Director of Development

Summary:

The purpose of this role is to implement and manage the organization’s donor relations, fundraising, and communications in support of development goals. This position involves creating and executing strategic plans to secure financial resources through major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, and events. The Director of Development will collaborate closely with leadership and program staff to align fundraising strategies with organizational goals, ensuring sustainable funding to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness and improving the well-being of underserved populations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with executive leadership to pace and drive organization donor relations and fundraising, including analysis and implementation of the organization’s development and fundraising plan.
• Manage and ensure accuracy of fundraising systems, databases, and reporting. This includes reports for all board meetings, generating financial queries, donor appeal reports, and reports to analyze fundraising strategies and coordinating with the Operations Director to ensure accurate accounting.
• Collaborate with key leadership staff to develop and initiate communication strategies and campaigns to achieve development goals and promote the value of Bethesda Cares programs throughout the community. This may include newsletter articles, press releases, email alerts, etc.
• Oversee and conduct regular communications to donors and potential giving partners including annual appeals, press releases, and frequent e-newsletters.
• Frequently meeting one-on-one with donors to cultivate relationships and provide updated information about the organization’s initiatives, goals, and outcomes.
• Establish regular public speaking engagements in collaboration with Executive Director to raise organizational profile. Perform regular speaking engagements in absence of Executive Director.
• Provide regular reports to Executive Director on new donor relationships with individuals, congregations, and corporations.
• Represent Bethesda Cares at United Way/CFC nonprofit fairs. And similar events.
• Coordinate and manage activities associated with event planning in support of donor relations.
• Oversee and implement grant writing goals in collaboration with executive leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Qualifications

• Experience in fundraising or sales and marketing required, with a demonstrated track record of success in raising major gifts and writing complex proposals for various audiences, or parallel experience in sales and marketing with benchmarks such as demonstrated responsibility, initiative, and success in a sales/marketing/proposal writing environment.
• Desire to work with and for underserved populations, such as persons experiencing homelessness and at-risk homeless populations.
• Excellent writing skills
• 4+ years experience in development and fundraising.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle are required, as well as proof of auto insurance.

COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in grant portals, Microsoft Word and comfort with Excel. Familiarity with donor databases.
• Must have strong experience with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.