Director of Development

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The Director of Development is responsible for ensuring that the organization has necessary funding to function. This means the director of development creates and implements a fundraising plan detailing how the organization can obtain financial support; often, the plan identifies sources such as individual investors, grants, charitable events, marketing opportunities, and corporate investors. The fundraising plan also contains strategies to successfully build a large donor base and ensure effective fundraising. The director of development then reports this plan to the other senior leadership and the organization’s board of directors.

The director of development may be required to personally solicit donors, be responsible for the organization’s branding, and play a large role in the organization’s public relations strategies. Development Directors will oversee a development team which they would be responsible for staffing and maintaining.

To become a director of development, a bachelor’s degree is not required, but preferred usually in business or a related field. A director of development would also be required to have at least two years of experience in a non-profit position or similar fundraising experience. Prospective directors must be familiar with operational processes in nonprofits and legalities surrounding non-profit fundraising techniques. Director of Development, Non-Profit Organization Tasks

• Oversees fundraising: research foundations and corporations, and oversee or implement other fundraising strategies.
• May also be responsible for the financial condition of the organization along with business development.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan to raise funds for their organization in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.