Director of Development

Lifebridge Community Services•Bridgeport, CT

9d•$85,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Director of Development leads LifeBridge’s donor pipeline development and portfolio management strategy and execution to support long-term growth and financial sustainability. Guided by community-centric fundraising principles, this role actively builds, manages, and advances a robust donor pipeline through structured prospect research, segmentation, targeted cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across individual, major, corporate, and institutional donors. This role is primarily accountable for building and advancing a healthy donor pipeline—identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors using data-informed strategies, disciplined moves management, and consistent front-line engagement. In addition, the Director of Development oversees LifeBridge’s broader fundraising strategy and execution, managing structured fundraising activities and revenue channels including annual giving, major gifts, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, and fundraising 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 that combines strategic leadership, donor portfolio ownership, and hands-on execution within a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
6–10 years of progressive nonprofit development experience, with a strong emphasis on front-line donor engagement and relationship-based fundraising.
Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors within the Fairfield County/Southwest Connecticut philanthropic community; established local relationships strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and contributing meaningfully to organizational revenue growth through individual, corporate, and institutional giving.
Proven experience writing public and private grant proposals and reports, with strong writing and editing skills.
Experience working closely with senior leadership and Boards on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and revenue growth.
Working knowledge of donor databases, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office 365.

Nice To Haves

Experience in organizations with comparable operational complexity and scale 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 143% 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.
Own and actively manage a portfolio of individual, major, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects with clear annual and multi-year revenue targets.
Lead donor pipeline development, including: Prospect research and qualification Donor segmentation and prioritization Strategic cultivation planning Timely solicitation Personalized stewardship and renewal
Implement disciplined moves management, tracking touchpoints, next actions, timelines, and outcomes to advance donors through the pipeline.
Use donor data, CRM insights, and local market intelligence to identify upgrade opportunities, re-engage lapsed donors, and increase donor lifetime value.
Ensure each portfolio has: Defined cultivation strategies Regular, meaningful donor contact Clear ask strategies and stewardship plans
Oversee prospect research, donor segmentation, and qualification efforts, ensuring outreach strategies are tailored by capacity, affinity, engagement history, and community connection.
Partner closely with the Senior Director of Mission Advancement and Communications to ensure donor-facing materials, campaigns, and messaging are aligned, timely, and compelling.
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 achieve annual revenue goals.
Accountable for meeting revenue targets and ensuring development activities are aligned with clear KPIs, timelines, and accurate forecasting.
Use CRM data and basic analytics to guide strategy, forecasting, and decision-making.
Track and report on donor pipeline health, including: Portfolio penetration Number of qualified prospects Movement between pipeline stages Upgrade rates Donor lifetime value
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.