Development Director

Description

Position Title:

Development Director

Reports To:

Chief Executive Officer

Employment Status:
Salary/Exempt

The Development Director is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as the organization’s chief fundraising strategist, responsible for leading philanthropic revenue efforts for the Billings Leadership Foundation, Montana Rescue Mission, and Friendship House.

The Development Director works closely with the CEO to provide visionary leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive fundraising strategies that generate sustainable philanthropic support through major gifts, annual giving, foundations, corporations, planned giving, capital campaigns, special initiatives, and donor stewardship.

The successful candidate will be a highly relational, strategic, and accountable leader who demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, exceptional communication, integrity, humility, and a commitment to excellence. This position requires proactive leadership, disciplined execution, measurable results, and a passion for inspiring generosity that transforms lives.

• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, helping shape organizational strategy and long‑term sustainability.
• Partner closely with the CEO in advancing the organization’s vision, strategic priorities, and philanthropic initiatives.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual and multi‑year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Establish measurable fundraising objectives with monthly, quarterly, and annual benchmarks.
• Evaluate fundraising performance regularly and recommend strategic adjustments.
• Develop contingency plans when fundraising goals are at risk.
• Maintain a high level of collaboration with Finance, Programs, and Operations to ensure fundraising efforts accurately reflect organizational priorities and impact.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

• Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 qualified major gift prospects and donors.
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for major donors.
• Coordinate donor visits, proposals, and solicitations in partnership with the CEO.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward transformational philanthropic investments.
• Prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, and personalized donor communications.
• Maintain detailed donor strategies and interaction records within the donor database.
• Ensure every significant donor receives timely, meaningful stewardship following gifts and key interactions.
• Build long‑term relationships founded on trust, authenticity, and mission impact.

• Lead the organization’s overall grant strategy, including working closely with the data and grants management support position.
• Supervise and support grant writing activities while maintaining responsibility for grant planning and prioritization.
• Develop long‑term relationships with foundation program officers.
• Identify new grant opportunities aligned with strategic priorities.
• Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar that includes submissions, reporting requirements, stewardship, renewals, and site visits.
• Ensure all grant reports are timely, accurate, compelling, and outcome‑focused.
• Monitor proposal success rates and continuously improve grant effectiveness.

• Lead all annual fundraising campaigns.
• Develop year‑end giving strategies.
• Coordinate seasonal campaigns.
• Plan and execute capital campaigns as assigned.
• Develop sponsorship opportunities and community fundraising initiatives.
• Identify innovative opportunities to diversify philanthropic revenue.

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive donor stewardship program.
• Ensure gifts are acknowledged promptly and personally.
• Coordinate impact reports, stewardship events, donor recognition, and appreciation initiatives.
• Develop strategies to increase donor retention and lifetime giving.
• Ensure donors experience exceptional care and communication throughout every stage of the donor journey.