Director of Development

PNP Staffing Group is excited to have been retained by “I Have A Dream” Foundation to lead their search for a Director of Development.

Founded 45 years ago, the “I Have A Dream” Foundation (IHDF) is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower children from under-resourced communities to succeed in school and career by providing academic, social, and emotional support from elementary school through post-secondary pathways, along with a post-secondary scholarship. Our dream is a world where every child has equal access to the educational and career opportunities that will ignite their innate potential.

IHDF seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and politically savvy Director of Development to lead its comprehensive fundraising and partnership strategy. This is a senior leadership role that will shape the future of IHDF’s national impact by securing transformational resources to expand educational equity and postsecondary success for under-resourced youth nationwide. This is a high-impact, highly visible position, collaborating closely with the CEO, CG&PO, and Board of Directors.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable in boardrooms, community sites, and Capitol Hill meetings—leveraging relationships and resources to support IHDF’s mission.

Strategic Revenue Growth: Design and lead a bold, multi-channel revenue strategy that supports IHDF’s long-term vision—integrating individual philanthropy, corporate partnerships, foundation and government funding, and innovative new revenue streams. Set and achieve ambitious annual and multi-year goals ($6M+ annually), leveraging data-driven insights and market trends to optimize fundraising efforts. Oversee the development budget and monitor progress against key performance metrics.

Government & Policy Partnerships: Forge and deepen strategic relationships with local, state, and federal agencies to position IHDF as a trusted partner and thought leader in youth development and educational equity. Proactively identify and secure government grants that align with IHDF’s mission, and leverage policy opportunities to expand our impact.

Major Donor & Corporate Engagement: Build and deepen transformational relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporate leaders, and institutional funders, aligning their passion and resources with IHDF’s bold vision for educational equity. Design and execute innovative engagement and stewardship strategies that inspire sustained giving, multi-year commitments, and mission-driven partnerships.

Grant Writing: Drive and implement all grant-writing efforts—identifying and researching funding opportunities, developing compelling and mission-aligned proposals, managing deadlines, and cultivating relationships with foundation and institutional funders. Focus on securing and growing annual grant revenue with the development team to sustain and expand IHDF’s programs.

Signature Events & Campaigns: Lead the execution of IHDF’s flagship annual fundraiser, the Spirit of the Dream Gala, which generates $1M+ annually. Provide strategic oversight of event operations, messaging, and donor engagement, serving as a key solicitor of major gifts. Partner with the team to design and approve innovative digital campaigns—such as graduation celebrations, back-to-school drives, Giving Tuesday, and internship spotlights—to inspire donor participation and grow revenue.

Data-Driven Development: Leverage Salesforce and other analytics tools to transform donor and campaign data into strategic insights that shape the organization’s development strategy. Collaborate with the Development Manager to optimize data systems, track key performance indicators, and uncover trends that drive innovation in fundraising. Provide the CEO, senior leadership, and Board with forward-looking analyses and recommendations to strengthen donor engagement, grow revenue, and advance IHDF’s long-term sustainability.

Communications & Brand Positioning: Provide strategic oversight and approval of all development-related communications — including newsletters, donor emails, acknowledgment…