategic Oversight of Grants: Oversee NKC's grant portfolio and opportunities.
• Lead, Manage & Hold Accountable: Guide the Volunteer Coordinator and Donations Associate toward clear goals.
• Grow In-Kind & Community Giving: Direct in-kind donation efforts to support NKC's programs.
• Measure What Matters: Establish and monitor development metrics to drive improvement.
• Collaborate Across NKC: Work with leadership and program staff to align development with organizational priorities.
• Be an Ambassador for NKC: Represent NKC with warmth and credibility.
• Provide Spiritually Inclusive Leadership: Lead in a faith-based environment with inclusivity.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Donor communications

Leadership

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM software

Grants management software

Job description

About North Kent Connect

Join a Team Making a Lasting Impact in Northern Kent County

North Kent Connect (NKC) is a Christian organization committed to improving the lives of all people in northern Kent County by providing access to basic needs and promoting economic independence.

As an organization running the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS®), we operate with vision, accountability, and healthy communication at every level. Our team is aligned, empowered, and passionate about our mission: every person has value.

At NKC, our core values are at the heart of everything we do:

• People First We treat everyone with respect and kindness, offering fantastic service and genuine care.
• Dynamic We are passionate, proactive, and resourceful, always finding creative ways to move our vision forward.
• Aligned We are united toward a common goal, working collaboratively with a spirit of camaraderie and fun.

Our niche is simple yet powerful: we go beyond basic needs. We connect people to resources that help them move forward and thrive. As the only organization of its kind in northern Kent County, we offer a unique blend of expertise, services, and community partnerships.

When you visit NKC, you’ll be met with professionalism, follow-through, and a team that lives out its values every day. We're passionate about what we do, clear on where we’re going, and we have a lot of fun along the way.

ABOUT The DIRECTOR Of DEVELOPMENT

North Kent Connect is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead the organization's fund development strategy and deepen engagement with the donors, volunteers, businesses, churches, foundations, and community partners who make our mission possible.

The Director of Development is a key organizational leader responsible for building and executing a comprehensive development strategy that strengthens NKC's long-term sustainability. Working closely with the Executive Director and Leadership Team, this position will identify opportunities to grow philanthropic support, cultivate meaningful donor relationships, strengthen community engagement, and ensure NKC communicates its mission and impact effectively.

This role is for someone who sees development as more than fundraising. It's about building relationships, connecting people to purpose, and creating opportunities for the community to invest their time, talent, and treasure in NKC's mission.

Job Responsibilities

Our ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, strong relationship builder, engaging communicator, and collaborative leader who is passionate about NKC's mission and will:

• Embody the Three Core Values of NKC |

REQUIREMENTS

• People First: Treat everyone with respect; be helpful and kind; provide fantastic service.
• Dynamic: Be passionate about the mission, enthusiastic, proactive, and resourceful.
• Aligned: Work united toward a common goal with collaboration, camaraderie, and fun.
• Lead Development Strategy | Develop and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy aligned with NKC's strategic priorities and long-term financial sustainability. Evaluate NKC's funding mix, identify opportunities for growth, and establish clear goals and priorities for individual, corporate, church, foundation, and community giving.
• Cultivate Meaningful Donor Relationships | Build, deepen, and steward relationships with current and prospective donors. Create meaningful opportunities for supporters to understand NKC's mission, see its impact, and deepen their investment in the organization.
• Grow Individual & Major Giving | Strengthen NKC's individual giving program by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding donors and developing strategies that move supporters toward deeper, long-term philanthropy. Partner closely with and support the Visionary in major donor development by identifying and qualifying prospects and developing cultivation and engagement strategies.
• Build Community Partnerships | Develop and strengthen relationships with businesses, churches, civic organizations, foundations, and other community partners. Represent NKC throughout northern Kent County and create opportunities for partners to engage with the organization through financial support, volunteerism, in-kind giving, and advocacy.
• Tell NKC's Story | Work collaboratively to ensure NKC communicates its mission, impact, and community needs in ways that inspire people to act. Use compelling stories, organizational outcomes, donor communications, presentations, tours, and community engagement to connect people to the mission.
• Provide Strategic Oversight of Grants | Lead NKC's overall grant strategy, ensuring funding priorities align with organizational goals, programs, and long-term sustainability. Identify and prioritize funding opportunities and relationships while providing strategic oversight of NKC's grant portfolio, funding mix, opportunities, gaps, and potential risks.
• Lead, Manage & Hold Accountable | LMA the Volunteer Coordinator and Donations Associate, providing clear expectations, priorities, measurables, coaching, feedback, and professional development. Foster an accountable, collaborative, and high-performing team while ensuring volunteer engagement and in‑kind donations support NKC's broader development strategy.
• Grow In‑Kind & Community Giving | Provide strategic direction for NKC's in‑kind donation efforts, building relationships and identifying opportunities that generate valuable food, clothing, goods, and other resources that support NKC's programs and operations.
• Measure What Matters | Establish and monitor development goals and key measurables that provide visibility into donor engagement, fundraising performance, volunteer engagement, and other development priorities. Use data and trends to evaluate strategies and identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Collaborate Across NKC | Work closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, program staff, finance, and other departments to understand organizational priorities and translate NKC's work into compelling opportunities for community investment. As part of an EOS organization, actively participate in the accountability and planning rhythms that keep the organization aligned and moving forward.
• Be an Ambassador for NKC | Represent NKC with warmth, credibility, and enthusiasm. Be comfortable meeting new people, making connections, giving tours, speaking about the organization, and inviting others into the mission.
• Provide Spiritually Inclusive Leadership | While NKC is not an evangelical organization, the Director of Development must be comfortable working within a faith‑based environment and engaging people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, professions, experiences, and faith traditions.

This seat is well suited to someone with a bachelor’s degree, or a comparable combination of education and relevant professional experience.

BENEFITS

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance.
• Three weeks of paid time off after 90 days of employment.
• 401K retirement plan with company match.
• Paid holidays as follows: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Eve Day through New Year’s Eve Day.