Director of Development, Midwest

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 130,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive insurance coverage

Generous paid time off policy

Retirement plan options

Access to professional development

Job summary

Ladders in the United States is seeking a Director of Development for the Midwest to lead a sophisticated regional fundraising strategy focused on major gifts, donor cultivation, and long-term partnerships. This remote role requires deep knowledge of the Midwest philanthropy scene and the ability to move prospects through complex gift cycles.

You will work with senior leadership, boards, volunteers, and regional colleagues to achieve ambitious revenue goals in support of a mission-driven

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in fundraising or donor relations, with at least 5 years managing boards and volunteers.
• Advanced understanding of philanthropy, moves management, and gift closure.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward major gifts.
• Mastery of the Midwest philanthropic landscape and regional fundraising.
• Track record of closing gifts of $1M+ from major donors.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication with high emotional intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to create and implement a strategic fundraising plan for the Midwest region
• Manage a portfolio of 100+ seven-figure prospects with tailored engagement strategies
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective donors
• Support board members and Development Committee in their fundraising efforts
• Collaborate with regional fundraisers to share best practices and donor cultivation
• Represent the Development team at external events and foster a culture of philanthropy
• Use Salesforce to track metrics and improve fundraising practices
• Ensure timely creation of fundraising materials and proposals
• Collaborate on high-capacity donor events and volunteer engagements
• Enhance donor experience through curated events and programs
• Secure approximately $10M annually to support the mission

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor cultivation

Major gifts

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Communication

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director of Development, Midwest to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space.

This leader will guide a sophisticated regional fundraising strategy focused on major gifts, donor cultivation, and long-term philanthropic partnerships across the Midwest. The role will work closely with senior leadership, board members, volunteers, and regional colleagues to advance ambitious revenue goals in support of a mission-driven organization. This is a highly relationship-centered position requiring strong territory knowledge, polished communication, and the ability to move prospects through complex gift cycles. The ideal candidate will help strengthen donor engagement through curated experiences, thoughtful stewardship, and disciplined pipeline management.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $129,675 – $162,070 annually

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to create and implement a strategic fundraising plan for the Midwest region
• Manage a portfolio of 100+ seven-figure prospects with tailored engagement strategies
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective donors
• Support board members and Development Committee in their fundraising efforts
• Collaborate with regional fundraisers to share best practices and enhance donor cultivation
• Represent the Development team at external events and foster a culture of philanthropy
• Use Salesforce to track metrics and improve fundraising practices
• Ensure timely creation of fundraising materials and proposals
• Collaborate on high-capacity donor events and volunteer engagements
• Enhance donor experience through curated events and programs
• Secure approximately $10M annually to support the mission

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in fundraising or donor relations, with at least 5 years managing high-capacity boards and volunteers
• Advanced understanding of philanthropy, moves management, and gift closure
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward major gifts
• Mastery of the Midwestern territory and its philanthropic landscape
• Track record of closing gifts of $1M+ from major donors
• Deep understanding of fundraising programs and high-level gift strategies
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with high emotional intelligence

Benefits

• Hybrid work model with flexibility for remote candidates in the Midwest
• Comprehensive insurance coverage
• Generous paid time off policy
• Retirement plan options
• Access to professional development resources

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.