Director of Development, Memphis and Mid-South Market

Palmer Home for Children•Hernando, MS

9d•Remote

About The Position

Palmer Home for Children seeks a Director of Development to raise financial resources and increase community awareness and involvement in its mission. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director will pursue general operating and capital revenue goals by building relationships with current and prospective individual donors, churches, businesses, foundations, and community partners. The role includes regular communication, grant applications, enrichment activities, sponsorships, and ensuring gifts are solicited, acknowledged, cultivated, and stewarded appropriately. This is a full-time, salaried/exempt position based remotely from home in the Memphis/Mid-South area, with occasional travel throughout surrounding counties, Tennessee, Mississippi, and other states. The position is benefit-eligible and includes a company vehicle. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
At least 4 years of applicable experience in development, marketing, sales, communications, or public relations.
Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, including experience securing major gifts and developing long-term relationships.
Experience managing a donor portfolio and developing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
Experience using donor databases and fundraising reports to manage relationships, track progress, and inform fundraising strategy.
Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Excellent time management, interpersonal, decision-making, presentation/public-speaking, and organizational skills.
Strong planning and project-management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks for oneself and a team to meet deadlines.
Ability to work collectively with staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters.
Self-starter able to work independently and collaboratively, with an interest in creating and implementing new initiatives.
Strategic approach and ability to anticipate and support the needs of internal and external audiences.
Ability to prioritize multiple expectations based on organizational strategy and goals, providing focus and expectations for the team.
Must agree with the Palmer Home for Children Statement of Christian Beliefs and demonstrate a strong commitment to Christ consistent with the mission of Palmer Home as a nonprofit religious organization.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement individualized strategies for an assigned portfolio of major gift donors, emphasizing cultivation, solicitation, retention, and stewardship.
Identify, research, and qualify new donor prospects within assigned markets to expand the donor base and develop relationships that increase philanthropic support.
Generate corporate and foundation revenue with local, state, and regional partners through corporate giving, employee engagement opportunities, grants, foundation support, and endowments.
Personally solicit major gifts through strategic, donor-centered proposals and presentations that connect donor interests and philanthropic priorities with Palmer Home’s mission and funding needs.
Identify and advance opportunities for transformational and principal gifts in collaboration with the Vice President of Development and other organizational leaders, as appropriate.
Develop and execute annual fundraising plans to achieve assigned revenue, donor retention, donor acquisition, and solicitation goals.
Secure sponsorships for in-house fundraising special events.
Respond promptly and appropriately to donor inquiries, questions, complaints, and concerns; ensure proposals, follow-up communications, and reports are completed and submitted on time.
Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and adjust strategies to maximize fundraising results.
Maintain accurate donor records, portfolio plans, solicitation forecasts, and relationship-management activity in the donor database to support effective reporting.
Enlist Board members, the President/CEO, and other Palmer staff to assist with major gift asks, as appropriate.
Represent Palmer Home at local civic groups, chamber programs, community organizations, and events, including attending and speaking as appropriate.
Stay current on best practices, strategies, and emerging trends in major gift fundraising and donor engagement.
Support fundraising strategies and activities to ensure proper donor acknowledgment and recognition.
Serve as the point of contact for third-party fundraising efforts within the market.
Manage donor appointments, external inquiries, follow-up, prospect research, expense reports, and other fundraising-related administrative responsibilities.
Participate in special projects and other assigned duties.