Director of Development

Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy & Pipeline
• In collaboration with the CEO, set overall fundraising goals, manage revenue forecasts, and a multi-year development strategic plan
• Build and own a clear, data-informed pipeline across all donor types — foundations, corporate partners, HNWI, and grassroots — mapping opportunities by type, stage, and certainty, with Salesforce as the primary system of record
• Develop and manage an annual development budget, tracking progress against goals and reporting regularly to leadership
• Analyze philanthropic trends and funding landscapes to identify emerging opportunities aligned with Moms First's mission and growth goals
• Donor Engagement & External Relations
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and deepen relationships with a pool of key funders, Board members, and Advisory Council stakeholders
• Own relationships across all donor types with distinct strategies to grow and sustain each
• Pitch partnership and funding opportunities to C-level executives and foundation leaders; facilitate discovery and pitch meetings for the CEO
• Drive corporate partnership strategy, including securing and stewarding sponsorships tied to events and campaigns
• Lead the individual giving program with particular focus on HNWI as a growth opportunity, deploying tailored approaches including giving circles and 1:1 relationship management
• Review and approve grant proposals, reports, and foundation communications before submission, and oversee grant reporting with support from Development Manager
• Drive donor communications that keep supporters informed and connected to the impact of their investments
• Operations & Systems
• Optimize the systems, processes, and materials that enable the development function to prospect, cultivate, and close major gifts at scale
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures for development performance, delivering regular reviews to the CEO and senior leadership
• Frequently analyze fundraising targets and mark-to-market progress, operationalizing insights to keep the team on track
• Review and continuously improve external pitch materials, presentations, grant proposals, contracts, and reports
• Team & Culture
• Manage and mentor the Development Manager, setting clear goals and supporting their growth and effectiveness
• Serve as a player-coach for the development function — providing executive leadership while remaining hands-on in execution alongside the team
• Collaborate across functions to align development strategy with organizational narrative and programmatic priorities

Qualifications

• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive fundraising experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within a high-growth nonprofit, advocacy organization, or campaign environment
• Demonstrated success securing six and seven figure gifts and building transformative philanthropic partnerships
• Experience shaping and executing a multi-year development strategic plan, including building and managing a team
• The humility and low-ego orientation to thrive in a lean, collaborative environment — a genuine willingness to roll up your sleeves and do the work, not just direct it
• High level of adaptability in an environment with evolving team structures, with a penchant for embracing change and navigating ambiguity
• Strong communication and presentation skills; a compelling storyteller who can win hearts and minds, influence, and negotiate across diverse audiences
• Familiarity with Salesforce or a comparable CRM; comfort working in a data-informed environment
• Highly organized with a proven ability to manage multiple deadline-driven priorities while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience managing and developing direct reports
• Deep commitment to Moms First's mission and to diversity, equity, and inclusion