DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEW YORK•New York, NY

48d

About The Position

The Director of Development reports to the Chief Development Officer and leads a team of development professionals, sets revenue targets, and drives innovation to expand reach, deepen donor engagement, and maximize revenue impact. As a strategic leader, the Director collaborates cross-functionally with executive leadership and other Development teams or Departments to align donor strategies with organizational priorities and mission outcomes. This role is accountable for donor pipe-line growth, significant personal revenue generation, team performance, staff development, donor stewardship, and ensuring campaign alignment with the Ronald McDonald House New York’s strategic goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Public Relations, or a related field required; master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
Minimum of 8 years of experience in fundraising or development.
Proficiency in data analytics and CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce) to inform decision-making and improve campaign outcomes.
Proven success managing complex portfolios, budgets, and logistics with strategic innovation.
Strong leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, and team workload balancing.
Demonstrated experience in donor stewardship and relationship management.
Experience cultivating and activating major donors through strategic partnerships and collaboration.
Prior history of identifying revenue opportunities through effective prospecting and donor engagement.
Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence in development processes and donor experience.
Excellent communication skills and ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and an inclusive team culture.
Able to adapt to onsite (open concept office) as well as offsite work environments
Resilient and solutions-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the Individual Giving program (Major Gifts and Strategic Plan Campaign), raising $5M in unrestricted and restricted annual gifts from individuals, with contributions ranging from $5K to $1M+.
Manage renewals, upgrades, lapsed donors, and acquisition of new gifts.
Elevate the Stewardship Processes of the Department and implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen, grow, and track individual giving revenue.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of RMH-NY’s mission, programs, services, needs, and priorities.
Supervise a team of development professionals by setting clear goals, managing performance, providing appropriate and regular oversite, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Optimize team structure and staffing to ensure high performance, balanced workloads, and alignment with campaign needs.
Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to staff at all levels, building fundraising capacity and career growth pathways.
Independently manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through all phases of the giving cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, and stewardship.
Collaborate with executive leadership to align development goals and deliverables with organizational strategy.
Monitor and analyze team performance using KPIs and CRM data to inform coaching, planning, and strategic adjustments.
Partner with other development divisions to deepen donor relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Champion innovation, cross-team collaboration, and operational efficiency by promoting idea-sharing and best practices.
Write compelling proposals, briefing memos, talking points, and event invitations.
Manage donor communications and follow-up, including preparing proposals and writing detailed contact reports for all prospects and donors.
Collaborate with development and communications teams to create and manage fundraising collateral, including print and digital materials.
Contribute to newsletters, social media, and organizational storytelling.
Conduct ongoing research to identify potential donors and implement strategies to secure new gifts and increase current contributions.
Attend internal and external events regularly to identify and cultivate new prospects.
Perform other duties as assigned.