Development Director

Girl Scouts of the USA•Madison, WI

19h

About The Position

The Development Director leads fundraising initiatives for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland, with responsibility for growing and diversifying revenue through grants, individual giving, sponsorships, and related campaigns. The role oversees the grant cycle—from identifying opportunities and writing proposals through execution and reporting—and supports entry-level gifts and departmental administration. The director works with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other institutional donors and prospects to secure funding for organizational programs and initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Development Director works across departments to identify fundable opportunities, communicate program impact, and coordinate fundraising messaging and collateral with the Marketing and Communications team. The position also supports donor engagement and events, maintains development data and tracking systems, assists with the development budget, and applies fund development best practices. The role is based in Madison, Wisconsin, requires 37.5 hours per week, and involves anticipated travel of 25% or less. The employee must be able to work in an office and independently off-site, and occasionally work irregular hours, including nights and weekends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public administration, or a related field.
At least 2 years of progressive experience in grant writing and fund development.
Demonstrated success securing gifts, grants, and corporate or foundation sponsorships.
Experience managing annual campaigns and donor engagement strategies.
Experience managing grants from identification through reporting.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate the impact of the Girl Scout mission compellingly.
Ability and sensitivity when working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles.
Ability to master and use data-tracking platforms.
Strong project management skills and an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a focus on execution and action.
Relationship-building skills and demonstrated ability to motivate and collaborate across the organization.
Proactive team player able to contribute at multiple levels while maintaining a big-picture, systems-thinking perspective.
Strong work ethic, curiosity, learning orientation, integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.
Must be or become a registered member of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, have a working knowledge of Girl Scout philosophy and programming, and be committed to the Girl Scout mission.
Must be able to occasionally work irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
Must be able to work in an office setting and independently off-site.
Must be able to sit for prolonged periods, work on a computer, operate office equipment, and lift or move up to 25 pounds at times.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience with cloud-based platforms, Salesforce, and Donor Perfect.
Prior Girl Scout experience is not required.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead fundraising strategies to grow and diversify revenue across grants and individual giving.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation and corporate sponsorships for events, programs, and strategic initiatives.
Manage grant acquisition, including research, proposal writing, submission, execution, and reporting.
Assist with annual appeal campaigns using data-driven segmentation, personalized outreach, and donor engagement.
Assist with fundraising and engagement events that build donor relationships, raise visibility, and showcase program impact.
Prepare donor communications, including proposals, acknowledgments, impact updates, and customized reports.
Maintain accurate data entry and pipeline management in council CRM systems to support segmentation, tracking, and targeted engagement.
Collaborate across departments to identify fundable opportunities and develop narratives reflecting program success and organizational goals.
Maintain a calendar and tracking system for grants and campaigns, including deadlines, submissions, and outcomes.
Work with Marketing and Communications to coordinate Fund Development messaging, branding, and outreach across platforms.
Stay current with fund development practices, donor trends, and emerging tools.
Assist with the development budget, track expenditures, and support financial accountability.
Model Girl Scout values and ensure communications align with the vision of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin—Badgerland.