Development Director

The Development Director provides strategic leadership for fundraising, donor engagement, and partnership development at Access to Success. Working closely with the Founder/President, Board of Directors, and key stakeholders, this role is responsible for expanding the organization's donor base, strengthening supporter relationships, and securing the resources needed to advance A2S's mission and long-term growth. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven leader who excels at building partnerships, inspiring generosity, and connecting people to the transformative impact of A2S.

As a representative of A2S, the Development Director is expected to embody the organization's Christ-centered mission and values. Candidates should demonstrate a mature and growing Christian faith, active engagement in a local church, and a commitment to integrating biblical principles into leadership, stewardship, relationship building, and service.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Acquisition & Revenue Growth (50%)  

• Lead the development and execution of A2S's fundraising strategy to achieve annual revenue goals.
• Grow and diversify funding through individual donors, major gifts, churches, corporations, foundations, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and oversee a healthy donor pipeline that supports long-term organizational sustainability.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities aligned with A2S's mission and strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with the Founder/President to secure transformational gifts and expand philanthropic investment.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship (20%)  

• Develop and implement donor engagement and stewardship strategies that strengthen relationships and increase donor loyalty.
• Ensure donors receive meaningful communication, recognition, impact reporting, and engagement opportunities.
• Oversee donor retention efforts and recurring giving initiatives.
• Support the cultivation and stewardship of major donors and key organizational partners.
• Maintain systems that track donor engagement, performance, and relationship management.

Executive & Board Partnership (20%) 

• Serve as a strategic fundraising partner to the Founder/President
• Prepare donor strategies, prospect research, and engagement plans for leadership and board members.
• Equip and support board members in fundraising, donor cultivation, and relationship-building activities.
• Coordinate major donor meetings, proposals, and follow-up activities.
• Help maximize leadership involvement in high-value fundraising opportunities.

Strategic Partnerships & External Relations (10%)  

• Build and strengthen relationships with churches, corporations, foundations, community organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent A2S at events, conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Increase organizational visibility, credibility, and community engagement.
• Develop partnerships that advance funding, volunteer engagement, mentorship, and other mission-aligned opportunities.

Annual Performance Expectations 

• Secure 50–75 new individual donors annually.
• Secure 25–30 new recurring monthly donors annually.
• Identify 25–30 qualified donor prospects each quarter.
• Conduct meaningful outreach to 25 new prospects quarterly.
• Generate $150,000–$250,000 in new annual revenue through acquisition and stewardship efforts.
• Maintain a donor retention rate of 65%-70% or higher.
• Schedule 12–24 qualified strategic donor meetings annually (1–2 per month) for the Founder/President. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5-10 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, development, sales, business development, or relationship management.
• Proven success securing and stewarding donors, clients, sponsors, or strategic partnerships.
• Strong networking and relationship-building abilities.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing donor databases, CRMs, or fundraising platforms.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.

Preferred 

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising and advancement.
• Experience securing major gifts, sponsorships, grants, and strategic partnerships. 
• Experience working with churches, faith-based organizations, or Christian ministries.
• Familiarity with international development, education, workforce development, or community empowerment programs.
• Experience supporting executive-level fundraising efforts.