Director of Fund Development

Knollwood Life Plan Community; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

403(b) with employer match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Knollwood Life Plan Community in Washington, DC seeks a Director of Fund Development to lead contributed revenue efforts. You will own a major gifts portfolio, cultivate donor relationships, and work directly with the CEO and Board on strategy and campaigns.

This is a front-line, salaried role with on-site duties and occasional donor-facing travel; the position reports to the President & CEO, and offers a pathway to build a robust annual giving and planned giving program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of front-line fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of closing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success managing a major-gift portfolio through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proficiency with donor CRM.
• Knowledge of ethical fundraising standards and IRS gift-substantiation requirements.

Responsibilities

• Major-gift portfolio management and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Lead annual giving campaigns, identify and apply for grants, and plan fundraising events and communications.
• Build and grow the planned-giving and legacy-society program (bequests, gift annuities, etc.).
• Collaborate with the President & CEO and Board on annual and multi-year development strategy and campaigns.

Skills

Front-line fundraising

Major-gift portfolio management

Donor CRM proficiency

Ethical fundraising standards

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Donor CRM

Job description

Director of Fund Development

Vacancy Posting | Office of People Operations | Knollwood Life Plan Community

Non-Union Position | FLSA Exempt — Administrative

Department Fund Development

Reports To President & Chief Executive Officer

Status Full-Time, Salaried | FLSA Exempt — Administrative

Schedule Full-time; occasional evenings/weekends for donor cultivation and events

Location 6200 Oregon Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015 (on-site, with donor-facing travel)

Pay Range $135,000 – $150,000 annually

Posting Date 08/04/2026

Every Gift You Raise Helps Someone Who Served Stay Home.

Knollwood exists because generations of people believed that those who served the country deserve to be cared for with dignity, regardless of what they can pay. Philanthropy is how that promise stays real.

As Director of Fund Development, you own it, plan the relationships and the contributed revenue that lets Knollwood keep its word.

This is a front-line, relationship-driven role for a fundraiser. You’ll carry your own portfolio, partner directly with the CEO and Board on strategy, and build the annual grants and planned-giving program that secures Knollwood's future. If you want a mission you can believe in and the autonomy to build real donor relationships, this is for you.

What You Will Own

• Major-gift portfolio. Own a portfolio of major-gift prospects and donors; move each through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship on a documented plan.
• Solicitation. Personally solicit major and planned gifts, lead annual giving campaigns, identify and apply for grants, and plan, coordinate and oversee fundraising events and communications.
• Planned giving. Build and grow the planned-giving and legacy-society program — bequests, gift annuities, and beyond.
• Strategy with leadership. Partner with the President & CEO and Board on annual and multi-year development strategy and campaigns.

What You Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of front-line fundraising experience with a demonstrated record of closing major gifts
• Demonstrated success managing a major-gift portfolio through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proficiency with donor CRM
• Knowledge of ethical fundraising standards and IRS gift-substantiation requirements.

Preferred

• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential.
• Planned-giving and capital-campaign experience.
• Fundraising experience in senior living, healthcare, or a military-affiliated organization.
• Familiarity with DC charitable-solicitation registration and regional philanthropic networks.
• Personal connection to, or experience with, the uniformed-services community.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $135,000 – $150,000 annually. The posted range reflects Knollwood's good-faith projection of what it would pay for this role at the time of posting, as required by the DC Wage Transparency Act.

Healthcare benefits: Knollwood offers medical, dental, and vision coverage to eligible employees, along with a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off, and paid holidays. Full plan details are provided before your first interview, consistent with the DC Wage Transparency Act.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and paid holidays

Why Knollwood

Knollwood is nonprofit Community in upper Northwest Washington, DC. Our residents are individuals and family members of those who held leadership roles serving their country and community.

We are small enough that your work is visible and large enough that it matters. Independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing sit on one campus, which means the story you tell prospective donors is one you can stand behind completely.