Development Director

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) empowers and supports students throughout Southeast Michigan to achieve post‑secondary success. Founded in 1990, DRDFS provides equitable opportunities for students to access and earn a post‑secondary degree, reach their goals, and strengthen our communities.

Through our Next Level Scholars Program, scholars are engaged beginning in 10th grade and continue through post‑secondary credential or degree attainment. The program inspires and prepares students to pursue post‑secondary education, accomplished through tailored campus visits, SAT preparation, leadership workshops, FAFSA completion, one‑on‑one coaching and more. DRDFS awards each scholar a $4,000 scholarship upon high school graduation and continues to provide resources, coaching and support until they earn a post‑secondary degree or credential.

Our students outpace their peers in post‑secondary enrollment, persistence, and graduation, a point of pride for the organization.

Over the past 35 years, what started as a small group of committed neighbors who established the organization to support their local school has evolved into a comprehensive, award‑winning post‑secondary access and success program, serving 16 partner high schools and more than 1,000 students across Southeast Michigan annually.

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) is seeking a strategic, results‑driven Development Director to lead and grow the organization’s fundraising efforts in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. This role is responsible for the overall direction, execution, and performance of DRDFS’s fundraising strategy and serves as a key member of the organization’s leadership team.

The Development Director will oversee all fundraising functions, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based fundraising initiatives. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of major donors, the Development Director will oversee fundraising systems, budgets, and performance tracking to ensure sustainable growth and alignment with organizational priorities.

This role also provides direct supervision and strategic leadership to the development and communications team and plays a central role in engaging board members and volunteers as active partners in fundraising. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of fundraising success, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategy with hands‑on execution in a dynamic nonprofit environment.

As part of the leadership team, the Development Director will help advance DRDFS’s mission of empowering students to achieve post‑secondary success by building meaningful, long‑term relationships with individuals, foundations, schools, and businesses across the region, while modeling the organization’s values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This is a full‑time position based in Plymouth, MI with a predominantly in‑office work environment from 8am‑5pm M‑F.

• Lead the organization’s overall fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Develop, execute, and monitor annual and long‑term fundraising plans aligned with organizational priorities and revenue goals.
• Manage fundraising budgets, revenue forecasting, performance tracking, and regular reporting to leadership and Board.
• Ensure fundraising systems, processes, and data support effective decision‑making and sustainable growth.
• Lead and execute all fundraising programs, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, events, and school‑based fundraising initiatives.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Ensure fundraising activities are mission‑aligned, donor‑centered, and designed to deepen long‑term engagement.
• Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision to the development and communications team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Facilitate, recruit, support, and partner with fundraising and event committees to advance fundraising goals.
• Develop and equip…