Director of Development - Nonprofit

Our client is a leading youth health equity organization working across Mississippi and Arkansas to empower young people with comprehensive health education and resources. Through evidence-based programming and advocacy, they build equitable communities where all young people can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

They are seeking a Senior Director of Philanthropy to serve as the chief architect of fundraising strategy across their multistate operations. This role will develop and execute comprehensive development initiatives spanning local, regional, national, and international funding streams whilst positioning the organisation as a philanthropic leader in the youth health equity space.

The ideal candidate will bring proven success in multistate fundraising, exceptional relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups, and a commitment to youth-centred, equity-focused work. This position requires someone comfortable navigating sensitive health topics with nuance and professionalism, particularly in conservative contexts.

Location: Jackson or Clarksdale, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; or hybrid arrangement. Regular travel required throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, and other locations as needed for donor engagement

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas whilst pursuing national and global funding opportunities
  
• Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation
  
• Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources
  
• Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets
  

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international markets
  
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels whilst maintaining cohesive mission-driven messaging
  
• Lead high-quality stewardship that builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for the organisation's work
  

Foundation & Government Grants

• Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance
  
• Build relationships with local, national, and international programme officers, agencies, and grant-making bodies
  
• Collaborate with programme staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievable
  

Campaigns & Events

• Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national/international appeal
  
• Lead capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross-border support
  
• Coordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and context
  

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levels
  
• Provide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivation
  
• Present regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all markets
  

Cross-State & Cross-Border Coordination

• Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnerships
  
• Share fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organisational priorities and investment decisions
  
• Collaborate with communications team to produce donor-centred materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
  
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrable success in multistate, national, and/or international development work
  
• Proven track record securing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and leading large-scale campaigns
  
• Strong grant writing, prospect research, and donor cultivation expertise
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification
  
• Experience working in or strong familiarity with Arkansas, particularly leveraging local connections for philanthropic work
  
• Previous experience in youth development, health equity, public health, or related mission-driven sectors
  
• Demonstrated success navigating politically or culturally sensitive funding environments
  
• Bilingual capabilities or experience working across international contexts
  

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills across cultures and sectors
  
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
  
• Proficiency with donor management software (e.g., NEON, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce)
  
• Ability to work effectively across diverse teams, states, and countries
  
• Strategic thinker with strong organisational and project management skills
  

Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven, equity-focused, and committed to youth voice and youth leadership
  
• Comfortable discussing comprehensive sexual health education and youth development in professional contexts
  
• Supportive of evidence-based approaches that provide young people with information to make informed decisions about their health
  
• Able to communicate with nuance and professionalism in diverse cultural and political contexts
  
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and globally minded
  
• Comfortable travelling throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, the U.S., and internationally for donor engagement
  
• Adaptable to both established and emerging programme contexts
  

Benefits

• Base Salary: $82.5k - $90k (Slightly negotiable for the right candidate)
  
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
  
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
  
• Flexible work arrangements with remote work options
  
• Generous paid time off policy
  
• Paid holidays
  

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Haldren and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Haldren or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity: Haldren and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations: Both Haldren and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.

Compliance with Laws: Both Haldren and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Workplace Harassment: Both Haldren and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

E-Verify Participation: Haldren and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable.

Privacy and Pay Equity:

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy at www.haldren.com

Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.

Both Haldren and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.

State-Specific Information:

Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.

Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.

New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.

Veteran Status: Both Haldren and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.

Genetic Information: In accordance with federal and state laws, both Haldren and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.

Local Laws: Both Haldren and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.