Development Director

Our mission is made possible through the hard work and dedication of our valued employees. We foster a professional, supportive work environment grounded in compassion, collaboration, respectful and open communication, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to adaptability and growth.

Development Director

Development

Full-Time, Exempt

Executive Director

Monday - Friday, Occasional Weekend & Evening Availability

$62,000 - $88,000 (Based on experience)

The Development Director provides strategic leadership and oversight of fundraising at Blue Ridge Humane Society (BRHS), including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor stewardship, corporate partnerships, grants, and special events. This position develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies that advance the mission and support financial sustainability and long-term growth.

As a member of the leadership team, the Development Director works closely with the Executive Director and departmental staff to set priorities, achieve revenue goals, strengthen donor relationships, and identify growth opportunities. The Director is accountable for departmental performance, staff supervision, resource stewardship, and evaluation of fundraising effectiveness.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate an annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational priorities, budgeted revenue goals, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead fundraising strategies for major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, grants, and special events.
• Establish measurable goals, performance indicators, revenue projections, and departmental priorities; adjust strategies based on results.
• Identify opportunities to diversify revenue, acquire and retain donors, and increase long-term philanthropic support.
• Build and expand the planned giving program, including cultivation and stewardship of bequest and legacy-giving prospects.

• Supervise and support development staff through clear expectations, regular coaching, timely feedback, professional development, and performance evaluations.
• Coordinate departmental priorities, workloads, timelines, and collaboration across fundraising, donor relations, events, and communications.
• Foster a respectful, accountable, and collaborative departmental culture aligned with BRHS values.
• Develop and maintain departmental procedures, workflows, and systems that promote efficiency, accuracy, and continuity.
• Collaborate with other department leaders to advance organization-wide priorities and ensure effective internal communication.

• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospective supporters, including cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and documented next steps.
• Develop coordinated strategies for donor identification, acquisition, retention, upgrades, recognition, and re-engagement.
• Work to improve the donor experience, stewardship practices, and retention outcomes.
• Ensure timely, accurate, personalized acknowledgments and respect for donor intent and confidentiality.
• Build relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, and community partners; represent BRHS at donor meetings and community functions.

• Provide strategic oversight of fundraising and donor engagement events to ensure mission alignment, clear goals, and responsible use of resources.
• Partner with the Events Manager on sponsorship strategy, event budgets, fundraising goals, and post-event evaluation.
• Assess event net revenue, cost-effectiveness, donor engagement, and opportunities for ongoing relationship development.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Marketing & Communications Manager on appeals, newsletters, annual reports, impact updates, and other donor communications.
• Ensure fundraising messages accurately reflect BRHS programs, outcomes, funding needs, and mission.
• Provide strategic direction for grant opportunities and proposals, coordinating with program staff to obtain accurate outcomes and supporting information.
• Promote consistent donor messaging and coordinated fundraising and communications calendars.

• Develop and manage the department budget in collaboration with the Executive Director; monitor fundraising revenue and…