Senior Director of Development
The Little Light House Central Kentucky, Inc.
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Maryhurst is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead fundraising, major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, and capital campaigns. This senior role partners with the CEO, Board, volunteers, and community stakeholders to secure resources and advance Maryhurst's mission.
The ideal candidate has at least five years in nonprofit fundraising, proven donor cultivation skills, and experience managing portfolios and campaigns.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or related field.
- Minimum of five years in progressive nonprofit fundraising including major gifts.
- Proven success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing major philanthropic gifts.
- Strong knowledge of major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, and capital campaigns.
- Experience managing donor portfolios and fundraising pipelines to achieve revenue goals.
- Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.
- Strong relationship-building skills with donors and community partners.
- Ability to collaborate with senior leadership, Board members, and volunteers.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Analytical, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor databases; Raiser's Edge/Blackbaud preferred.
- CFRE certification preferred.
- Ability to remain calm in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid driver’s license; ability to travel locally.
- Ability to travel locally and attend occasional events as needed.
Responsibilities
- Strategize and lead fundraising efforts with senior leadership to increase philanthropic support.
- Develop strategies for major gifts, annual giving, corporate/foundation support, and donor stewardship.
- Monitor performance, revenue projections, and progress; adjust strategies to strengthen results.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy by engaging staff, Boards, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
At Maryhurst, we are dedicated to helping children, adults, and families heal from trauma and build brighter futures. Through our residential treatment programs, community-based homes, transitional living services, and outpatient counseling programs, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care that promotes safety, stability, and long-term success. Maryhurst Renewal offers individual, group, and family counseling in office, home, and school-based settings, helping individuals overcome barriers and thrive in their communities.
We are seeking an experienced, relationship-focused Senior Director of Development to lead and advance Maryhurst's fundraising and philanthropic efforts. This senior leadership role is responsible for developing and executing strategies that strengthen donor relationships, expand major gift support, and build a sustainable culture of philanthropy.
The Senior Director of Development manages a portfolio of major donors and prospects while providing leadership for major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, capital campaign activities, and development operations. Working closely with the CEO, senior leadership team, Board of Directors, volunteers, and community stakeholders, this position plays a key role in securing the philanthropic resources necessary to support and grow Maryhurst's mission and impact.
- Uphold Maryhurst’s mission by adhering to organizational policies and regulatory standards, while consistently demonstrating empathy, compassion, and respect in all interactions.
- Foster a positive and inclusive workplace by promoting teamwork, valuing diverse perspectives, and committing to equity, inclusion, and belonging in every aspect of our work.
- Practice responsible stewardship of Maryhurst’s financial, informational, and physical resources to support the agency’s goals with integrity and efficiency.
- Advance our commitment to diversity by actively recognizing, honoring, and embracing the unique identities and lived experiences of those we serve.
- Learn about and commit to “trauma-informed” workplace practices, which include open communication, group learning, emotional health, and a recognition of how exposure to adversity affects program participants and coworkers; trauma-informed principles guide our daily interactions with peers, youth, and families at Maryhurst
- Relationship Building – Builds authentic, trusting relationships with donors, prospects, volunteers, colleagues, and community partners. Understands individual interests and motivations and develops meaningful connections to Maryhurst's mission.
- Strategic Thinking – Develops fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals. Uses data, donor knowledge, and external trends to identify opportunities and adapt strategies as circumstances change.
- Initiative – Demonstrates energy, persistence, and the ability to work effectively with a high degree of independence. Proactively identifies opportunities, takes appropriate action, and maintains momentum toward established goals.
- Planning/Organizing – Effectively manages a significant donor portfolio, multiple fundraising priorities, staff responsibilities, and campaign activities. Prioritizes work, establishes goals, follows through on commitments, and maintains attention to detail.
- Leadership & Collaboration – Engages and motivates staff, senior leadership, Board members, and volunteers around shared fundraising goals. Creates accountability while fostering teamwork, trust, and a commitment to results.
- Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement fundraising strategies, goals, priorities, and action plans to increase philanthropic support for Maryhurst.
- Develop strategies for major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation support, planned giving, donor stewardship, and other development initiatives.
- Monitor fundraising performance, pipeline activity, revenue projections, and progress toward established goals and recommend strategies to strengthen results.
- Help foster a culture of philanthropy by engaging staff, Board members, volunteers, and other stakeholders in Maryhurst's fundraising efforts.
- Manage a portfolio of 75–100 current and prospective major donors, with responsibility for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Develop individual strategies and giving goals for donors and prospects and maintain an active schedule of meaningful donor and prospect interactions.
- Personally solicit major gifts and serve as a primary fundraiser, working with leadership, Board members, and campaign volunteers.
- Build long-term donor relationships by connecting philanthropic interests with Maryhurst's mission, programs, and priorities and ensuring meaningful stewardship and recognition.
- Lead the active management of Maryhurst's Capital Campaign and major-gift prospect pipeline, ensuring priority prospects have appropriate strategies, next steps, timelines, and relationship managers.
- Utilize moves management practices to advance prospects from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Work with leadership, Board members, volunteers, and development staff to identify and qualify new major-gift prospects and maintain accurate projections of anticipated gifts.
- Supervise, coach, and support the Development Associate and Database Coordinator, establishing clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for results.
- Ensure effective development operations, including accurate donor and prospect records, moves management, gift acknowledgement, stewardship, reporting, and appropriate use of the donor database.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the organization to coordinate fundraising activities, donor engagement, and development priorities.
- Provide strategic direction for annual giving and donor renewal efforts, using donor data and segmentation to strengthen acquisition, retention, upgrading, and reactivation.
- Develop strategies that deepen donor engagement and create a pipeline from annual giving to major and planned giving.
- Support fundraising and cultivation events as opportunities to strengthen donor relationships, identify prospects, and advance individuals toward greater engagement and giving.
- Partner with the CEO, senior leadership, Board members, and key volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
- Equip Board members and volunteers to support fundraising through introductions, relationship building, donor cultivation, and solicitation.
- Participate in appropriate Board, campaign, and development committee activities and represent Maryhurst professionally with donors, prospects, and community partners.
- Paid time off
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Disability insurance
- FSA/HSA
- Life insurance
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Wellness Incentives
- This position functions in a routine administrative office environment
- Sedentary work, sitting most of each work shift
- Occasional activity involving push, pull, or lift of up to twenty pounds
- Driving
- Walking
The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as inclusive of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. This job description does not constitute a contract, nor does it alter the at-will status of the employee/employer relationship.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Maryhurst provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of five years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, including major gifts and relationship-based fundraising.
- Proven success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing major philanthropic gifts.
- Strong knowledge of major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, capital campaigns, corporate and foundation giving, and planned giving.
- Experience managing donor portfolios and fundraising pipelines to achieve revenue goals.
- Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.
- Strong relationship-building skills with donors, community partners, volunteers, and stakeholders.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, Board members, and community leaders.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and donor database/CRM systems; Raiser's Edge or Blackbaud experience preferred.
- CFRE certification preferred.
- Ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive under Maryhurst policy.
- Ability to travel locally and attend occasional evening and weekend events as needed.
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