Director of Development

CorpsAfrica•Washington, DC

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

CorpsAfrica seeks an experienced, highly motivated Director of Development to lead the day-to-day execution and management of the organization’s growing fundraising program. Reporting directly to and working closely with the CEO (currently the organization’s lead fundraiser), the Director will translate organizational fundraising priorities into clear, actionable plans and ensure their successful execution. This is an ideal role for an accomplished fundraising generalist who understands the full spectrum of nonprofit development, including institutional and government grants, individual and major giving, corporate partnerships, events, and donor stewardship, and is equally comfortable managing people, analyzing data, improving systems, and rolling up their sleeves to get the work done and ensure a flawless donor experience for all CorpsAfrica supporters. The Director will manage a growing development team, initially including two direct reports and consultants, and will establish the systems, accountability, and operating rhythms necessary for the team to consistently achieve ambitious fundraising goals. The Director will work collaboratively with the Director of African Philanthropy to ensure a coordinated, organization-wide approach to fundraising across U.S. and Africa-based efforts by maintaining regular communication and visibility into each team’s fundraising pipelines, priorities, and donor engagement. The Director will join CorpsAfrica at a pivotal stage of growth. With significant support from the Mastercard Foundation and an expanding base of philanthropic partners, CorpsAfrica is working toward a fundraising goal of at least $2 million in FY27 (the current fiscal year) and at least $6 million in FY28. The Director will play a critical role in building the fundraising infrastructure, team, pipeline, and execution capacity needed to achieve these goals and sustain CorpsAfrica’s continued growth across the African continent.

Requirements

At least 7 years of progressive fundraising and development experience, preferably within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, with increasing responsibility for fundraising execution, management, and results.
Broad knowledge of and demonstrated experience across multiple fundraising channels, including institutional and foundation giving, individual and major gifts, corporate partnerships, government funding, events, and donor stewardship.
Demonstrated ability to translate high-level fundraising strategy into practical plans, systems, priorities, and measurable results.
Experience managing, coaching, and developing fundraising staff, with a track record of creating accountability while fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.
Demonstrated success contributing to significant fundraising growth and securing or supporting substantial gifts, grants, or partnerships, including six-figure opportunities.
Strong knowledge of fundraising operations, pipeline management, moves management, forecasting, and donor stewardship.
Highly data- and metrics-oriented, with demonstrated ability to use fundraising data to evaluate performance, identify trends and challenges, and drive decision-making.
Experience with Salesforce or a comparable fundraising CRM, including an understanding of effective data management, reporting, and pipeline tracking.
Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple revenue streams, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor communications, proposals, presentations, and briefing materials.
Strong interpersonal skills and the judgment and professionalism necessary to work effectively with senior leadership, Board members, donors, institutional partners, and colleagues across cultures and geographies.
A hands-on, solutions-oriented working style and willingness to move fluidly between managing a team, improving systems, analyzing performance, and directly executing fundraising work.
Ability to anticipate challenges, identify solutions, and keep complex projects and fundraising opportunities moving forward with limited oversight.
Commitment to CorpsAfrica's mission and community-led approach to development.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 15% of the time.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work full-time in the U.S. and should not require employment sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with the CEO to translate CorpsAfrica’s organizational fundraising strategy into work plans, revenue targets, timelines, and measurable objectives.
Lead the day-to-day execution of the development plan across multiple revenue streams, including foundations, government and institutional funding, individual and major giving, corporate partnerships, events, campaigns, and other philanthropic opportunities.
Maintain a comprehensive view of fundraising activities, priorities, deadlines, pipelines, and performance, ensuring that opportunities move forward and commitments are completed on time.
Proactively identify challenges, gaps, and risks to achieving fundraising goals and develop solutions before they affect results.
Ensure that fundraising activities are appropriately prioritized and staff resources are aligned with the organization's highest-value opportunities.
Contribute directly across fundraising functions as needed, bringing both strategic perspective and a willingness to execute.
Help build the systems, staffing structure, processes, and fundraising capacity necessary to support CorpsAfrica's continued growth.
Manage and develop a growing development team, initially including twp direct reports, as well as fundraising consultants and other external partners.
Establish clear roles, priorities, goals, and performance expectations for development staff and ensure individual work plans align with organizational fundraising objectives.
Create a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, communication, and follow-through across the development function.
Provide regular coaching, feedback, and professional development to staff, helping team members strengthen their skills and grow in their roles.
Establish effective operating rhythms for the team, including regular pipeline reviews, progress monitoring, planning, and problem-solving.
Assess staffing and capacity needs as CorpsAfrica grows and help recruit, onboard, and structure an expanded development team over time.
Establish and monitor meaningful fundraising metrics and KPIs across revenue streams, using data to evaluate progress, identify opportunities and challenges, and inform decision-making.
Maintain strong pipeline management practices and ensure accurate forecasting of fundraising revenue and opportunities.
Oversee effective use of Salesforce and related development systems, ensuring timely and accurate donor and prospect data, activity tracking, reporting, and moves management.
Develop dashboards, reports, and other tools that provide the CEO and organizational leadership with clear visibility into fundraising performance.
Strengthen development processes, documentation, calendars, workflows, and systems to increase efficiency and accountability.
Work closely with Finance and other teams to support accurate revenue tracking, grant management, budgeting, reporting, and reconciliation.
Serve as the primary operational partner to the CEO and Board members on fundraising, ensuring that donor engagement and fundraising priorities are effectively prepared, coordinated, tracked, and followed through.
Prepare donor and prospect briefings, talking points, background materials, proposals, presentations, and other materials for funder meetings and outreach.
Ensure timely and strategic follow-up after donor meetings and other cultivation opportunities.
Support the CEO and Board in managing high-value donor and prospect relationships and help coordinate cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Partner with the CEO and Board members to strengthen Board engagement in fundraising, including prospect identification, introductions, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Support management and tracking of Board fundraising commitments and Give/Get expectations.
Prepare fundraising updates, pipeline information, and other materials for Board and Development Committee meetings.
Collaborate closely with the Director of African Philanthropy, who leads and strengthens fundraising through CorpsAfrica's country offices across Africa.
Partner with country leadership and program staff, as appropriate, to develop compelling funding opportunities and ensure alignment with CorpsAfrica's broader fundraising strategy.
Work cross-functionally with Programs, Communications, Finance, Monitoring and Evaluation, and other teams to develop strong cases for support, proposals, donor communications, reports, and fundraising materials.
Help foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization in which Volunteers, alumni, staff, and Board members understand their roles in supporting CorpsAfrica's fundraising success.