Director of Development, National Capital Region Chapter

About the role

Blue Star Families is the largest nonprofit dedicated to making military life better for families. Each year, we support over 1.5 million military- and veteran-connected family members through a national network of 300,000+ members and local chapters in communities across the country. Our mission is simple and bold: We make military life awesome for families. We listen, share, partner, and act to deliver evidence-based, data-driven solutions that work for real people. We’re a lifestyle organization, a friend and neighbor, and a trusted partner. Our approach is collaborative, human-centered, and designed with the whole family in mind. A Blue Star Family is one with an immediate family member — a spouse, parent, or child — actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Guard and Reserves. These families face unique challenges: frequent relocations, deployments, career disruption, and isolation. We respond with research-informed programs that create connection, build resilience, and foster a true sense of belonging. We serve with urgency but build trust over time — because change happens at the speed of trust. Whether we’re driving spouse employment, supporting caregivers, or helping communities welcome military families, we strive for upstream solutions.

The Director, Development for the National Capital Region “Flagship” Chapter is responsible for assisting in local fundraising efforts, cultivating donor relationships, and supporting the development of strategic partnerships to support the chapter’s financial sustainability and growth. This role partners closely with the Chapter Executive Director and the national Development team to align local fundraising strategies with Blue Star Families’ mission and organizational goals. The Director will steward a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors and support grant writing and reporting in collaboration with the national team. While this role is remote, periodic out-of-town, overnight travel is an essential function. In-person time is critical to how we work — enabling deep collaboration, team alignment, creative problem-solving, and a shared sense of purpose. Team members are expected to travel several times per year for offsites, planning sessions, and company-wide gatherings. These events are essential for contributing to team outcomes, building trust across the organization, and staying aligned in a distributed environment. Participation in these in-person gatherings is a required part of the role and integral to successful performance in our remote-first organization. The Director must reside in the local community the Chapter serves. Preference will be given to candidates who have resided in the designated Chapter community for a minimum of the past three years. Location: Remote/Virtual, within the DC Metro area.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Director with the local fundraising strategy to meet or exceed chapter revenue goals.
• Meet or exceed an annual fundraising goal of at least $100,000.
• Build, qualify, and actively manage a portfolio of at least 30 new major