Director of Development

Lifebridge Community Services•Bridgeport, CT

11d•$85,000 - $125,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Development leads LifeBridge’s fundraising strategy and execution to support long-term growth and financial sustainability. Guided by community-centric fundraising principles, this role builds strong donor relationships, manages structured fundraising activities and channels that generate ongoing revenue, including the annual giving program, major gifts pipeline, institutional funding, corporate giving, and events. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, self-driven fundraiser with an established network of philanthropic, corporate, and community relationships in Southwest Connecticut. This role requires a proactive ‘go-getter’ who thrives in front-line donor engagement, is energized by building a culture of philanthropy, and is motivated by ambitious fundraising goals and measurable results. This is a relational, front-line fundraising role combining strategy, donor engagement, and hands-on execution within a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors within the Fairfield County/Southwest Connecticut philanthropic community, with strong existing relationships preferred.
6–10 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience.
Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and contributing to $500K–$1.5M+ in annual fundraising.
Proven experience writing public and private grant proposals, with strong writing and editing skills.
Experience working closely with leadership and Boards on fundraising strategy.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with evolving priorities.
Strong interpersonal energy and confidence engaging with donors, community partners, and corporate leaders in a dynamic, outward-facing role.
Comfortable serving as a public representative of LifeBridge through meetings, presentations, events, and community engagements.
High level of initiative, follow-through, and personal accountability for revenue targets.
Energetic, goal-oriented professional who is motivated by building relationships and closing gifts.
Comfortable owning a portfolio with clear metrics and expectations for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
Ability to manage multiple fundraising streams and priorities.
Strategic thinker with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Working knowledge of donor databases, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office 365.

Nice To Haves

Experience in organizations with $3M–$10M budgets preferred.
Familiarity with community-centric fundraising principles strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead LifeBridge’s overall fundraising strategy in partnership with the President & CEO.
Implement a multi-year donor acquisition and retention strategy with annual revenue targets that gradually grow unrestricted giving from ~$375,000 to ~$910,000 over a 3–5 year period.
Oversee a diversified fundraising program including: 1. Individual and major gifts 2. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships 3. Foundation and institutional grants 4. Government grants (in partnership with program and finance teams)
Drive a results-oriented development culture grounded in proactive outreach, consistent follow-up, and measurable growth in donor engagement and revenue.
Lead the strategy and writing of major grants and reports, working closely with program and finance staff to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely submission.
Serve as an ambassador for LifeBridge in the philanthropic community, maintaining a strong presence across Fairfield County through meetings, cultivation activities, networking, and community engagement.
Personally manage a portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations.
Leverage donor data and local insights to inform targeted outreach and stewardship, guiding donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and ongoing engagement across the donor lifecycle.
Grow and strengthen: Monthly giving program Donor upgrade and retention pathways Community and peer ambassador fundraising efforts
Partner closely with the Senior Director of Mission Advancement and Communications to ensure donor-facing materials, campaigns, and messaging are aligned, timely, and compelling.
Oversee donor stewardship, including personalized outreach and quarterly impact updates.
Partner with the President & CEO to engage Board members in fundraising efforts.
Support Board participation in donor cultivation, introductions, solicitation, and ambassadorship.
Coordinate LifeBridge’s annual fundraising event in partnership with the Marketing & Communications team, overseeing event budget, logistics, sponsorships, and overall execution.
Lead development strategy and revenue generation for the event, including sponsorship cultivation, donor and guest engagement, and revenue forecasting.
Collaborate with Marketing & Communications on event messaging, materials, and promotion.
Lead annual giving campaigns (direct mail, digital, and multi-channel) to support unrestricted revenue growth.
Develop and manage campaign calendars, revenue goals, and timelines.
Strengthen development systems, processes, and donor pipelines to support growth.
Ensure accurate donor data management, reporting, and stewardship tracking.
Oversee development operations and continuous improvement efforts.
Ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and confidentiality standards in all fundraising activities.
Develop and manage the development budget in partnership with the CEO and finance team.
Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to meet revenue goals.
Accountable for achieving annual revenue targets and ensuring development activities are tied to clear KPIs, timelines, and forecasting.
Track and report on key performance indicators such as: Funds raised Donor acquisition and retention Campaign and event performance Sponsorship and institutional growth
Use CRM and basic analytics to guide strategy and decision-making.
Serve as a player-coach who leads by example, providing mentorship, guidance, and accountability to ensure the development team is equipped, motivated, and aligned to achieve fundraising goals.
Foster a collaborative and accountable team environment that supports high performance.
Support professional growth and capacity building within the team.
Demonstrate trauma-informed leadership by modeling empathy, transparency, consistency, and respect; fostering psychological safety; and supporting staff wellbeing during day-to-day operations and periods of high demand.