Director of Development

Position Summary

The Director of Development is a strategic and relationship-driven fundraising leader responsible for advancing Waterbury Promise's philanthropic vision and ensuring its long-term financial sustainability. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position will lead all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, government funding opportunities, planned giving, special events, donor cultivation and stewardship, and board engagement.

In FY26, Waterbury Promise raised more than $3.1 million to support scholars from Waterbury. Building upon this strong foundation, the Director of Development will expand and diversify revenue streams, deepen donor engagement, cultivate transformational partnerships, and implement innovative fundraising strategies that position the organization for continued growth.

The successful candidate is a collaborative leader with exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic vision, and a proven record of securing major gifts and leading comprehensive fundraising programs. They will use data, storytelling, and community engagement to inspire philanthropy in greater Waterbury, across the region, and beyond.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Executive Director and senior leadership to develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year development strategy that is aligned with organizational priorities and supports Waterbury Promise’s continued growth. Over time, build the infrastructure for transformational philanthropy by establishing a planned giving program, cultivating legacy donors, and collaborating with leadership to create a permanent endowment that will support the organization’s mission for generations to come.
• Develop annual fundraising goals, revenue projections, and measurable performance indicators.
• Expand and diversify philanthropic revenue to support annual operating needs and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Monitor fundraising performance using data and analytics, providing regular reports and recommendations to leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Identify emerging philanthropic trends and recommend innovative fundraising strategies.

Fundraising & Revenue Growth

Lead and oversee all fundraising initiatives, including:

• Major Gifts
• Annual Giving
• Corporate Partnerships
• Foundation Relations
• Government Grants
• Planned Giving
• Special Events
• Digital Fundraising Campaigns

Responsibilities include:

• Build, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual major donors and prospective supporters.
• Develop personalized engagement strategies that increase donor retention and lifetime giving.
• Expand corporate partnerships that support scholarships, career readiness, internships, and scholar success initiatives.
• Create comprehensive annual giving campaigns utilizing direct mail, email marketing, social media, video storytelling, and online giving platforms.
• Manage and write all grant applications, proposals, and reports.
• Develop and manage an annual grants calendar, ensuring timely submission of proposals and reporting requirements.
• Plan and manage all fundraising events, including annual signature events, donor cultivation experiences, and online campaigns. Oversee event planning, sponsorship solicitation, volunteer committees, marketing and logistics.
• Research and pursue new funding opportunities from private, corporate, state, and federal sources.

Board & Community Engagement

• Partner with the Executive Director to support Board members in fundraising, donor cultivation, and ambassador activities.
• Recruit and support members of the Development Committee and event planning committees.
• Represent Waterbury Promise within the community through civic organizations, business networks, and philanthropic partnerships.
• Build relationships with local, state and federal officials, business leaders, foundations, and community stakeholders to advance the organization's mission and advocacy efforts.

Development Operations

• Oversee the organization's CRM and donor management system to ensure data integrity. Manage accurate and timely data entry, gift acknowledgment, prospect management, reporting, and analytics while continuously improving systems and processes to enhance fundraising effectiveness and donor stewardship.
• Utilize donor segmentation and analytics to improve cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention.
• Develop dashboards and reports to evaluate fundraising performance.
• Implement technology solutions that strengthen donor communications and increase online giving.

Team Leadership

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on philanthropy and relationship building.
• Meet regularly with team members to establish goals, and request support as needed.
• Support and attend professional development opportunities that strengthen fundraising capacity.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure development efforts align with program impact and organizational communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience within nonprofit, higher education, or social impact organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing major individuals gifts, six- and seven-figure gifts from corporations, foundations, and public funding sources.
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong donor relationships resulting in increased philanthropic investment.
• Experience developing comprehensive fundraising strategies and managing multiple revenue streams.
• Experience securing state and/or federal funding preferred.
• Strong knowledge of major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grant writing, corporate partnerships, stewardship, and fundraising events.
• Experience working closely with executive leadership and Boards of Directors.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, donor analytics, and fundraising technology.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling cases for support.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and creating opportunities for historically underrepresented students.
• Passion for Waterbury Promise's mission and belief in the transformative power of higher education.