Senior Director of Development

Ciskids; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits including medical, dental, and vision

Generous paid time off

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Ciskids in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead and strengthen fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will drive the fundraising strategy, build relationships with donors, and manage grants to support the mission of advancing community support for students.

Responsibilities include executing an annual fundraising plan, supervising the Development team, and engaging board members in donor cultivation efforts. This role offers a hybrid work environment with a competitive salary of $85,000 – $100,000 and excellent benefits.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit advancement.
• Demonstrated success managing fundraising campaigns and revenue goals.
• Experience with grants, including writing proposals and managing reporting cycles.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute an annual fundraising plan with the CEO.
• Manage a diversified fundraising portfolio including major gifts and corporate partnerships.
• Write and coordinate grant proposals and maintain a grant calendar.

Skills

Fundraising management

Grant writing

Relationship building

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE preferred

Tools

Donor databases (Bloomerang preferred)

Job description

Are you a mission-driven fundraising leader who is passionate about building relationships, growing philanthropic support, and helping students succeed? Communities In Schools of Ohio is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead and strengthen our fundraising efforts.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and hands‑on development professional who can balance big‑picture fundraising strategy with day‑to‑day execution. The Senior Director of Development will work closely with the CEO, Board, and internal teams to grow sustainable revenue, cultivate meaningful donor and partner relationships, and build the systems needed to support long‑term fundraising success.

The ideal candidate is a strong relationship builder, excellent communicator, skilled grant writer, and collaborative leader who is highly organized, results‑driven, and deeply committed to advancing the mission of Communities In Schools of Ohio.

At CIS of Ohio, our work is rooted in the belief that every student deserves a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. If you are passionate about nonprofit advancement, community impact, and creating opportunities for students and families across Ohio, we invite you to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and execute an annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational priorities and revenue goals in partnership with the CEO.
• Manage a diversified fundraising portfolio including individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation and government grants, and sponsorships.
• Work closely with the CEO to identify funding priorities and growth opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of short- and long-term fundraising goals and revenue targets.
• Build and maintain systems, processes, calendars, and tools that support consistent fundraising performance.
• Supervise and support the Development team member(s), providing clear direction and accountability.

Grants, Foundations & Funding Opportunities

• Lead the identification, development, and management of foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities.
• Maintain a comprehensive grant calendar including deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewals.
• Write and/or coordinate grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports.
• Partner with internal teams to gather budgets, outcomes, and program data for proposals and reporting.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality submission of all grant deliverables.

Major Gifts & Individual Giving

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Support the CEO and board members in donor engagement and fundraising conversations.
• Develop strategies to grow donor retention, recurring giving, and upgraded contributions.
• Support annual appeals, campaigns, and individual giving initiatives.

Corporate, Foundation & Community Partnerships

• Cultivate and grow relationships with corporate, foundation, and community partners.
• Identify new partnership opportunities aligned with mission and funding priorities.
• Manage sponsorship opportunities including corporate, school, and event sponsorships.
• Ensure timely communication, recognition, and stewardship of partners.
• Represent CIS of Ohio at external meetings, events, and community engagements

Donor Stewardship & Communications

• Develop and implement donor stewardship strategies that ensure timely acknowledgment and meaningful engagement.
• Collaborate with communications staff to support donor messaging, newsletters, impact storytelling, and fundraising campaigns.
• Ensure consistency and quality in donor communications and recognition efforts.
• Support fundraising events that strengthen relationships and increase visibility.

Development Operations & Data Management

• Oversee the donor database, ensuring accurate tracking of gifts, pledges, sponsorships, and grants.
• Maintain reporting systems to track fundraising progress and donor engagement.
• Provide regular updates on revenue performance to the CEO and Board as needed.
• Partner with finance staff to ensure accurate gift processing and reconciliation

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Support the CEO in engaging board members in fundraising, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
• Prepare materials, talking points, and updates for board and committee meetings.
• Participate in Advancement Committee meetings and follow-up actions as needed.
• Supervise and support development staff, providing coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Establish clear goals and expectations for the development function.
• Collaborate across departments (programs, finance, communications, HR) to align fundraising efforts.
• Engage in CIS national trainings and development opportunities as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE preferred but not required.
• 5–7 years of experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit advancement.
• Demonstrated success managing fundraising campaigns and revenue goals.
• Experience with grants, including writing proposals and managing reporting cycles.
• Strong ability to cultivate relationships with donors, corporate partners, and foundations.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with donor databases (Bloomerang preferred).
• Strong organizational, project management, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Collaborative, professional, and mission‑driven approach.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong relationship builder across donors, board members, and partners
• Skilled “operator‑fundraiser” who can both plan and execute
• Excellent written communicator and grant writer
• Highly organized with strong attention to deadlines and detail
• Results‑driven and accountable to revenue goals
• Collaborative leader who works well across departments
• Comfortable managing both systems and people

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Occasional evening and weekends for events and donor engagement.
• Ability to travel locally and statewide as needed.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range of $85,000 – $100,000.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Short‑term disability, long‑term disability, life insurance, and Employee Assistance Program benefits.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid holidays.
• Meaningful, mission‑driven work with the opportunity to directly impact students, families, schools, and communities across Ohio.