Director of Development

Life Act is a Northeast Ohio nonprofit dedicated to preventing suicide by educating young people to recognize the warning signs of suicide and seek professional help for themselves and others. Through school-based suicide prevention and stress management programs, Life Act provides students with critical knowledge and tools to support their mental health and connect with help when needed.

Last school year, Life Act reached more than 35,000 students in 136 schools, helping young people recognize when they or someone they know may need support.

As demand for our programs continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced fundraising professional to help strengthen and expand the philanthropic partnerships that make this work possible.

About the Opportunity

Life Act is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts and help build a sustainable, diversified revenue base.

This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on fundraiser who enjoys meeting people, building meaningful relationships, and securing philanthropic support for a mission that matters.

Working closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and development team, the Director will lead major gifts, individual giving, corporate partnerships, annual fundraising campaigns, planned giving, and event fundraising.

Life Act has established support for grant writing, donor database management, gift processing, acknowledgments, and reporting. We're looking for someone who can build on that foundation by focusing on what they do best:
cultivating relationships, making the ask, and generating revenue.

What You'll Do

Build Relationships & Secure Gifts

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and major gift prospects.
• Manage an active portfolio of donors and personally conduct cultivation meetings and gift solicitations.
• Develop strategies to acquire new donors, increase retention, and grow individual giving.
• Partner with the CEO on major gift opportunities and significant donor relationships.
• Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan with clear revenue goals and measurable outcomes.
• Lead Life Act's Annual Fund and strategies to increase unrestricted support.
• Identify opportunities to diversify revenue and expand philanthropic partnerships.
• Relaunch and grow Life Act's planned and legacy giving program.
• Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to achieve goals.

Grow Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

• Cultivate corporate sponsors, business leaders, and community funding partners.
• Develop opportunities for businesses to invest in Life Act's mission and programs.
• Strengthen relationships with foundations and institutional funders.
• Collaborate with our Development Specialist to support grant opportunities, proposals, and foundation stewardship.

Support Events & Community Engagement

• Provide fundraising leadership for Life Act's signature events, including Links for Life and Move for Mental Health.
• Develop sponsorship strategies and secure event support.
• Work with volunteers, committees, and community partners to maximize fundraising success.
• Provide leadership and direction to the development team.
• Partner with the CEO to engage Board members in fundraising and donor cultivation.
• Establish clear fundraising priorities, goals, and accountability.
• Build a collaborative, results-oriented approach to philanthropy across the organization.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, major gifts, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated success cultivating donors and personally securing philanthropic gifts.
• Strong relationship‑building and interpersonal skills.
• Confidence in making financial asks and engaging donors in meaningful conversations.
• Experience with…