Development Director
A development director leads a nonprofit's fundraising strategy, manages the development team, and oversees donor relationships, campaigns, and revenue goals.
A development director is the senior staff member responsible for planning and executing a nonprofit's fundraising strategy. They oversee donor relationships, manage fundraising campaigns, lead the development team, and work closely with the executive director and board on revenue goals.
Why It Matters for Fundraising
The development director is often the single most impactful hire a nonprofit can make. A skilled development director builds sustainable revenue streams, cultivates major donors, and creates systems that grow giving over time. High turnover in this role — unfortunately common in nonprofits — disrupts donor relationships and stalls fundraising momentum.
Key Responsibilities
Development directors typically manage the annual fund, major gift cultivation, grant writing, planned giving, special events, and donor stewardship programs. They set fundraising goals, track metrics, manage donor databases, and report to leadership on progress. In smaller organizations, they may handle all of these personally; in larger ones, they lead a team.