Director of Development

Position Summary

Goddard House, a nonprofit leader in innovative approaches to healthy aging, seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven Director of Development to lead and grow its philanthropic program.

Job Id

Job Id: 3392

# of Openings

0

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the President & CEO to develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy and foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Develop and lead annual fundraising goals and strategies supporting programmatic priorities and capital and facility-related initiatives.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to articulate compelling opportunities for philanthropic support.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners, building and managing a robust pipeline of prospects.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects, building long-term relationships and securing significant philanthropic gifts.
• Lead major gift strategy and partner with the CEO and Board of Trustees to cultivate and solicit significant gifts.
• Expand the donor base by developing new opportunities for philanthropic engagement and making targeted asks across all giving levels.
• Represent Goddard House at donor events and community outreach activities.

Brand, Storytelling & Visibility

• Advance Creative Aging Connections (CAC) brand and storytelling to support fundraising and donor engagement; collaborate with the marketing team to align messaging.
• Strengthen Goddard House and CAC’s visibility through events, campaigns, partnerships, and public engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with program and leadership teams to ensure consistent messaging about mission and impact.

Board Engagement

• Support the Board of Trustees and Development Committee in advancing fundraising goals.
• Partner with board members to identify, engage and cultivate new donor prospects.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress and donor engagement.

Development Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee donor database management, gift tracking, and development reporting.
• Ensure effective stewardship and acknowledgment practices.
• Track key metrics including donor retention, acquisition, and revenue performance.
• Use fundraising data and donor analytics to inform strategy, forecasting, and performance tracking.
• Provide leadership and oversight for staff and external partners, including grant writers and consultants.

First-Year Priorities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy in partnership with the President & CEO.
• Expand the donor pipeline and increase philanthropic support for Creative Aging Connections.
• Cultivate relationships with residents, current and former families, and community supporters.
• Strengthen fundraising infrastructure, systems, and reporting organization-wide.
• Support the Board of Trustees and Development Committee in advancing fundraising engagement.

Key Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with demonstrated success meeting revenue goals.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Proven track record cultivating and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Experience managing a personal donor portfolio and building a strong fundraising pipeline aligned to annual revenue targets.
• Experience implementing or contributing to a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Experience managing donor databases and interpreting fundraising data.
• Highly organized with strong planning and project management abilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to grow fundraising initiatives.
• Passion for improving quality of life and wellbeing for older adults.

Preferred Experience

• In healthcare, aging services, arts, or community-based organizations.
• Experience with planned or legacy giving programs.

Compensation

$100,000 per year, commensurate with experience, plus a competitive benefits package.

About Goddard House

Goddard House is a nonprofit organization with more than 175 years of service to older adults in the Greater Boston community. Located in Brookline, Massachusetts, Goddard House operates an innovative assisted living and memory care community with 115 residences, including 17 affordable units. Goddard House is known for providing high-quality care and creative, enriching experiences that support purpose, autonomy, and engagement for residents. In addition to its residential community, Goddard House leads Creative Aging Connections, an initiative that sponsors and develops creative engagement programs and partnerships designed to expand access to creative aging opportunities across the region. Through these efforts, Creative Aging Connections engages more than 1,500 under-resourced older adults annually throughout the Greater Boston community, helping to reduce isolation and promote connection, wellbeing, and lifelong creativity. Together, these initiatives reflect Goddard House’s commitment to compassionate care, innovation in aging services, and expanding opportunities for meaningful engagement as people grow older.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Goddard House is committed to nurturing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where older adults, employees, families, and leadership are respected, valued, empowered, and feel a strong sense of belonging. Through compassion, innovation, collaboration, and curiosity, we deliver high-quality care, meaningful programs, and a supportive culture that upholds dignity and engagement for all.

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