Development Director

Hearth, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of homelessness among the elderly. This mission is accomplished through a unique blend of prevention, placement, and housing programs all designed to help elders find and succeed in homes of their own. 

Hearth seeks a highly motivated and experienced development professional to advance Hearth’s mission through strategic fundraising efforts. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing effective fundraising strategies and managing donor relations, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial sustainability.  

Reporting to the CEO, the Director will serve as a member of the senior management team. Major responsibilities include strategic planning; developing, implementing, and monitoring a comprehensive fundraising plan to keep pace with current program needs and future growth; directly managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors (approximately 70 ), strengthening individual donor relationships, and providing day-to-day supervision and leadership to the three-person development team (Development Associate, Associate Director of Foundations and Corporate Relations and Community Engagement Manager). The Director will work to build awareness of Hearth’s programs and services with community members, organizations, donors, and prospects.   

Key Responsibilities: 

Leadership:  

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with Hearth’s mission, goals, and fundraising targets.   
• Identify, proactively cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 70 high-capacity donors  
• Work with the CEO to develop strategies and reports and present to the Board of Directors information related to the ongoing status of development activities, efforts, and progress to goals.  
• Serve as staff co-chair to the Board of Directors Development Committee and support the donor engagement and solicitation activity of the committee members.  

Strategy  

• Create and implement an annual development strategy to achieve or exceed the organization’s fundraising revenue goals as determined by the Board of Directors and CEO.   
• Develop a long-range Strategic Plan for Development to ensure fundraising aligns with and  
• supports Hearth’s goals and objectives.   
• Translate annual organizational fundraising goals into executable plans.   

Fundraising Strategy Development & Implementation 

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and present regular reports to Chief Executive Officer and Board leadership on progress towards fundraising goals.  
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and grow individual giving campaigns, monthly giving, and multi-year giving commitments. 
• Partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Board to manage relationships and solicit major donors and prospects.  
• Spearhead efforts to implement a planned giving and monthly giving program.   
• Engage volunteers to steward relationships with current donors and cultivate and solicit new donors.  
• Evaluate and refine current campaigns to optimize revenue potential, return on investment, and brand awareness.  
• Develop strategies for new donor acquisition and cultivation of new prospects. Responsible for continuous research on, and development of, diversified fundraising strategies and techniques to meet financial goals. 
• Lead the planning and execution of fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives and events (i.e., Annual Meeting, Annual Fundraising Gala) 
• Develop donor communications, including collateral development, digital fundraising campaigns, and acknowledgments. 
• Track and analyze fundraising performance and adjust strategies accordingly. 

Donor Relations & Moves Management 

• Establish an annual fund program, ensuring strong donor experience. 
• Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift individual donors (70 donors). 
• Implement a structured approach to donor relations that involves planning and executing specific “moves” or actions to move donors and prospects through the donor lifecycle. 
• Identify opportunities to engage volunteers and board members. 
• Ensure accurate documentation and tracking of fundraising activities in CRM (currently GiveSmart, new CRM being evaluated). 

Management 

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the development function to ensure the goals are being met for all aspects of the annual program 
• Manage team workflows, meeting coordination, and internal communication to ensure alignment of fundraising goals. 
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering a culture of commitment and excellence across the organization 
• Implement policies and procedures to guide the development team’s efforts, decisions, and practices.  
• Provide strategic direction, supervision, and evaluation of development team for all areas of fundraising, communications, events, and community outreach.  

Operational Oversight & Compliance 

• Oversee donor agreements and ensure adherence to ethical fundraising standards. 
• Coordinate with finance and legal counsel to ensure compliance with gift agreements and reporting requirements as necessary. 
• Monitor and analyze fundraising performance, adjusting strategies as needed. 
• Ensure accurate records and donor data is maintained in CRM. 

Key Qualifications  

• Minimum of 5 years’ development and staff management experience, in a senior role in a nonprofit mission driven environment.  
• Proven track record of achieving and exceeding revenue targets.   
• Positive, “can-do” approach, sincere affinity for the mission, flexibility, teamwork  
• approach, attention to detail, and high degree of initiative.  
• Solid financial and technical skills (including intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office  
• Suite and fundraising software) needed to effectively communicate and implement  
• development strategies.  
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.  
• Style and approach to tasks that both inspires confidence and demonstrates effective leadership.  
• Capability to oversee multiple tasks and see them through to a successful conclusion.  
• Proven experience working with high-net worth donors and institutional funders.  
• Solid track record of cultivating and managing volunteer committees.  
• Demonstrated thorough understanding of development best practices.  

Please submit a letter of interest and resume highlighting your record of achievement to Rhonda Pieroni, CEO, at rpieroni@hearth-home.org.

No phone calls or recruiter inquiries, please.