Director of Development

Job Description Overview

The Director of Development (DOD) is a high-performing fundraiser who is eager to build, grow, and drive measurable impact; responsible for developing, managing, and executing GUGCS’s annual development plan. The ideal candidate will help scale fundraising, deepen donor relationships, and build a development operation s is an opportunity for a dynamic hands-on leader - an entrepreneurial fundraiser - who wants meaningful ownership and the chance to increase the impact that GUGCS makes in the communities that we serve.

The DOD will have a clear grasp of all core components of development: individual giving, including major gifts, stewardship, and annual giving campaigns (direct mail and digital); institutional foundations and grant writing; and corporate partnerships and sponsor ships. This role requires experience with development operations, including CRM management and budget building. The DOD will work closely with the Director of Family Engagement & Communications, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and interface frequently with GUGCS donors, teachers, staff, and community, and will be the lead partner in promoting an organizational culture of philanthropy.

The DOD will join the leadership team, reporting to our Founder and Executive Director and the COO and bring a passion for our mission paired with a high-level of expertise and strategic thinking to generate revenue that will support achievement of our long-term growth goals

• Partner with the Director of Family Engagement & Communications to engage with GUGCS staff, faculty, donors, alumni, and other community members to truly understand our mission, vision, and culture to strengthen development communications
• Represent development needs to the Leadership Team, ensuring organizational strategy is aligned with development strategy
• Execute, iterate, and update the existing development plan to accomplish organizational goals as they evolve, incorporating new ideas, industry best practices, and data-driven analysis
• Ensure a robust gift pipeline big enough to hit annual revenue goals by actively managing prospective and current individual, business, and foundation donors
• Cultivate relationships with the Board of Trustees and lead the board’s fundraising efforts
• Contribute positively to Growing Up Green’s culture and lead with GUGCS’s values: kindness, collaboration, courage, and social justice

• Research and design moves management plans for major individual donors and project-manage the ED’s fundraising work as it relates to major donors and funders
• Design and execute annual appeals, with support from the Director of Family Engagement & Communications
• Utilize existing data to create, launch, and manage a recurring giving program
• Ensure the day-to-day stewardship and retention of new and returning donors, including managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors
• Collaborate with the ED to develop long-term strategies for GUGCS’s annual Read-A-Thon
• Plan and execute at least one large annual fundraising event that includes fundraising goals and innovative strategies to achieve them
• Ensure post-fundraising event follow-up including thank you letters, surveys, tracking of responses, integration of feedback, and overall acknowledgement and stewardship of fundraisers and donors
• Manage the execution of Growing Up Green’s donor stewardship plan and update it annually with new and meaningful ways to connect donors and foster greater sense of community

• Launch a structured corporate partners program that deepens the relationship between GUGCS and local businesses and provides a mutually beneficial partnership
• Strategically research and pursue prospective foundation funders. Identify top prospects and outreach, relationship build, and cultivate
• Lead and project manage all grant opportunities including working with GUGCS staff to complete necessary information for applications, grant writing, and the reporting schedule

• Establish and monitor annual and long-term…