Development Director

This position will remain open until filled.

Remote Status:Occasional remote working capability for this position is determined by employee’s supervisor.

Early Connections Learning Centers is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high quality early care and education for ALL children. Every position works in coordination to achieve this mission. Since 1897, our work to provide high quality early childhood education has positively impacted thousands of children and families in the Pikes Peak region. Our nationally accredited programs help build a strong foundation for young children to be happy and successful in learning and life.

Our Community Engagement team manages the fundraising and marketing efforts for our organization. Our Development Director is a critical member of the team and leads the fundraising efforts of Early Connections to include general operating fundraising, capital campaigns, and special events. The inclination, skill, and ability to maintain a personal portfolio of principal, major, and planned gift donors are core expectations of this position.

• Serves as a champion for children by elevating the mission, values, and organizational culture
• Develops and drives execution of fundraising plan to meet all fundraising goals
• Maintains a personal portfolio of principal, major, and planned gift donors and must be comfortable with face‑to‑face solicitation
• Ensures successful oversight and stewardship of assets/resources
• Designs, implements, and administers donor acquisition programs to include special events, annual and capital campaigns, and specific program fundraising
• Conducts prospect identification, screening, and rating
• Prepares statistical reports related to all fundraising activities
• Designs, implements, and maintains legacy and major gift societies
• Manages donor recognition and relations to maintain donor retention rates
• Oversees and manages special events for donors
• Plans and executes the organization’s major fundraising event
• Researches relevant external data, including information and statistics relevant to early childhood education, health needs, etc.
• Assists the VP of Community Engagement with tour requests, scheduling, and leading tours

Performs other duties as required.

• A relationship‑centered development professional who builds authentic connections with donors, partners, staff, and community stakeholders
• A proactive, self‑directed leader who takes ownership, follows through, and manages priorities with minimal supervision
• Strong judgment, discretion, and professionalism when representing the organization and handling sensitive information
• Mission‑driven and aligned with Early Connections’ work, values, and long‑term organizational success
• Able to balance strategy and execution — comfortable setting direction while also managing details, timelines, and follow‑through
• Confident and compelling communicator who can tell the organization’s story in a way that inspires investment and engagement
• Collaborative and enterprise‑minded, with the ability to work across departments and connect fundraising efforts to broader organizational needs
• Organized, dependable, and consistent in managing donor relationships, events, campaigns, grants, and reporting requirements
• Comfortable using data, donor systems, and fundraising metrics to guide decisions and strengthen development practices
• Professional, warm, and credible presence in the community

• Demonstrated successful experience in resource development and fundraising
• Experience cultivating relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, and community partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare donor communications, proposals, reports and presentations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and donor/customer relationship management systems
• Experience working within customer relationship management (CRM) databases such as Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Bloomerang, Donor Perfect, or similar platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Knowledge of local philanthropic, civic, and business…