Senior Director, Development

The Little Light House Central Kentucky, Inc.; Louisville, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) in Louisville, KY seeks a Senior Director, Development to lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that expands NCFL’s national impact and advances its mission to eradicate poverty through education for families.

This role oversees fundraising areas—individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundations, and public sector funding—cultivating donors, securing multi-year gifts, and guiding budgets as a member of the executive leadership team with the

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience with $1,000,000+ gifts.
• Proven ability to lead a high-performing development team.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills for donor cultivation and engagement.
• Track record of data-driven fundraising strategies to drive growth.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable fundraising software.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to meet annual revenue goals and long-term sustainability.
• Identify new revenue opportunities across individual giving, major gifts, and public/private funding sources.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high-net-worth donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Prepare compelling proposals and presentations to secure multi-year and transformational gifts.
• Collaborate with NCFL teams to align funder engagement with mission initiatives.
• Provide leadership in budgeting and long-term fundraising strategy as part of the SLT.

Skills

Fundraising

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Data-driven strategy

Communication

Salesforce

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), a private nonprofit organization located in Louisville, KY, is seeking a Senior Director, Development to lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to expand NCFL’s national impact and further its mission. The organization has ambitious plans for growth, which focuses on fulfillment of its mission to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. We have launched a $10M fundraising campaign to support this vision and mission work. This individual will oversee all aspects of fundraising, including individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and competitive public sector funding. They will drive strategy, build strong relationships with donors, secure resources, and help to ensure the sustainability and growth of NCFL’s programs and initiatives. This role will work closely with the organization’s executive leadership team including the President & CEO. They will serve as a member of the senior leadership team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to achieve annual revenue goals and long-term sustainability.
• Identify new opportunities for revenue growth, including expanding individual giving, major gifts, and other competitive public and private funding sources.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundation officers, corporate partners, and other stakeholders, serving as lead in contacting and cultivating donor prospects and positioning the president and other leadership to do so when strategic.
• Personally engage with and solicit key donors, developing tailored strategies to match their interests with NCFL’s mission and programs.
• Oversee the stewardship of donor relationships to ensure sustained support, including regular communications, recognition, and impact reporting.
• Develop compelling proposals and presentations to secure multi-year and transformational gifts from institutional funders.
• Collaborate with other NCFL vertical teams to align funder engagement and storytelling strategies with NCFL’s mission and initiatives.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization, engaging internal stakeholders to support and amplify fundraising efforts.
• Provide oversights of budgets.
• Participate in organization-wide strategic planning and decision-making as part of senior leadership team.
• Lead other initiatives as appropriate to advance the overall fundraising goals of NCFL.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with demonstrated success in securing $1,000,000 or more in a single gift size. Experience in education, literacy, or family-centered organizations is a plus.
• Proven ability to lead a high-performing development team and drive a culture of excellence, accountability, and inclusivity.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage, cultivate, and secure support from a wide range of stakeholders, including high-net-worth donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Track record of developing and executing comprehensive, data-driven fundraising strategies to meet revenue goals and organizational growth.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling narratives that connect donors to NCFL’s mission and impact.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable fundraising software.
• Ability to respond to a rapidly changing environment and deal with ambiguity
• Determination and commitment to “get it right”
• An unwavering belief that all families want the best for their children and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

• Actively participates in supervision that is regular, reflective and collaborative in nature. As appropriate, take the initiative to seek supervisory input
• Accurately identifies areas of mastery and areas targeted for personal growth and development. Seeks assistance and guidance when needed.
• Incorporates constructive direction from supervisor to improve job performance.
• Accepts responsibility for the quality of job performance and makes changes as needed
• Maintains awareness of current professional information in the fields of activity, undertakes regular and ongoing efforts to maintain competencies in the skills and incorporates new knowledge and skills on the job.
• Shares pertinent information with supervisor/manager about work progress, successes, concerns and other issues that may have an impact on the services intended for families.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged period of sitting at a desk and working at a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time

Salary Range: $100,000-$120,000

NCFL is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with applicable ADA regulations. Applicants and employees requiring reasonable accommodation may contact Michelle Parkerson, Associate Director, Human Resources: [e-mail] or 502-584-1133 x345.