Senior Director of Development

WHAT IS THE POSITION:

The Senior Director of Development is a dynamic strategic leader and subject matter expert (SME) in fundraising, donor engagement, and revenue growth. In this hands-on role, they partner closely with the VP of Finance & Operations, the CEO, and the Director of Development to drive innovative fundraising strategies, unlock new funding opportunities, and strengthen the organization’s financial sustainability. They will play a key role in cultivating relationships with foundations, corporate and industry partners, and individual donors. This position has no direct reports but carries high-impact influence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Growth

• Collaborate with the VP of Finance & Operations, the CEO, and the leadership team to develop and implement long-term and short-term fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with foundation, corporate, and industry funders, including event sponsors.
• Proactively research, qualify, and pursue new funding opportunities, including grants, cooperative agreements, and high-impact partnerships.
• Develop and manage a strategic pipeline of foundation and corporate funders, ensuring timely cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.

Donor Engagement & Relationships Management

• Serve as a key relationship manager for high-level donors, ensuring meaningful engagement and long-term commitment.
• Develop and implement stewardship strategies to retain and grow donor contributions.
• Oversee donor communication efforts, including personalized outreach, impact reports, and engagement activities.
• Maintain a prospect management system (CRM/database) to track touchpoints, deadlines, reporting requirements, and relationship stages.
• Serves as the organization’s SME in fundraising, donor engagement, and revenue diversification, who can provide recommendations based on fundraising trends and best practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the VP of Finance & Operations and the Development Director to assess financial projections, revenue streams, budgets and funding priorities.
• Work closely with the VP of Finance & Operations and the CEO to develop and present fundraising strategies to key stakeholders.
• Ensure collaboration between Finance & Operations and Program teams to support funder engagement and messaging, proposals, and reporting.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Oversee fundraising data, analytics, and reporting, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.
• Manage high-dollar grant proposals and sponsorship opportunities, coordinating with external partners when necessary.
• Ensure compliance in all 50 states with fundraising regulations and ethical standards.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of eight years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, business development, or a related field.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate program needs into fundable opportunities.
• Hands-on experience planning, leading, and managing high-dollar development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve outcomes.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; ability to juggle multiple priorities and funder relationships simultaneously.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing an institutional funder pipeline (corporate and/or foundation).
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or equivalent) to manage pipelines, track deadlines, and analyze donor behavior.
• Ability to be creative with attention to detail and proven ability to work with an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Demonstrated history of a service mentality to donors and association membership.
• Commitment to continuous learning and development; keeping pace with the philanthropic environment and best practices.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Willingness and ability to travel about 10% of the time, if public health circumstances permit.
• NFPRHA presumes that all staff work fully remote. NFPRHA maintains an office in Washington, DC, and staff may but are not required to work in the DC region. Nearly 65% of the fourteen full-time staff live in the DC region, and we also have staff who live in Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont.
• Generous benefits package, including health, retirement, PTO, and more.
• Professional development and networking opportunities.
• Background and credit checks are required