Director of Development

St. John's Senior Servi•Rochester, NY

About The Position

The Director of Development is a senior fundraising leader responsible for building, strengthening, and executing a comprehensive philanthropic program that advances St. John’s mission and aligns directly with the Organizational Scorecard. Working under the Executive Vice President of Marketing & Development (EVP), the Director of Development co-creates the Foundation’s multi-year strategic development plan and provides leadership for its implementation. This position serves as the primary driver of donor cultivation, stewardship, annual and major giving, foundation relations, special campaigns, and development operations. The Director of Development provides supervision to the Development Coordinator and collaborates closely with the Director of Marketing (and the Marketing Coordinator) to implement communications to ensure unified messaging, compelling case development, and coordinated, brand-focused donor-facing collateral.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred.
Minimum 5–7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including major gifts.
Demonstrated success in planning, implementing, and meeting fundraising goals.
Experience working in healthcare, senior services, human services, or nonprofit foundations strongly preferred.
Experience supervising staff and managing high-performing teams.
Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational goals into actionable plans.
Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors at all giving levels.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including storytelling and case development.
Strong partnership and collaboration skills; ability to work seamlessly with marketing leaders.
Data-driven, analytical mindset with experience using donor management systems (CRM).
High emotional intelligence, empathy, and comfort engaging with older adults and caregivers.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with professionalism and confidentiality.
Full-time, exempt position.
Some early morning, evening, and weekend hours required.
Must be able to travel within the Rochester community for donor visits and events.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred.
Experience working in healthcare, senior services, human services, or nonprofit foundations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the EVP of Marketing & Development to develop a multi-year strategic development plan that advances St. John’s mission and aligns with the Organizational Scorecard’s goals, metrics, and priorities.
Oversee the execution of the development plan, ensuring accountability, regular progress review, and annual refresh based on organizational needs.
Collaborate with the Director of Marketing to ensure fundraising priorities and brand/marketing strategies align, reinforce one another, and tell a clear and inspiring story of impact.
Along with the EVP, represent the Foundation as required in strategic planning discussions, team meetings, Foundation board and committee meetings, and other internal planning processes.
Build, manage, and grow a comprehensive fundraising program including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, memorial giving, corporate and foundation relations, online fundraising, and campaigns.
Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors with individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Develop donor pipelines using data analytics, prospect research, and personalized engagement plans.
Partner with the CEO, EVP, Director of Marketing, and Foundation Board members to prepare them for donor engagement and solicitation activities.
Lead planning and execution for special campaigns (e.g., the Dementia Resource Center, capital improvements, technology innovation, staff scholarships).
Establish and manage a comprehensive stewardship program that deepens donor engagement and supports long-term philanthropic relationships.
Oversee stewardship events, recognition programs, donor communications, and reporting.
Ensure all donor touchpoints reflect St. John’s values and reinforce the brand promise of “embrace living.”
Collaborate with resident life, nursing leadership, and program staff to gather impact stories and measurable outcomes for donors.
Identify, cultivate, and secure funding from foundations, corporations, and grant-making entities.
Implement, along with other team members, grant writing, reporting, and compliance, ensuring alignment with organizational strategic goals.
Track and manage proposal pipelines and deliverables in coordination with internal stakeholders.
Ensure accurate and timely management of donor records, acknowledgments, database integrity, and reporting.
In partnership with the Development Coordinator, oversee gift entry, audits, receipting, donor research, and dashboard reporting.
Support the EVP in maintaining fundraising performance dashboards aligned to the Organizational Scorecard (e.g., donor acquisition, retention, average gift, ROI, pipeline performance).
Supervise, coach, and evaluate the Development Coordinator, fostering professional development and building a high-performance development operation.
Work collaboratively with the Director of Marketing on case statements, philanthropic messaging, print/digital content, and engagement campaigns.
Promote an internal culture of philanthropy across St. John’s that recognizes residents, families, staff, and community members as essential partners in advancing the mission.
In partnership with EVP, lead strategy and execution for select fundraising events, donor recognition events, and community engagement activities.
Ensure events align with donor cultivation strategies, organizational priorities, and brand standards.
Serve as a public representative of St. John’s Foundation at community events and with key partner organizations.