Director of Development

Position Overview:

Main Street’s mission is to create dynamic opportunities through affordable, inclusive housing and community engagement so people of all abilities can live their best lives. The Director of Development advances this mission by leading all fundraising strategies and activities, including donor cultivation, stewardship, major gifts, events, grants, campaigns, and related communications. This role partners closely with the Executive Director, Founder, Board, and committees to align development goals with organizational priorities and maintains strong systems for donor data and impact storytelling. The Director of Development represents Main Street in the community, supports board engagement, collaborates with program and finance teams, and helps foster a culture of philanthropy that sustains and grows Main Street’s inclusive work.

Leadership & Strategic Oversight

• Lead and oversee all fundraising and development activities to ensure organizational sustainability.

• Collaborate with the Founder, Board, and committees to align development efforts with the organizational mission and strategic goals.

• Establish measurable fundraising goals and regularly report progress to leadership.

• Advise on and supervise major gifts, annual fund, special events, planned giving, and any/all fundraising initiatives and campaigns.

• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

• Maintain awareness of fundraising trends and best practices, adapting strategies as needed.

• Represent the organization positively and actively in the community.

• Ensure compliance with regulations and ethical standards in fundraising.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Fundraising Strategy & Campaign Management

• Develop, maintain, and execute fundraising strategy and annual development plan.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising events and annual giving campaigns (including all communications). • Lead crowdfunding initiatives and donor recognition campaigns.

• Plan and grow planned giving and legacy programs (when organizationally ready).

• Monitor and evaluate fundraising performance and recommend improvements.

• Manage and report on the development budget.

• Develop and maintain a calendar of fundraising activities and deadlines.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Manage donor relationships, strategic cultivation, and stewardship programs.

• Implement and manage donor databases and tracking systems.

• Ensure donor data security and confidentiality.

• Organize donor recognition activities and events.

• Maintain donor touchpoints and stewardship communications.

• Represent the organization at community events, presentations, and networking opportunities.

• Foster meaningful partnerships and collaborations.

Research & Grant Management

• Research prospective individual, foundation, and corporate donors.

• Identify, write, and submit grant proposals.

• Track deadlines, outcomes, and ensure timely grant reporting.

• Collaborate with finance and program teams for accurate reporting of gifts and grants.

Communications & Marketing

• Create, update, and oversee donor communication materials and fundraising collateral.

• Produce media releases and support social media engagement.

• Develop donor communications, including newsletters, appeals, and acknowledgements.

• Create and share development reports, including end-of-year and quarterly meeting reports.

Board & Committee Engagement

• Coordinate and support Board fundraising efforts.

• Provide training, tools, and messaging resources for Board member engagement.

• Attend and support relevant committee meetings (Finance, Development, Governance when needed).

• Report progress and dashboards to Board leadership.

Events & Public Engagement

• Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising events.

• Lead monthly member programs to foster engagement and partnerships.

• Organize volunteer and donor appreciation events.

• Steward volunteers and coordinate involvement.

Team & Resource Management

• Recruit, train, and supervise development volunteers and interns.

• Collaborate with program and finance teams for data clarity and reporting accuracy.

• Create procedures and systems to streamline development operations. Reporting & Accountability

• Create and share development reports (monthly, annual, and board-facing).

• Ensure accurate gift reporting and data integrity.

• Track KPIs (key performance indicators) against fundraising goals.

• Present qualitative and quantitative metrics to leadership and the board.

Mission Integration & Storytelling

• Develop and maintain a centralized bank of stories, testimonials, videos, and photos for strategic use in fundraising and communications by creating stories or impact campaigns

• Ensure that Main Street’s mission of inclusion is consistently woven into all donor-facing materials.

• Develop “Why I Give to Main Street” donor profiles and campaigns

Other Duties:

• Maintain a safe and appropriate environment for programming

• Maintain files and records relative to programming

• Ensure Main Street policies and procedures, Code of Conduct, and safety and emergency protocols are followed

• Complete incident and accident reports as needed

• Work as an active team member with other Main Street staff and management

• Maintain organization of the Development SharePoint Folder

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services (Master’s preferred). 

• 5-10 years of experience in relationship building and professional fundraising. 

• Proven skills in strategic development, fundraising, and partnership-building. 

• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal abilities. 

• Experience with public speaking and presentations.

• Strong analytical, computer (e.g. Canva, CRM, PowerPoint) and time management skills.  

• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt as needed. 

If interested in this amazing opportunity, please reply on LinkedIn. Questions may be sent to our recruiting partner, Stephanie, sw@5ftview.com. The salary range for this position is between $90-100K, based on experience and skills, with the added potential for a performance-based bonus.