Senior Director of Development

Are you a mission-driven fundraising leader who is passionate about building relationships, growing philanthropic support, and helping students succeed? Communities In Schools of Ohio is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead and strengthen our fundraising efforts.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and hands‑on development professional who can balance big‑picture fundraising strategy with day‑to‑day execution. The Senior Director of Development will work closely with the CEO, Board, and internal teams to grow sustainable revenue, cultivate meaningful donor and partner relationships, and build the systems needed to support long‑term fundraising success.

The ideal candidate is a strong relationship builder, excellent communicator, skilled grant writer, and collaborative leader who is highly organized, results‑driven, and deeply committed to advancing the mission of Communities In Schools of Ohio.

At CIS of Ohio, our work is rooted in the belief that every student deserves a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. If you are passionate about nonprofit advancement, community impact, and creating opportunities for students and families across Ohio, we invite you to apply.

• Lead and execute an annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational priorities and revenue goals in partnership with the CEO.
• Manage a diversified fundraising portfolio including individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation and government grants, and sponsor ships.
• Work closely with the CEO to identify funding priorities and growth opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of short- and long-term fundraising goals and revenue targets.
• Build and maintain systems, processes, calendars, and tools that support consistent fundraising performance.
• Supervise and support the Development team member(s), providing clear direction and accountability.

• Lead the identification, development, and management of foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities.
• Maintain a comprehensive grant calendar including deadlines, reporting requirements, and renewals.
• Write and/or coordinate grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports.
• Partner with internal teams to gather budgets, outcomes, and program data for proposals and reporting.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality submission of all grant deliverables.

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Support the CEO and board members in donor engagement and fundraising conversations.
• Develop strategies to grow donor retention, recurring giving, and upgraded contributions.
• Support annual appeals, campaigns, and individual giving initiatives.

• Cultivate and grow relationships with corporate, foundation, and community partners.
• Identify new partnership opportunities aligned with mission and funding priorities.
• Manage sponsorship opportunities including corporate, school, and event sponsor ships.
• Ensure timely communication, recognition, and stewardship of partners.
• Represent CIS of Ohio at external meetings, events, and community engagements

• Develop and implement donor stewardship strategies that ensure timely acknowledgment and meaningful engagement.
• Collaborate with communications staff to support donor messaging, newsletters, impact storytelling, and fundraising campaigns.
• Ensure consistency and quality in donor communications and recognition efforts.
• Support fundraising events that strengthen relationships and increase visibility.

• Oversee the donor database, ensuring accurate tracking of gifts, pledges, sponsor ships, and grants.
• Maintain reporting systems to track fundraising progress and donor engagement.
• Provide regular updates on revenue performance to the CEO and Board as needed.
• Partner with finance staff to ensure accurate gift processing and reconciliation

• Support the CEO in engaging board members in…