DescriptionPosition Summary:The Director of Development is responsible for implementing and managing fundraising activities that support VisionCorps' mission, programs, and strategic goals. This role cultivates and stewards donors, manages annual giving and donor engagement efforts, supports grant and sponsorship activity, coordinates development communications with marketing, and leads the planning and execution of signature fundraising events. The Director of Development works closely with the President/CEO, development staff, board members, volunteers, and internal departments to strengthen donor relationships, maintain accurate fundraising systems, and help achieve annual revenue goals.
Education, Experience, & Skills- Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
- Five or more years of development, fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit revenue experience.
- Proven success with individual donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners.
- Experience with annual giving, donor communications, sponsorships, campaigns, grants, and events.
- Ability to maintain donor records, track prospects, prepare reports, and use donor systems.
- Grant writing, reporting, or foundation relationship experience preferred.
- Strong writing, speaking, interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Able to manage priorities, meet deadlines, follow through, and collaborate across departments.
- Experience coordinating staff, volunteers, interns, or event teams preferred.
- CFRE preferred.
Personal Behaviors:- Embrace VisionCorps' mission, vision, and values.
- Uphold VisionCorps' standards, policies, and ethical fundraising practices.
- Demonstrate integrity, accountability, respect, flexibility, initiative, and a positive attitude.
- Communicate professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
- Participate in ongoing fundraising, donor engagement, nonprofit, and program training.
- Support a donor-centered, collaborative, mission-focused culture.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:Administrative and Department Support- Manage development staff and provide day-to-day and strategic guidance.
- Work with the CFO to develop and monitor the department budget.
- Maintain fundraising processes, donor records, gift procedures, reports, and files.
- Coordinate calendars, deadlines, campaign timelines, follow-up, and project plans.
- Prepare reports, donor updates, lists, campaign summaries, and event results.
- Support fundraising staff, volunteers, and committees through coordination and follow-up.
- Represent VisionCorps at community events, donor meetings, and assigned organizations.
Fundraising and Development- Create and implement annual development plans with goals, timelines, and follow-up.
- Direct annual giving, donor renewal, upgrades, sponsorships, grants, and campaigns.
- Track fundraising progress and recommend outreach, campaign, and stewardship adjustments.
- Maintain donor pipeline information from discovery through stewardship.
- Coordinate with finance and internal teams on gift processing, revenue tracking, restrictions, acknowledgements, and reporting.
- Identify prospective donors, sponsors, grant opportunities, partners, and volunteers.
Donor Relations- Build relationships with current and prospective donors, sponsors, foundations, and partners.
- Manage an appropriate portfolio of annual, mid-level, sponsor, and selected major gift prospects.
- Prepare correspondence, acknowledgements, stewardship, proposals, reminders, and follow-up.
- Translate mission, program needs, and funding priorities into donor communications and gift opportunities.
- Prepare the President/CEO and staff for donor visits, solicitations, stewardship, and presentations.
- Develop professional advisor relationships to support planned giving inquiries.
Grants, Foundations, and Sponsorships- Research and direct foundation, corporate, government, and community funding opportunities.
- Review proposals, sponsorship requests, reports, acknowledgements, and stewardship materials.
- Oversee the grant writer and assist with proposal and reporting needs.
- Marketing, Communications, and Impact Reporting
- Partner with marketing on donor communications, annual report content, appeals, event materials, stewardship updates, and campaign messaging.
- Support storytelling that communicates mission, impact, funding priorities, and the case for support.
- Collect program impact, donor stories, outcomes, and results for proposals, reports, and donor updates.
- Review fundraising communications for accuracy, consistency, and donor-centered messaging.
Signature Event and Donor Engagement Events- Lead VisionCorps' signature fundraising event with internal and external partners.
- Coordinate sponsorships, donor engagement, invitations, communications, recognition, logistics, volunteers, revenue tracking, and follow-up.
- Ensure permits, insurance, vendor coordination, and event documentation are completed and approved.
- Analyze event results and recommend improvements based on revenue, engagement, feedback, and operations.
- Support other donor cultivation, stewardship, community engagement, and fundraising events.
Board, Volunteer, and Community Support- Support board members and volunteers with donor outreach, events, sponsorships, and stewardship.
- Prepare materials and follow-up for fundraising-related board or committee involvement.
- Engage volunteers and community advocates as VisionCorps supporters.
- Other Responsibilities
- Collaborate with marketing, rehabilitation and education, finance, operations, and leadership to support mission delivery and fundraising goals.
- Stay informed about nonprofit fundraising practices, community trends, donor strategies, and VisionCorps programs.
- Perform other duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned.
Physical Demands:- Ability to work full-time hours; additional hours may be required for events, deadlines, and donor engagement.
- Fine motor skills, including typing and handling materials.
- Occasionally stand, walk, sit for extended periods, reach, and operate tools or controls.
- Occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 30 pounds.
- Able to work on a computer screen for extended periods.
- Able to communicate by phone, virtually, and in person.
- Able to travel independently and safely in most environments.
Work Environment- Travel within VisionCorps' service area may be required for donor meetings, speaking engagements, community events, and fundraising.
- Some evening and weekend hours may be required for events, donor engagement, outreach, or travel.
Other Special Working Conditions:Employees that become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis
