Director of Development

elite personnel; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Elite Personnel represents a social services nonprofit serving the DMV region seeking a Director of Development to lead fundraising strategy in partnership with the CEO. The role focuses on growth through monthly giving, digital campaigns, and major events, while coordinating volunteers, donors, and consultants to advance the mission.

Ideal candidates bring 7–10 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, strong leadership, clear analytics, and exceptional communication to build durable donor

Qualifications

• BA/BS or MA/MS in a relevant field with nonprofit fundraising focus.
• 7–10 years nonprofit fundraising or direct marketing experience.
• Experience leading teams and managing multiple donor programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising strategy and annual plans in collaboration with the CEO.
• Develop and manage monthly giving, digital campaigns, and events.
• Coordinate volunteers, consultants, and partners to support fundraising.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Analytics

Communication

Leadership

Event planning

Team management

Donor database

CRM

Education

BA/BS in related field

MA/MS in related field

Tools

LiveImpact

Bonterra Suite

Little Green Light

Gmail

Google Docs

Calendar

Job description

Our client, a social service nonprofit serving the DMV region, is seeking a Director of Development. Working in partnership with the CEO, the Development Director leads the organization's critical fundraising strategies to advance and operationalize its strategic plan as well as its mission and role in the community. The Director of Development plays a critical role in visioning future growth plans, particularly focused on monthly giving and digital fundraising programs as well as coordinating key events and connecting volunteers, consultants, and others to support the efforts.

The Director of Development will be expected to undertake the following responsibilities:

• Provide strategic thought partnership to the CEO
• Develop, set, and monitor organizational fundraising goals with the CEO
• Serve as an external ambassador - explaining its mission, programs, and case for support
• Provide strategic direction and create long-term and annual plans for multiple giving audiences including individual donors, corporate investors, foundations, and more
• Collaborate with the Development and Communications teams on all fundraising appeal and campaign processes and administrative implementation (including all print and digital channels).
• Set and monitor annual giving goals across a portfolio of corporate and individual major donors and prospects with the capacity to engage in a meaningful way.
• Manage the identification and research to find the appropriate sponsors and donors
• Develop short- and long-term cultivation strategies for prospects and donors through the giving cycle via in-person meetings, events, and written communications.
• Develop and manage stewardship plans for major corporate sponsors.
• Work closely with the Director of Grants and Contracts to ensure consistency in message and approach to drive engagement within the corporate donor portfolio.
• Team lead for fundraising events, including but not limited to logistics, sponsorship, advertising, and programming.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate records within the donor database.
• Oversee staff responsible for back-end development operations, including gift processing and acknowledgments.
• Oversee staff administering the organization's database of records and online CRM platform.
• Supervise select team members and interns

Skills

• Strong understanding of fundraising/development practices required including growing and maintaining direct marketing programs comprised of direct mail and digital
• Knowledge and experience in establishing new revenue streams, development databases, and process improvement
• Data analytics, able to identify strategic KPI's for direct response and track progress
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous self-learning and growth
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours in collaboration with constituents for meetings and special events
• Sincere commitment to working collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
• Ability to identify and coordinate organization-wide resources to achieve the appropriate outcomes
• Ability to handle a variety of key initiatives concurrently
• A demonstrated ability to successfully engage and manage prospective and current donors resulting in increased giving.
• An ability to understand the interests of corporate and individual prospects and donors and how to connect them to their priorities while developing deep and long-lasting relationships.

Education and experience

• BA/BS and at least 7-10 years relevant experience or MA/MS and 5 years relevant experience and/or sufficient relevant work experience
• Subject matter expert in the field
• 5+ years of nonprofit experience required and proven experience growing either a fundraising or direct marketing program
• Minimum of two years' experience managing a team to accomplish specific goals
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Experience with successful event planning and event execution
• Effective project management skills with the ability to successfully manage multiple, competing priorities with tight deadlines
• Exceptional written, spoken, virtual, and interpersonal communication skills with donors, key stakeholders, leadership, and colleagues
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous self-learning and growth, especially related to the development of strong equity competencies and managing diverse teams, and modeling this approach with others
• Ability to work with volunteers in a professional and collaborative manner
• Familiarity with Google Organization & Productivity Tools (Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar)

Preferred Education and experience

• Experience with philanthropic communities and interests in the greater DMV
• Experience working with database and donor management software (LiveImpact, Bonterra Suite, Little Green Light or similar software/tools)