Fund Development Director
Job Description
Position: Fund Development Director
Department: Fund Development
Reports To: CEO
FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt
Position Summary
The Fund Development Director leads CRH's efforts to build a sustainable philanthropic model for the organization — one that significantly increases private revenue, strengthens donor engagement, and positions CRH for long-term financial resilience. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising program that reduces reliance on government funding and expands individual, corporate, foundation, and planned giving.
The Fund Development serves as a key partner to the CEO and Board of Directors, driving fundraising strategy, personally leading major gift cultivation and solicitation, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy across the organization. As a member of the leadership team, the Fund Development Director works in close collaboration with program, finance, and communications staff to align all development activities with CRH's strategic and programmatic priorities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy, Revenue Accountability & Funding Diversification
- Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-channel fund development plan to grow individual, corporate, foundation, and planned giving
- Establish and achieve annual fundraising goals and contributed revenue targets as approved by the CEO; maintain accountability for meeting those targets
- Monitor results, evaluate effectiveness, and adjust strategy as needed to meet or exceed revenue goals
- Lead organizational efforts to diversify funding by reducing reliance on government sources and significantly growing private philanthropic revenue
- Identify new revenue streams and partnerships to strengthen CRH's long-term financial resilience
- Partner with the CEO and Board to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities and program needs
Major Gifts & Donor Stewardship
- Personally cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, including transformational and leadership-level donations
- Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors with individualized engagement, recognition, and stewardship strategies
- Develop and execute strategies for donor upgrades, retention, and moves management across all giving levels
- Oversee donor stewardship across the full donor pipeline to ensure meaningful engagement and long-term loyalty
- Provide leadership and support for donor cultivation activities including meetings, site tours, and cultivation events
Prospect Research & Pipeline Development
- Lead efforts to identify, research, and qualify new individual, corporate, and foundation donor prospects
- Maintain a robust and growing donor pipeline through systematic prospecting, screening, and qualification
- Leverage wealth screening tools, board networks, and community intelligence to surface high-potential opportunities
- Establish moves management protocols and ensure consistent pipeline review and portfolio assignments
Planned Giving & Legacy Giving
- Develop and grow a planned giving program to build long-term philanthropic sustainability for CRH
- Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects, including estate gifts, bequests, and other deferred giving vehicles
- Partner with legal and financial advisors as appropriate to support donors in completing planned gifts
- Integrate planned giving into donor stewardship and major gifts work to deepen lifetime donor relationships
Institutional Giving & Grant Management
- Research and pursue foundation and corporate grant opportunities aligned with CRH's evolving programs and community impact
- Oversee grant proposal development and reporting in collaboration with program and finance staff
- Maintain strong relationships with foundation officers and institutional partners
- Ensure timely, accurate grant reporting and compliance with all funder requirements
Fundraising Events, Campaigns & Donor Appeals
- Provide strategic oversight of all fundraising events, ensuring they support revenue goals, donor engagement, and stewardship objectives
- Lead annual fundraising campaigns, appeals, and giving initiatives, including online and direct-mail programs
- Develop and execute special campaigns or initiatives to support program transitions and organizational priorities
- Oversee all development-related donor communications in collaboration with the communications team to ensure mission-centered, consistent messaging
Community Engagement & External Representation
- Represent CRH in the community at civic, philanthropic, and corporate events to increase organizational visibility and philanthropic support
- Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, corporate partners, and philanthropic stakeholders
- Serve as an ambassador for CRH's mission, articulating organizational impact with clarity and passion
- Leverage external relationships to identify and cultivate new donor prospects and partnership opportunities
Board Partnership & Development Committee Leadership
- Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board Fund Development Committee
- Partner with the Board to set fundraising priorities, track progress, and engage members in donor outreach
- Provide fundraising training and tools to empower board members as effective ambassadors and solicitors
- Support CEO and Board in advancing key donor relationships and closing significant gifts
Development Operations, Data & Reporting
- Manage and optimize CRH's donor database (CRM), ensuring accurate records, timely acknowledgments, and data integrity
- Establish and enforce moves management protocols, prospect assignment processes, and portfolio review cadences
- Monitor fundraising metrics and provide regular progress reports to the CEO and Board
- Use data to inform strategy, improve donor retention, and identify growth opportunities
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position directly supervises the Communications & Outreach Coordinator.