Director of Development

Program Overview

CASA of the Heartland exists to advocate for child abuse and neglect victims by providing them with a trained volunteer who will speak on their behalf in court. Our mission is to give these vulnerable children a voice and help them find a safe, permanent, and loving home. We serve children across multiple counties. As the organization expands services and increases direct advocacy capacity, CASA of the Heartland is committed to strengthening volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and community engagement to support its mission.

Statement of Purpose:

The Director of Development is a full-time, exempt leadership position responsible for overseeing fundraising, donor development, and volunteer recruitment efforts that directly support CASA of the Heartland’s ability to provide high-quality advocacy services to children. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development leads efforts that grow financial resources, expand the volunteer base, and increase community awareness to ensure CASA can meet current and future service demands. This is a new position carrying direct fundraising targets, with the expectation that annual fundraising goals will grow year over year. This role works collaboratively with the Director of Operations to align development activities with grant-funded programs, staffing needs, and service delivery priorities.

Director of Development Duties:

• Develop and implement an annual development plan that integrates fundraising, donor stewardship, volunteer recruitment, and community awareness to support direct service delivery
• Meet established fundraising goals, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, special events, and community-based fundraising initiatives, with targets expected to grow annually
• Lead and expand volunteer recruitment efforts to ensure sufficient, diverse, and well-qualified advocates to meet program needs across the service area
• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, sponsors, service clubs, faith-based organizations, and community partners
• Coordinate donor communications, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities to support long-term donor retention
• Supervise and support 1–2 staff members primarily responsible for recruitment, outreach, and awareness activities
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations to ensure development activities support grant-funded programs, staffing capacity, and recruitment needs, and to align fundraising strategies with grant sustainability requirements
• Work closely with the Executive Director to establish development priorities, track progress toward fundraising and recruitment goals, and support long-term organizational sustainability
• Support and engage the Board of Directors in fundraising, donor cultivation, and community outreach efforts
• Coordinate with marketing and communications partners to support recruitment campaigns, social media engagement, and public awareness initiatives
• Track and report key development metrics, including fundraising progress, donor engagement, and volunteer recruitment outcomes
• Represent CASA of the Heartland at community events, meetings, and public presentations
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable CASA and grantor requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor development, or nonprofit development with measurable outcomes, preferably a track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising targets
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and public speaking skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency with donor databases, CRM systems, or similar tracking tools (or ability to learn quickly)
• Commitment to ethical practices, confidentiality, and professional integrity
• Passion for CASA’s mission and child advocacy

Conditions of Employment:

• Full-Time (Exempt) position with flexible hours; some evening and weekend work may be required
• Occasional physical activity, such as bending or lifting (e.g., for events or inventory)
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout the service area, have a valid driver’s license, and maintain valid state-required insurance coverage
• Willingness to be featured on video and social media in support of CASA of the Heartland’s mission
• Ability to meet all required background checks and record standards
• Compliance with CASA of the Heartland policies, procedures, and confidentiality requirements
• Commitment to uphold CASA values, ethical standards, and grant requirements
• Continued employment is contingent upon funding availability, success of this role, and organizational need

CASA of the Heartland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To learn more, visit casaheartland.org.