Director of Development (Philanthropy)

SPCA Florida • Lakeland, FL

20h • Onsite

About The Position

SPCA Florida's mission is to provide compassionate care, shelter, and advocacy for animals while promoting responsible pet ownership through education and outreach. Our programs and services include pet adoption, a public veterinary hospital, and pet support programs that help families keep their beloved animals during times of need. SPCA Florida is an independent, privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly served people and pets throughout Central Florida for more than 40 years. As a recognized no-kill shelter with a 96% live release rate, we are committed to saving lives and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community. Because fundraising is essential to sustaining our mission, we are seeking an experienced, passionate, and strategic Director of Development to lead our fundraising, donor engagement, and philanthropic initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader to make a meaningful impact while helping advance the mission of one of Florida's most respected animal welfare organizations. The Director of Development collaborates with the Executive Director to oversee all aspects of fundraising, with an emphasis on creating and implementing strategies to drive new donor acquisition, retention, and cultivation, including planned giving and major donor development. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who ultimately serves as the organization’s chief fundraising strategist. The Director must have a proven record of building successful fundraising programs and cultivating meaningful donor relationships. This individual will demonstrate integrity, professionalism, initiative, creativity, and follow-through. The Director is responsible for driving revenue growth, meeting budget projections, and setting ambitious fundraising goals while strengthening the organization's sustainability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of successful nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven examples in securing major gifts and grants and achieving targeted goals for successful appeals and fundraising events.
• Proficient with donor CRM software and database administration. (E.g., Donor Perfect, Qgiv, Boomerang)
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Accomplished in relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Successful in donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising strategy.
• Excels in grant research, proposal writing, and reporting.
• Effective marketing, branding, and digital communications.
• Impressive organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Creative and strategic thinker with impressive problem-solving abilities.
• Self-motivated with a high level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Passion for animal welfare and commitment to SPCA Florida's mission.

Nice To Haves

• A master's degree in a related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Self-motivated and “hands-on” in all aspects of Development.
• The driving force leading by example - successful financial strategies to consistently attain goals with appeals, campaigns, grants, sponsorships, special events, and overall mission.
• Research, write, manage, and report on grants from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Successfully identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners.
• Develop and implement meaningful donor engagement and retention strategies to grow philanthropic support.
• Oversee the successful development and production of marketing materials, including newsletters, annual reports, brochures, advertisements, presentations, website content, email campaigns, videos, signage, infographics, and other promotional materials.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, vendors, and community stakeholders through personalized engagement and stewardship.
• Lead by example with fundraising, goal achievement, creative and supportive intervention in all aspects of daily development.
• Partner with leadership staff to conduct facility tours and donor cultivation visits with mid-level and major donors.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of donor database management, reporting, and recordkeeping.
• Manage donor acknowledgement processes to ensure timely recognition and stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor reporting strategies that demonstrate impact and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Research and pursue new business development opportunities to increase revenue and community engagement.
• Supervise and support assigned staff while leading with an example-driven attitude.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for donor and fundraising cultivation and events.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Ten (10) days (two weeks) during your first year of employment and fifteen (15) days (three weeks) beginning in your second year.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• Six (6) Paid Holidays
• Employee Pet Care Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Growth and Development Opportunities
• Relocation assistance may be considered for qualified out-of-state candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director