Development Director

Job Type

Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to: President

The Director of Development at Discovery Green will lead all fundraising aspects, ensuring successful engagement with individual, foundation, and corporate donors. This includes managing personal visits and written solicitations, overseeing the Gala and sponsorship efforts, hosting donor events, editing proposals, grants, and reports, and providing timely updates through database notes and donor communications. The role will also involve developing a comprehensive financial resource plan, including membership programs, donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and capital campaigns. The Development Director will work closely with the President and the Board of Directors to identify and cultivate current and potential donors, oversee stewardship efforts, and raise awareness of Discovery Green's mission. Additionally, the Director will supervise the Development Department staff, ensuring effective leadership, training, and growth, while monitoring the department budget and setting fundraising goals. A key component of this role is to articulate compelling cases for support, ensure successful fundraising efforts, and drive the organization's fundraising growth.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic gift solicitation plan, including membership programs, major donor engagement, grants, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, endowment, and capital campaigns.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects (including board members) with the potential to contribute up to $100K.
• Maintain and manage a donor portfolio to generate mid-level and major gifts ($5,000 to six-figure gifts) from diverse sources.
• Direct and execute fundraising events, collaborating with other departments and volunteers for coordination and success.
• Create and monitor the Development Department budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with strategic fundraising goals.
• Work closely with the President, Board, existing donors, and volunteers to identify and cultivate new donor prospects to increase annual support.
• Develop fundraising materials and communication efforts in collaboration with the Marketing Director to promote Discovery Green’s mission and secure donor support.
• Present formal fundraising proposals to major donors and prospects and provide support to the President in fundraising solicitations.
• Create monthly status reports tracking donor activity, communications, community relations, and social media engagement for the President.
• Provide support to the Development Committee, board members, and community partners to foster board engagement and support committee functions.
• Provide leadership, oversight, and development for the Development Department staff, ensuring effective operations and team growth.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

The Development Director will be a fundraising professional with a proven track record in cultivating and soliciting high-level prospects and donors, and raising funds for budgets of $5M , bringing the following qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of development experience, with at least 1-2 years in a leadership or management role.
• Strong entrepreneurial self-starter with the ability to build new relationships, manage competing deadlines, and meet goals.
• Experience in budget analysis and planning.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation) with the ability to persuasively articulate compelling reasons for supporting Discovery Green.
• Proficiency in sponsorship solicitation and non-profit development best practices.
• Strong working knowledge of Office 365, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, and social media platforms.
• Experience in non-profit development community engagement.
• Ability to attend fundraising activities during evenings and weekends, and travel as required.
• Strong sense of confidentiality and ability to work independently.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, non-profit management, or a related field.

Note:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits:

Benefits include medical, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability paid by Discovery Green Conservancy. Employees can participate in our 401k retirement plan.