Senior Director of Development

Junior Achievement of South Florida•Coconut Creek, FL

About The Position

Lead and shape Junior Achievement of South Florida's fundraising strategy in a high-impact leadership role, driving growth, building meaningful partnerships, and advancing a mission that makes a difference. Why join Junior Achievement of South Florida? Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability, and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy and lead our community. We are looking for individuals who are passionate not only to our mission, but also about being part of the innovative and energetic culture at JA. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 7,100 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered over 20 various programs to almost 50,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and south Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. For more information about Junior Achievement of South Florida, visit www.JASouthFlorida.org. Follow JA on social media @jasouthflorida. Opportunity Overview: The Senior Director of Development is a senior‑level fundraising leader responsible for generating approximately $3 million annually in philanthropic revenue through individuals, family foundations, and corporate partners. This role oversees a portfolio of high‑capacity donors, provides strategic leadership for major and leadership‑level gifts, and plays a key role in advancing the organization’s long‑term financial strength and mission impact. The ideal candidate is a relationship‑oriented strategist with a proven ability to secure five‑, six‑, and seven‑figure gifts. They bring exceptional communication skills, a deep understanding of donor engagement, and a passion for connecting supporters to a mission that creates lasting, transformative change. This role will be heavily focused on three key elements: Major & Leadership Gift Strategy (50%) Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy to meet and exceed an annual fundraising goal of ~$3M. Manage a portfolio of 100–125 qualified prospects with capacity to give $25,000–$1M+. Conduct a minimum of 120 meaningful donor interactions annually, including visits, calls, and personalized stewardship touches. Create customized donor engagement plans, proposals, and impact reports. Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship (40%) Build and manage relationships that lead to the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and closing of major and leadership gifts. Work in close partnership with executive leadership and board members to position organizational leaders for successful and meaningful fundraising conversations. Help plan and execute targeted cultivation events, donor briefings, and customized site experiences. Collaborate with the Development Team to ensure best‑in‑class stewardship practices that support donor loyalty and long‑term engagement. Internal Collaboration & Leadership (10%) Partner closely with the Development Team to support annual campaigns, planned giving efforts, events, and stewardship initiatives. Deliver donor insights and strategic updates to senior leadership and board members to inform decision-making. Utilize CRM systems to record donor engagement, monitor pipeline activity, and track overall progress.

Requirements

7+ years of successful fundraising experience, including major gifts.
Demonstrated history of closing 6‑ and 7‑figure gifts.
Combines strategic thinking with relationship‑building and clear, compelling communication.
Comfortably manages a dynamic portfolio of major donors, balancing strategy with personalized engagement.
Leads with emotional intelligence and integrity, building authentic connections with high‑net‑worth individuals in service of the mission.

Nice To Haves

Experience in education, workforce development, youth development, or nonprofit organizations of similar scale.
Familiarity with impact storytelling, donor analytics, and philanthropic trends.
Knowledge of South Florida donor landscape (or willingness to learn quickly).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy to meet and exceed an annual fundraising goal of ~$3M.
Manage a portfolio of 100–125 qualified prospects with capacity to give $25,000–$1M+.
Conduct a minimum of 120 meaningful donor interactions annually, including visits, calls, and personalized stewardship touches.
Create customized donor engagement plans, proposals, and impact reports.
Build and manage relationships that lead to the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and closing of major and leadership gifts.
Work in close partnership with executive leadership and board members to position organizational leaders for successful and meaningful fundraising conversations.
Help plan and execute targeted cultivation events, donor briefings, and customized site experiences.
Collaborate with the Development Team to ensure best‑in‑class stewardship practices that support donor loyalty and long‑term engagement.
Partner closely with the Development Team to support annual campaigns, planned giving efforts, events, and stewardship initiatives.
Deliver donor insights and strategic updates to senior leadership and board members to inform decision-making.
Utilize CRM systems to record donor engagement, monitor pipeline activity, and track overall progress.