Development Director

About the role

Director, Development is responsible for designing and executing the development strategy that will allow City Year to leverage the resources, talents, and skills of the philanthropic sector to build the site and create change in communities across the city.

Responsibilities

• External Relations: work closely with the Executive Director to plan donor‑engagement strategy across private, government, and education sectors; represent City Year at frequent community events (including travel, evenings, and weekends); build relationships that secure monetary and in‑kind multi‑year support.
• Implement Growth Campaign: collaborate with the Executive Director to develop, plan, and execute a campaign that drives City Year’s continued growth in Buffalo and adds development capacity to meet long‑term impact goals.
• Individual Giving Program Development: create innovative strategies to promote individual giving; identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of current and future major donors; refine Giving Circles initiatives and increase participation with gifts of $10,000 +; ensure annual Advisory Board giving reaches 100 %.
• Board Management and Engagement: partner with the Executive Director to manage the Board throughout the year and during quarterly meetings; maintain financial and non‑financial engagement to ensure board retention and satisfaction; co‑chair the Advisory Board’s Development Committee to align board and staff on development initiatives, events, and the annual gala.
• Corporate and Foundation Management: establish corporate and foundation strategy; support the regional grant writer in managing relationships and communications with corporate and foundation funders; work to increase multi‑year corporate and foundation gifts.
• Fundraising Events: collaborate with the Development Consultant and Executive Director to manage special events that raise awareness and funds for City Year, including the Annual Gala, specialty market events, and private receptions.
• City Year Culture: represent, respect, and role‑model City Year’s culture and values internally as a senior leader and externally as an organizational representative; help share the mission locally to increase brand awareness.
• Organizational Management: help shape organizational strategy and lead implementation of the site’s local operating and multi‑year strategic plan as a member of the Senior Leadership Team; work collaboratively with other site departments and City Year’s national headquarters; ensure accurate maintenance of donor records in Salesforce and local files.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of progressive fundraising/development experience with a proven track record of securing multi‑year giving.
• BA/BS required; preference given to MBAs, MPPs, or other relevant advanced degrees.
• Solid, persuasive writing skills.
• Experience serving on diverse teams.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Knowledge of the Buffalo donor community preferred.
• Strong and efficient use of Microsoft Office; knowledge of Salesforce a plus.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of young adults in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial team environment.

Pay

Salary range: $70,000 – $78,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• Eligibility for full suite of benefits including vacation, sick days, and organization holidays.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to company policy.