Senior Director, Development

Play a critical role in working with our donors!

Be the backbone of hope and healing.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships leads Minnesota & Adult Teen Challenge's ("MnTC") statewide donor development strategy, major gift fundraising efforts, and donor relations (strategic partnerships) team. This role provides leadership for donor engagement, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention efforts across the organization while managing a portfolio of key donors and prospects. The Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships develops and executes fundraising strategies that increase philanthropic support, achieve organizational fundraising goals, and strengthen long-term donor relationships. This role partners closely with the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and organizational leaders to advance the mission and financial sustainability of MnTC.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. The essential functions include the following:

Fundraising Strategy & Donor Development

• Partner with the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships to support organization-wide fundraising campaigns, events, retreats, and donor engagement initiatives, including Fundraise for Recovery, Vision Summit, Year-End Appeal, Adopt a Room, and other strategic fundraising efforts.

• Collaborate with organizational leaders to identify and pursue donor, community, and networking opportunities that support fundraising objectives.

• Serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for MnTC, representing the organization and communicating the mission and impact of the ministry to donors, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Lead the statewide donor relations strategy and provide oversight of donor portfolios across Minnesota, including donor cultivation, engagement, solicitation, stewardship, and retention activities.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive development plan aligned with organizational priorities, fundraising goals, and budget objectives.

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospective donors, building meaningful relationships that deepen engagement and increase philanthropic support.

• Oversee donor relations and development calendars and fundraising strategies to ensure consistent and coordinated donor outreach across the state.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and support the statewide Donor Relations Team to achieve fundraising goals and strengthen donor relationships.

• Provide leadership and accountability for donor portfolios and fundraising activities across the team.

• Supervise assigned Strategic Partnerships team and foster effective collaboration across departments.

• Partner with fundraising, marketing, and organizational leaders to develop and execute donor communication and engagement strategies.

• Promote fundraising best practices and support a culture of continuous learning through professional development opportunities for self and team members.

• Support a culture of continuous learning by encouraging fundraising best practices and professional development.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Build and maintain strong relationships with major donors through personalized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition efforts.

• Coordinate and facilitate donor visits, tours, events, and engagement opportunities that strengthen donor relationships, increase participation, and deepen understanding of MnTC's impact.

• Oversee the Cars for Recovery campaign and related fundraising objectives.

• Ensure donor records, interactions, and fundraising activities are accurately documented within organizational systems.

• Support opportunities that increase donor involvement and enhance the overall donor experience.

Communication & Organizational Partnership

• Communicate priorities, initiatives, and fundraising activities with internal stakeholders as appropriate.

• Partner with marketing, communications and strategic partnerships team to implement donor communication plans across print, digital, broadcast, and event channels.

• Maintain effective communication with leadership regarding fundraising progress, donor opportunities, and organizational needs.

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Skills & Experience (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.

• At least 6 years of donor relations or development experience.

• Leadership and management experience, including 3-5 years of experience managing a team of three or more employees.

• Demonstrated experience engaging donors, building philanthropic partnerships, and closing major gifts with high-net-worth donors.

• Ability to communicate effectively with donors, staff, and community stakeholders in person, virtually, and by phone.

• Experience developing donor relationships and successfully increasing charitable giving through donor cultivation and stewardship strategies.

• Demonstrated project and team management experience with a focus on achieving fundraising objectives.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information.

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-through.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with diverse stakeholders.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Raiser's Edge or comparable donor management systems.

• Comfort and compassion in working within an environment of individuals facing life-controlling challenges, such as mental health issues and addiction.

• Demonstrates MnTC's mission, Culture of Honor, core values, and Putting Honor in Action principles through daily interactions, fostering a welcoming, respectful, and relationship-centered environment.

• Valid MN driver's license and driving record that meet organizational insurance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk, working on a computer and answering phone calls.

• Ability to travel throughout Minnesota for donor meetings, fundraising events, and organizational activities.

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at a time.
• This role is required to work on-site 5 days per week.

Target Compensation (Negotiable based on qualifications):

$92,000 to $98,000 range (annual salary)

Our robust benefits package includes medical, HSA, dental, vision, PTO, dependent care FSA, disability, life insurance and 403b retirement plan.

We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool in order to successfully meet our mission of helping every Minnesotan find help and healing from addiction.