Director of Development - Nonprofit

Haldren; Arkansas City (KS); Hybrid; USD 82,500 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base Salary: $82.5k – $90k

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement plan with employer contribution

Flexible work arrangements

Generous paid time off policy

Paid holidays

Job summary

A leading youth health equity organization seeks a skilled Fundraising Manager to drive fundraising strategies across Mississippi and Arkansas. The candidate must have a Bachelor's degree, 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, and a proven track record in securing major gifts. Responsibilities include developing diverse revenue streams and leading capital campaigns. This role offers a competitive salary, health insurance, and flexibility in work arrangements, with regular travel required for donor engagement.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience needed.
• Proven success in securing major gifts and managing donor portfolios.
• Strong expertise in grant writing and prospect research.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute fundraising strategies in multiple states.
• Partner with executive management to embed philanthropy culture.
• Lead capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising efforts.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication abilities

Donor management software proficiency

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

NEON

Raiser's Edge

Job description

About the Organization

Our client is a leading youth health equity organization working across Mississippi and Arkansas to empower young people with comprehensive health education and resources. Through evidence‑based programming and advocacy, they build equitable communities where all young people can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Location

Jackson or Clarksdale, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; or hybrid arrangement. Regular travel required across Mississippi, Arkansas, and other locations as needed for donor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas while pursuing national and global funding opportunities.
• Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
• Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources.
• Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international markets.
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels while maintaining cohesive mission‑driven messaging.
• Lead high‑quality stewardship that builds long‑term loyalty and advocacy for the organization’s work.
• Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance.
• Build relationships with local, national, and international program officers, agencies, and grant‑making bodies.
• Collaborate with program staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievable.
• Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national/international appeal.
• Lead capital campaigns and large‑scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross‑border support.
• Coordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and context.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levels.
• Provide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivation.
• Present regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all markets.
• Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnerships.
• Share fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organizational priorities and investment decisions.
• Collaborate with communications team to produce donor‑centered materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrable success in multistate, national, and/or international development work.
• Proven track record securing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and leading large‑scale campaigns.
• Strong grant writing, prospect research, and donor cultivation expertise.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification.
• Experience working in or strong familiarity with Arkansas, particularly leveraging local connections for philanthropic work.
• Previous experience in youth development, health equity, public health, or related mission‑driven sectors.
• Demonstrated success navigating politically or culturally sensitive funding environments.
• Bilingual capabilities or experience working across international contexts.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship‑building and networking skills across cultures and sectors.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency with donor management software (e.g., NEON, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).
• Ability to work effectively across diverse teams, states, and countries.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management skills.

Personal Attributes

• Mission‑driven, equity‑focused, and committed to youth voice and youth leadership.
• Comfortable discussing comprehensive sexual health education and youth development in professional contexts.
• Supportive of evidence‑based approaches that provide young people with information to make informed decisions about their health.
• Able to communicate with nuance and professionalism in diverse cultural and political contexts.
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and globally minded.
• Comfortable traveling throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, the U.S., and internationally for donor engagement.
• Adaptable to both established and emerging program contexts.

Benefits

• Base Salary: $82.5k – $90k (Slightly negotiable for the right candidate).
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
• Retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Flexible work arrangements with remote work options.
• Generous paid time off policy.
• Paid holidays.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Both Haldren and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Haldren or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity

Haldren and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations

Both Haldren and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.