Director of Development & Community Relations

Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired seeks a strategic Director of Development & Community Relations to lead fund development, communications, media relations, and community engagement. This senior role focuses on building donor relationships and strengthening partnerships to advance Clovernook’s mission.

The Director provides leadership across fundraising and public relations, advising the CEO on development goals and serving on the Senior Leadership Team.

Qualifications

• Experience leading major fundraising initiatives in a nonprofit setting.
• Strong donor and stakeholder relationship-building skills.
• Proven capability in strategic planning and program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising, donor relations, media relations, and community awareness initiatives.
• Actively solicit major gifts and planned giving aligned with goals.
• Develop relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners.
• Staff liaison to Fund Development Committee and Community Engagement Committee.
• Engage board members in campaigns and events.
• Supervise development staff, grant writer, and partners.
• Oversee donor management system: gift records, acknowledgements, data integrity.
• Manage communications: social media, website, and messaging.
• Develop policies/procedures to support operations.
• Ensure fundraising practices comply with ethics and standards.
• Establish and manage departmental budgets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Donor relations

Strategic fundraising

Nonprofit leadership

Communications

Media relations

Board liaison

Budget management

Team leadership

Grant writing

Tools

Donor management system

Job description

Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development & Community Relations to lead fund development, communications, media relations, and community engagement efforts. This senior leadership role is ideal for an experienced nonprofit development professional who is passionate about building meaningful donor relationships, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing Clovernook’s mission.

Position Summary

Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development & Community Relations to lead fund development, communications, media relations, and community engagement efforts. This senior leadership role is ideal for an experienced nonprofit development professional who is passionate about building meaningful donor relationships, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing Clovernook’s mission.

Position Summary

The Director of Development & Community Relations provides leadership for all functions of fund development, communications, media relations, and community relations. This position is responsible for strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of fundraising and public relations activities, while collaborating across departments to identify innovative opportunities for support. The Director advises the President/CEO on development and community relations goals, programs, procedures, and policies and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee fundraising, donor relations, media relations, community awareness, annual appeals, special events, grant-seeking, tribute gifts, and related development initiatives.
• Actively solicit major gifts and support planned giving efforts in alignment with financial goals and the development plan.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective donors, including corporations, foundations, organizations, and community partners.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Fund Development Committee of the Board of Trustees and participate on the BVI Community Engagement Committee.
• Engage board members in support of fund development campaigns and events.
• Supervise and support development staff, the grant writer, outsourced communications/media relations partners, department interns, and shared positions supporting development activities.
• Oversee the donor management system, including gift records, acknowledgements, and data integrity.
• Manage communications and media relations efforts, including social media, website oversight, and consistent messaging to internal and external audiences.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures to support development and community relations operations.
• Ensure fundraising practices comply with applicable accounting standards, BBB expense ratio expectations, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals code of ethics.
• Establish and manage departmental budgets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.