Director of Development - Nonprofit

Haldren Group•Arkansas City, KS

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Our client is a leading youth health equity organization working across Mississippi and Arkansas to empower young people with comprehensive health education and resources. Through evidence -based programming and advocacy, they build equitable communities where all young people can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. They are seeking a Senior Director of Philanthropy to serve as the chief architect of fundraising strategy across their multistate operations. This role will develop and execute comprehensive development initiatives spanning local, regional, national, and international funding streams whilst positioning the organisation as a philanthropic leader in the youth health equity space. The ideal candidate will bring proven success in multistate fundraising, exceptional relationship -building skills across diverse stakeholder groups, and a commitment to youth -centred, equity -focused work. This position requires someone comfortable navigating sensitive health topics with nuance and professionalism, particularly in conservative contexts. Location: Jackson or Clarksdale, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; or hybrid arrangement. Regular travel required throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, and other locations as needed for donor engagement

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrable success in multistate, national, and/or international development work
Proven track record securing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and leading large -scale campaigns
Strong grant writing, prospect research, and donor cultivation expertise
Exceptional relationship -building and networking skills across cultures and sectors
Strong written and verbal communication abilities
Proficiency with donor management software (e.g., NEON, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce)
Ability to work effectively across diverse teams, states, and countries
Strategic thinker with strong organisational and project management skills
Mission -driven, equity -focused, and committed to youth voice and youth leadership
Comfortable discussing comprehensive sexual health education and youth development in professional contexts
Supportive of evidence -based approaches that provide young people with information to make informed decisions about their health
Able to communicate with nuance and professionalism in diverse cultural and political contexts
Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and globally minded
Comfortable travelling throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, the U.S., and internationally for donor engagement
Adaptable to both established and emerging programme contexts

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification
Experience working in or strong familiarity with Arkansas, particularly leveraging local connections for philanthropic work
Previous experience in youth development, health equity, public health, or related mission -driven sectors
Demonstrated success navigating politically or culturally sensitive funding environments
Bilingual capabilities or experience working across international contexts

Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas whilst pursuing national and global funding opportunities
Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation
Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources
Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international markets
Develop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels whilst maintaining cohesive mission -driven messaging
Lead high -quality stewardship that builds long -term loyalty and advocacy for the organisation's work
Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance
Build relationships with local, national, and international programme officers, agencies, and grant -making bodies
Collaborate with programme staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievable
Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national/international appeal
Lead capital campaigns and large -scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross -border support
Coordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and context
Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levels
Provide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivation
Present regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all markets
Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnerships
Share fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organisational priorities and investment decisions
Collaborate with communications team to produce donor -centred materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally