The Development Director leads key fundraising and donor engagement efforts for The Spring, with a focus on building strong relationships that support the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability. This position works closely with the President and CEO, Board of Directors, and Development Team to implement fundraising strategies that help The Spring effectively serve survivors and their families.
The Development Director plays a leading role in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts, planned gifts, capital campaign commitments, grants, and Giving Circle donors. This position also provides oversight and strategic support for fundraising events, stewardship efforts, media and speaker opportunities, and advocacy initiatives that increase awareness, deepen community engagement, and strengthen support for The Spring.
- Design, implement and manage an integrated fundraising strategy tied to short-term and long-term financial goals.
- Develop metrics to track fundraising efforts that can consistently be shared with the Development Team, Board of Directors and senior leadership to measure performance over time.
- Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward Capital and major gift donors, with a focus on increasing contributed revenue.
- Develop, launch, and grow The Spring’s giving circle by cultivating members, creating meaningful engagement opportunities, and building a sustainable donor community that increases philanthropic support for the organization’s mission.
- Develop and grow The Spring’s planned giving program by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding donors interested in legacy giving opportunities.
- Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with private foundation and corporate grant funders, while supporting the development of compelling proposals, reports, and stewardship strategies that increase grant revenue.
- Participate in community clubs or corporate events to generate new donor contacts.
- Work closely with the Board Fund Development Chair to facilitate the Board of Directors’ Development Committee, attend monthly Board meetings, and provide regular updates on the agency’s fundraising activities, progress toward goals, and donor engagement opportunities.
- Represent The Spring through media, speaking, and advocacy opportunities.
- Directly supervise the Fundraising Events & Communications Manager and the Donor Relations Manager on the Development Team.
- Provide strategic support for fundraising events coordinated by the Events and Communications Manager with emphasis on increasing event revenue, strengthening sponsorship opportunities, and maximizing donor engagement.
- Provide strategic support for donor engagement and annual giving coordinated by the Donor Relations Manager with emphasis on providing strategic oversight and support for donor engagement efforts that strengthen donor relationships, increase retention, deepen stewardship, and create meaningful opportunities for donors to connect with The Spring’s mission.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the President & CEO.
Supervision Responsibility
- Directly supervises: Fundraising Events & Communications Manager and Donor Relations Manager
Education/Training/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration, strategic philanthropy or fundraising, business, marketing, public relations or related field preferred. Five-plus years of fundraising and management experience, preferably in a social services agency, is required. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is strongly preferred.
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills, outstanding verbal communication and interpersonal skills; and high ethical standards are required.
- Must be able to interact comfortably and diplomatically in a range of environments and with people from diverse backgrounds including participants, staff, Board members, donors, volunteers and the community at large.
- Must have experience with individual donor development including identifying, cultivating, and securing gifts from major donors.
Certification or Licensing Requirements
- Valid Florida driver’s license, acceptable Motor Vehicle Report, active automobile insurance and dependable transportation is required. Must have at least two years driving experience
- Requires 24-hour DCF Core Competency training and additional 6 hours to qualify for Privilege status.
- Requires ongoing 16-hours of DCF approved training after the first year
- Must pass a Level II Background Screening and a drug screening
Specialized Equipment or Machines Proficiency
- Computer literate with working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, fundraising databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred), Canva, and internet and presentation software applications.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Position requires that the employee be able to talk and hear.
- The employee usually is required to walk, stand, climb several steps, sit, use hands, and reach with hands and arms.
- Employee may occasionally be required to lift up to 40 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
- Position requires that the employee be able to travel between the organization’s sites and to off-site meetings.
- Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment
- Work environment for this position is primarily that of an office atmosphere with a moderate noise level
- There is occasional exposure to the outdoor elements due to the settings of other facilities the agency operates and travel requirements.
Additional Skills Needed for This Position
- DV Knowledge: must become knowledgeable over time in the provision of best-practice, survivor-focused, empowerment-based services for survivors of domestic violence
- Leadership: able to lead with confidence and minimal supervision and work harmoniously with staff, donors, participants, volunteers, funders and the public
- Discretion: able to handle sensitive employee, participant and donor information with care
- Communication: able to effectively convey information, ideas and directions to everyone in written and verbal formats, and be able to listen carefully to discern what is important to the people with whom you are interacting
- Sound Judgment: has high ethical and professional standards and makes good decisions; knows when to seek additional guidance
- Available: may require an immediate response to a text, email or phone message; will require day, night and weekend hours. On-call in emergency situations.