Director of Development
About the role
Catholic Charities has been serving individuals and families across southeast Wisconsin since 1920. Inspired by Catholic social teaching, we believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Our programs provide professional, compassionate human services to children, families, and adults who are seeking support, stability, and hope in the midst of life's challenges. Join an organization where mission, professionalism, and service come together to make a difference in people's lives. Catholic Charities has been recognized by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as a Top Workplace annually since 2020.
Responsibilities
As the Director of Development, you will provide strategic leadership for Catholic Charities' fundraising priorities and lead the growth of philanthropic support for our social services across southeastern Wisconsin. In this senior advancement role, you will be a key relationship-builder with donors, parishes, and clergy. You will focus on cultivating major donors, expanding planned giving, strengthening parish engagement, and using data-informed strategies to grow revenue and donor impact in line with agency goals.
- Cultivate New Major Donors: Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new donors with capacity to give $10,000 or more annually, building a strong pipeline of major gift prospects.
- Grow Existing Major Donor Relationships: Strengthen relationships with current donors giving $10,000 or more through personalized engagement, stewardship plans, mission-centered communications, and strategic asks.
- Interface with CSA and LOA Development Efforts: Support and coordinate fundraising strategies connected to the Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA) and Love One Another (LOA).
- Advance Planned Giving: Develop and implement strategies to identify, educate, cultivate, and steward planned giving prospects and legacy donors.
- Plan Major Donor Events: Lead planning and execution of high-impact major donor gatherings, including Mass and dinner events with the Archbishop, to deepen engagement and inspire philanthropic commitment.
- Develop Corporate Partnerships: Cultivate and strengthen relationships with corporate partners to secure event sponsorships and