Director of Development

Bend, OR

G.A. Rogers is partnering with Friends of The Children (Central Oregon) to bring on a Development Director.

The Development Director provides strategic leadership for Friends of the Children Central Oregon's fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This position is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive development strategy that advances the organization's mission, supports annual revenue goals, and builds long-term philanthropic relationships.

The Development Director works closely with the Executive Director, Board, staff, and community partners to deepen relationships with current donors, identify opportunities for increased giving, strengthen donor stewardship, and build a sustainable development program.

This position will initially be responsible for a broad range of development functions and will help build the systems, processes, and team needed to support the organization's continued growth. As the development team expands, the Development Director will provide leadership, direction, and accountability while increasingly delegating day-to-day donor engagement responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement an annual development strategy aligned with the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and approved fundraising goals. Monitor progress toward annual fundraising goals and proactively identify opportunities, challenges, and adjustments needed to remain on track.

• Translate organizational priorities into compelling fundraising opportunities and donor engagement strategies.

• Develop and maintain systems that support consistent donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement.

• Establish clear development priorities and workflows that allow the department to operate effectively as the development team grows.

Donor Relationship Development

• Build and deepen relationships with current donors and prospects through meaningful, personalized engagement. Maintain a strong understanding of the organization's donor base, including giving history, engagement, interests, relationships, and opportunities for deeper investment.

• Work closely with the Executive Director to understand donor interests, giving capacity, philanthropic priorities, community connections, and potential for increased investment.

Moves Management & Major Gifts

• Establish and maintain a structured donor pipeline that supports intentional movement from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

• Lead the organization's annual giving strategy, including Summer and Year-End campaigns, annual gift renewals, monthly/recurring giving, and other broad-based fundraising efforts.

Donor Stewardship

• Develop a comprehensive stewardship approach that recognizes donors appropriately and demonstrates the impact of their support.

• Ensure donors receive meaningful and timely communication following their gifts.

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporate partners and community businesses. Identify opportunities for corporate sponsorship, philanthropic investment, employee engagement, and other mutually beneficial partnerships. Steward existing corporate relationships and develop strategies for renewal and increased investment.

Qualifications

• Passion for the mission of Friends of the Children Central Oregon to uplift youth and families impacted by generational poverty.

• Significant proven experience in developing and managing a development program, including the use of donor data to build strategies and set revenue targets.

• Demonstrated success in fund development from individuals, including major gifts.

• Demonstrated understanding of community-centered fundraising and engagement practices.

• Ability to manage, coach, and empower the Board of Directors and its Resource Development

Committee in the development, cultivation, and solicitation of donors.

• Knowledge and experience in the nature and dimensions of philanthropy, including ethics; motivations for giving and volunteering; research and cultivation practices; standard fundraising techniques including face-to-face solicitation, proposal writing, special events, telephone solicitation, and direct mail; and development oLice functions including gift processing, prospect and donor histories, and fundraising reporting.

• Keen understanding of the Central Oregon philanthropic community and fundraising landscape.

• Ability to describe organizational work and needs succinctly and accurately.

• Excellent and persuasive communication skills, including written, visual, and oral communication.