Senior Development Director

Reports to Executive Development Director

Word on Fire Catholic Ministries is a nonprofit global media apostolate that supports the work of Bishop Robert Barron and reaches millions of people to draw them into—or back to—the Catholic faith.

The Senior Development Director will lead major gifts and planned giving strategies, overseeing a team to cultivate and secure high-level donor support for sustainable revenue growth. This role collaborates with leadership and key teams to align fundraising efforts with ministry priorities while effectively stewarding donor relationships.

Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

Employment Type: Full-time

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors

• Set annual goals and benchmarks for major gifts, ensuring sustainable revenue growth

• Oversee a team of Major Gifts Officers (Directors of Philanthropy), providing strategic direction, coaching, and support to enhance donor relationships and fundraising effectiveness

• Manage a personal portfolio of key major gift prospects and donors, focusing on deepening relationships and securing significant contributions

• Lead and expand the ministry’s planned giving program, promoting legacy gifts as a growing revenue source

• Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects, working closely with donors, financial advisors, and legal professionals to facilitate estate gifts

• Develop marketing and engagement strategies to educate and inspire donors about bequests, charitable trusts, annuities, and other planned giving vehicles

• Work closely with the Executive Development Director to align major gift and planned giving initiatives with the overall fundraising strategy

• Partner with the development marketing and events teams to integrate fundraising efforts and increase donor engagement

• Oversee and analyze fundraising data, using metrics to refine strategies and report on progress

• Partner with content creators, marketing, finance, and communications teams to ensure alignment between fundraising efforts and ministry priorities

• Engage with program staff to translate ministry impact into donor engagement opportunities, ensuring donors see the direct results of their contributions

Requirements

• 10 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with a proven track record in major gifts and planned giving

• Ability to travel as needed

• Demonstrated success in securing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals

• Experience managing and mentoring a team of fundraising professionals

• Strong knowledge of planned giving vehicles and estate planning concepts

• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and storytelling skills

• Proficiency in customer relationship management (CRM) and donor database management

• Commitment to the mission of Word on Fire

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in scaling successful major gifts programs

• Familiarity with the work of Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire

Compensation and Benefits

The estimated base pay range for this position is $130,000 - $165,000 annually. Word on Fire determines individual compensation on several factors, including but not limited to, experience, skills, alignment with the role’s responsibilities, and geographic location. This role may be eligible for annual merit increases based on individual performance.

Word on Fire also offers its team members a robust benefits package that includes:

• Work-from-home Wednesdays and up to 20 additional work-from-home days throughout the year

• Several 100% Word on Fire-paid insurance benefits: life, short-term disability, and long-term disability

• Other insurance benefits: medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity

• A retirement plan with a 3% target employer contribution

• Generous paid time off and paid holidays

• Paid parental leaves at 100% of base salary

• Access to Word on Fire’s incredible wealth of content and resources and more!

Word on Fire is founded upon and intent on prioritizing its Catholic religious mission and principles above all else. Word on Fire's religious mission may therefore require that it make employment decisions based on an individual's religion and adherence to the principles of the Catholic Church.

Salary : $130,000 - $165,000