Director, Development

the Ad Council

5d•$100,000 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

The Ad Council's Development team raises the financial capital that powers our mission. The department generates more than $14M in annual general operating support, manages the organization's 160-member Board of Directors, and collaborates cross-functionally to support the $10M Public Service Award Dinner, campaign fundraising, and corporate partnerships. Building on record revenue performance and a growing roster of world-class corporate partners, we are scaling our ambitions — and we are looking for a dynamic Director, Development to join the team. The Director, Development plays an integral role in the Ad Council's fundraising program by managing a portfolio of key corporate donors across Financial Services, Retail, CPG, Food & Beverage, Automotive, and Top 50 Brands — cultivating existing and identifying new relationships, developing and stewarding campaign partnerships, and tracking and reporting fundraising efforts. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, this is a pivotal individual contributor role. You will serve as a trusted advisor and strategic connector between corporate partners and Ad Council campaigns, driving both the deepening of existing partnerships and the cultivation of new ones. You'll manage a portfolio of high-value corporate relationships, and your contributions will translate directly into the resources that fuel our mission.

Requirements

6+ years of experience working in a high-performance professional environment in fundraising, sales, sponsorship or partnership development, or a role with substantial client relationship management and/or business development — ideally in nonprofit, marketing, media or agency environments.
Demonstrated track record of securing and growing multi-year, six-eight figure corporate partnerships or sales accounts.
Familiarity with the advertising/media/marketing industry and/or one or more target sectors: Financial Services, Retail, CPG, Food & Beverage, or Automotive.
Advanced ability to build and engage strategic partnerships with a broad network of stakeholders; fosters collaborative relationships across the organization, with vendors, and with external partners.
Outstanding communication and persuasion skills — able to represent the Ad Council, influence senior stakeholders, and drive engagement with expertise and authority.
Excellent project management track record; strong organizational and follow-up skills with close attention to detail; proven ability to plan, organize, monitor, and execute all aspects of a development role while holding oneself accountable to outcomes.
Comfort with variable travel to meet partners, attend industry conferences, and represent the Ad Council externally.
Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and accountable — with the desire to make work a fun and rewarding experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with top brands – ideally within marketing, communications, or CSR teams – with a feel for how large, matrixed organizations operate and how to build relationships across them.
Background in cause marketing, corporate social responsibility, or mission-driven communications.
Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM, Slack, AI, Canva, and Microsoft Office tools a plus.
Passion for social impact and an understanding of the role communications play in driving behavior

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of approximately 35 corporate donors across Financial Services, Retail, CPG, Food & Beverage, Automotive, and Top 50 Brands, responsible for raising approximately $3M+ in annual general operating support.
Conduct face-to-face donor meetings with Board members and high-level corporate executives to cultivate relationships and secure support.
Research, identify, and solicit new corporate donors; create a pipeline of new support to increase revenue year over year.
Develop compelling, customized partnership proposals and presentations that articulate the Ad Council's unique value proposition with clarity and authority.
Lead renewal strategy for existing accounts, identifying opportunities to expand scope, deepen engagement, and increase contribution levels.
Initiate and work closely with campaign teams to facilitate strategic corporate partnerships that provide impact and visibility for our causes, while delivering on corporate partner expectations.
Contribute to team strategy, knowledge-sharing, and a culture of continuous improvement within the Development department.
Maintain a robust pipeline of prospects and partners; track activity, forecast revenue, and report progress against goals to SVP and the team.
Assist with tracking and reporting fundraising activity, pledge and gift processing, and data management in Salesforce.
Submit corporate proposals and progress reports as needed, and work cross-functionally with Communications, Finance, and Campaigns teams to produce stewardship reports for donors.
Meet and exceed annual revenue targets through a disciplined and creative mix of new business acquisition and existing account growth.
Assist in identifying new board prospects and lead cultivation and engagement of existing board members within your portfolio.
Represent the Ad Council as a thought leader at industry conferences and events; research and prepare prep documents for prospects and industry events.
Represent the department on internal committees and serve as an internal advocate for partner priorities across the organization.
Travel as needed to meet partners, attend conferences, and represent the Ad Council externally.

Benefits

Full remote work arrangements
Robust and flexible time off
Parental/Caregiver leave
“Health” days
Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision plans
Health and Flexible Savings benefit
Reimbursement toward health and wellness expenses
Additional insurances for your spouse/children/pets
Participation in the Ad Council 403(b) Retirement Plan with generous annual company contributions
Professional and skill-based development opportunities
Tuition Reimbursement