Director of Development

Job Summary

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is seeking a Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts at a pivotal moment in our history. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in building donor relationships as much as they enjoy building systems. Someone equally comfortable making a major gift ask and designing the stewardship infrastructure that makes the next ask possible. You will manage a portfolio of donors across all giving levels, personally cultivating and stewarding individual and major gift relationships while helping shape WFWM’s broader fundraising strategy. Working in close partnership with the CEO and board, you will also evaluate and help improve our CRM, communications, and pipeline management while building on what already works to support sustainable, long-term growth. As WFWM approaches its 30th Anniversary milestone, this role offers a unique opportunity to both do the work and help define what comes next. You will help grow annual revenue beyond $1 million, deepen our donor community across all four counties, and position the Fund for its next decade of impact. WFWM operates as a hybrid organization. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to Western Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

Donor Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of donors across individual, major, and mid-level giving, with personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each relationship
• Conduct a meaningful number of personal donor meetings, calls, and asks each year — this is a role that requires regular, direct engagement with donors
• Identify, qualify, and move prospects through the giving pipeline with discipline and care
• Develop and implement planned and legacy giving initiatives, beginning with WFWM’s 30th Anniversary as a milestone opportunity

Fundraising Strategy & Systems

• Partner with the CEO to design and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with WFWM’s 2027 strategic plan
• Build on and manage our existing systems, CRM workflows, stewardship calendars, pipeline reporting, and bring new ideas that support consistent, scalable fundraising
• Track and report on key performance indicators quarterly: revenue by channel, donor retention, portfolio growth, and solicitation activity
• Identify new funding opportunities across individual, corporate, and planned giving channels

Campaigns & Donor Communications

• Lead annual appeals, giving campaigns, and donor events with clear revenue and engagement goals for each
• Develop compelling donor communications, impact reports, and proposals in partnership with the broader team
• Translate WFWM’s story and impact into invitations for investment that resonate across diverse donor audiences

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Staff the Development Committee: set agendas, prepare reports, and drive follow-through on committee commitments
• Support board members in their individual fundraising roles, including relationship management, introductions, and donor cultivation
• Engage volunteers in fundraising activities in coordination with staff

Team Leadership & Operations

• Supervise the Fundraising Data Administrator: set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct annual performance reviews
• Manage the philanthropy budget with accountability for accurate forecasting and responsible resource stewardship
• Maintain CRM data integrity in Bloomerang and produce regular pipeline and revenue reports for the CEO and board
• Support foundation grant research and reporting in collaboration with relevant staff

Qualifications

• 5 or more years of nonprofit development experience with a demonstrated track record in hands-on fundraising and direct donor solicitation
• Proven success managing a donor portfolio, including cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts
• Experience building or improving fundraising systems: stewardship workflows, CRM data practices, pipeline management, or donor communications
• Familiarity with planned or legacy giving preferred; willingness to develop this expertise required
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, financial management, budget forecasting, and compliance
• Supervisory experience; able to manage, develop, and support staff in a small-team environment
• Skilled at translating donor data and trends into practical, actionable strategies
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; comfortable managing multiple priorities with minimal oversight
• Effective communicator and writer; able to craft donor appeals, proposals, reports, and stewardship materials that move people to act
• Experience working with board members, development committees, and volunteers to advance fundraising goals
• Commitment to WFWM’s mission and values, including advancing gender and racial equity
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, and donor CRMs; Bloomerang experience strongly preferred
• Must reside in or be willing to relocate to Western Massachusetts

How to Apply

Send the following to admin@mywomensfund.org with the subject line “Director of Development” by May 22, 2026:

• Cover letter (max 2 pages)
• Resume
• Three professional references (name, pronouns, affiliation, relationship, email, phone) — references contacted only at the final interview stage