Director of Development and Communications

Agate Housing and Services; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Agate Housing and Services in Minneapolis seeks a Director of Development and Communications to lead fundraising, marketing, and external communications efforts in support of our mission to end homelessness and relieve hunger.

The role collaborates with the Executive Director, the board, and staff to craft strategy, grow donor engagement, and ensure consistent, compelling messaging. The Director will lead a team and represent Agate to partners and the community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of proven fundraising experience.
• Experience closing major gifts and grants.
• Ability to build long-term donor relationships.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven leadership of teams and volunteers.
• Commitment to DEI and mission.

Responsibilities

• Set ambitious fundraising goals across major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving.
• Lead development and communications teams; manage budgets and staff.
• Cultivate and solicit high-level donors and foundations.
• Oversee brand messaging and external communications.
• Coordinate with government contracts on funding alignment.
• Partner with board and executives to drive strategy.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Marketing strategy

Communications

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Grant fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CRM software

Donor database

Job description

The Director of Development and Communications will lead the growth and strategic direction of Agate's philanthropic fundraising program, marketing, and internal and external communications. This role is responsible for achieving individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising goals that support the organization's operational and capital needs, while strengthening Agate's visibility, reputation, and engagement with key stakeholders. The Director will ensure that strategies are aligned with Agate's mission, organizational priorities, and strategic objectives.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director will oversee and manage fundraising strategies, including annual giving, major and planned gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, donor stewardship and acknowledgment, gift processing, data management, and fundraising events. The Director will also lead Agate's marketing and communications efforts, developing and implementing strategies to strengthen brand awareness, elevate the organization's impact, and ensure consistent, compelling messaging across internal and external communications channels. This includes supporting effective communication and information-sharing among staff, as well as engaging donors, partners, community members, and other external stakeholders. The Director will provide leadership and oversight of the development and communications team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and progress toward organizational goals.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director will work closely with senior staff, board members, and other key stakeholders to shape fundraising and communications strategies, cultivate and engage high-level donors, strengthen relationships, and expand philanthropic support. The Director will also collaborate closely with the government contracts department to ensure alignment in messaging, budgets, and funding strategies across projects and initiatives, maintaining consistency in how Agate communicates its work, impact, and priorities to internal and external audiences.

Agate is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. We provide emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families. We encourage applicants with lived experience to apply (anyone who has not received services from Agate within the last two years is welcome to apply). We believe that housing is a basic human right.

Our Values:

• Integrity: Always doing what's right, even when it's not easy or popular.
• Equity: Challenging unfair systems and making changes that better support those most affected by homelessness and hunger.
• Humanity: Recognizing how these issues affect everyone, building trust, and forming strong relationships by understanding people's needs.
• Creativity: Finding new and original ways to meet the community's needs.

Position Responsibilities:

Fundraising Development Strategy and Direction -

Time allocation - 40%

• Provide strong strategic leadership by setting ambitious but attainable goals that will increase all levels of giving- major gifts and annual operating - and longer-term priorities of Agate;
• Determine vision, direction, and execution of plans to build and manage a development program, both near- and long-term;
• Ensure long-term, sustainable success of the overall fundraising program.
• Build externally facing relationships to aid in the growth and expansion of philanthropic revenue.
• Align fundraising priorities to Agate's strategic plan goals;
• Engage the board, other volunteer leaders, and staff to further develop an effective system of prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; and
• Manage and grow the development team to achieve or exceed philanthropy revenue targets.
• Manage and provide strategic direction to all development department fundraising professionals.
• Lead by example, managing a leadership-level portfolio of key donors and prospects with the capacity to give $50k or more annually, and personally solicit and close significant major and transformational gifts;
• Support the Executive Director in portfolio cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; and
• Act as an effective ambassador to external supporters, partners, and donors.

Key Responsibilities: Marketing and Communications Time allocation - 20%

• Oversee media relations and press engagement, serving as a strategic lead for media inquiries, public statements, crisis response, and emergency communications to protect Agate's reputation and ensure timely, accurate, and consistent messaging.
• Lead the development and implementation of integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen Agate's brand, reputation, and public awareness.
• Establish clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations for the marketing and communications team, ensuring accountability for deliverables, timelines, and results.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of marketing materials, digital content, social media, website content, newsletters, and other communications across key channels.
• Guide storytelling and content development that showcase Agate's programs, impact, and role in the community.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and program teams to identify opportunities to elevate Agate's work and promote organizational initiatives.

Executive and Volunteer Leadership and Management- Time allocation - 20%

• Manage the Development and Governance Committees of the Board.
• Serve as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and decision-making in support of Agate's mission and long-term sustainability.
• Build strong working relationships with senior leadership and board members to align priorities, identify opportunities for growth, and advance organizational goals.
• Collaborate with the government contracts department to align funding priorities, project budgets, and organizational messaging across public and philanthropic funding sources.
• Work across departments to ensure fundraising and communications initiatives reflect Agate's strategic priorities, programmatic needs, and organizational impact.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field, advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of proven professional fundraising experience.
• Proven experience developing and executing fundraising strategies and closing major gifts.
• Experience securing major grant funding and working with funders.
• Must possess a genuine passion for and commitment to the mission of Agate Housing and Services.
• Proven success in building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents, individual donors, foundations, and corporations
• Proven experience developing and managing donor plans
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Formidable team leader with demonstrated leadership abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively & foster productive relationships with colleagues, clients, volunteers, vendors, donors, and community
• Proven track record leading professionals, volunteers and staff in productive committee, task force or special project work
• Flexible, innovative, adapts to change, manages multiple projects, and works effectively under pressure
• Proven professional; confident, self-motivated, self-starter, ability to represent organization with excellence
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and natural ability to demonstrate a caring attitude toward guests, donors, volunteers, and people who encounter our agency.

This position requires use of your own personal vehicle and will require insurance liability coverage of at least one hundred thousand dollars per person and three hundred thousand dollars per occurrence and must have a valid Driver's License and pass a driving record background check.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required for the position. The organization reserves the right to modify, add, or remove job duties as business needs evolve.