Senior Director of Development

Art and Wellness Enterprises•Bentonville, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Development leads the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy for Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) and Heartland Whole Health Institute (HWHI). This role is responsible for all aspects of fundraising, including strategy development, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, while ensuring a seamless, high-quality experience for donors, partners, and stakeholders. Partnering closely with senior leadership across multiple entities, the Director anticipates resource needs, builds robust donor pipelines, and drives best practices that position AWE and its affiliates as leaders in philanthropy and community impact. The role also oversees development operations, including fundraising systems, analytics, and reporting, to ensure alignment with organizational goals and strategic priorities. Success in this role requires exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and operational excellence, along with the ability to foster collaboration across multiple teams and entities in a dynamic, evolving organizational environment to deliver sustainable philanthropic growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience leading enterprise-level fundraising and development initiatives, including major gift campaigns, capital campaigns, corporate/foundation partnerships, and building and scaling new development programs across complex organizations with a proven track record of delivering measurable results.
Demonstrated success designing and managing large-scale, multi-entity fundraising strategies across multiple organizations.
Deep knowledge of fundraising strategies, donor pipelines, and stewardship methodologies, with a strong understanding of compliance and ethical standards in philanthropy (AFP ethical standards, IRS charitable giving regulations, etc.).
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills for reporting and executive presentations.
Strong familiarity with donor management and CRM systems; prior experience with Salesforce or similar platforms is strongly preferred.
Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to leverage fundraising metrics (e.g., donor retention, lifetime value, campaign ROI) to inform strategic decisions.
Demonstrated ability to influence, mentor, and collaborate across teams while fostering a performance-driven and partnership-oriented culture.
Outstanding communication (verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to influence senior leaders, board members, donors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Excellent decision-making and critical thinking skills with the agility to adapt in a fast-paced, innovative environment where change is constant.
Proven ability to manage competing priorities in high-pressure environments, orchestrate multiple activities, and coordinate across diverse teams for optimal efficiency.
Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with sound judgment and the ability to navigate sensitive situations with professionalism.
High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential and organizational information.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Professional certifications such as CFRE or equivalent certification preferred.
Experience in startups, healthcare, medical education, museum/cultural institutions, philanthropy, or similarly complex environments is strongly preferred.
Strong familiarity with donor management and CRM systems; prior experience with Salesforce or similar platforms is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with each organization’s goals and mission.
Collaborate with senior leadership to understand current and future funding priorities, proactively identifying gaps and building donor pipelines.
Provide fundraising strategies and implement tactical plans that increase philanthropic revenue and strengthen donor engagement.
Implement innovative cultivation and stewardship initiatives to attract and retain diverse supporters across multiple sectors (e.g., healthcare, arts, medical education, cultural institutions, philanthropy).
Develop and execute high-level fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, capital campaigns, and institutional partnerships to achieve annual goals.
Accountable for achieving annual fundraising revenue targets, with demonstrated success securing six- and seven- figure gifts to advance organizational priorities.
Establish and oversee systems for donor portfolios and stewardship pipelines to ensure sustainable, organization-wide philanthropic support and impact.
Personally manage a select portfolio of major donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to secure transformational gifts.
Design and implement a strategic alumni giving program that promotes ongoing engagement and sustained support.
Lead the development and execution of scholarship fundraising initiatives.
Develop strategies for annual giving, planned giving, and endowment growth to ensure long-term sustainability of philanthropic support.
Serve as subject matter expert for philanthropy for AWSOM and HWHI, applying current best practices in non-profit fundraising and development, while representing these institutions as part of AWE’s shared services model.
Build strong relationships with donors, board members, executives, community partners, and stakeholders to align on fundraising goals and priorities.
Partner with program leadership to ensure philanthropic support is integrated with organizational mission and strategic initiatives.
Partner with senior leadership on campaign planning, case development, and donor engagement strategies.
Manage external consultants, fundraising counsel, and third-party partners, representing AWE with professionalism and integrity.
Drive special projects to enhance AWE’s fundraising capabilities, including new giving initiatives, donor recognition programs, and technology optimization.
Serve as a visible ambassador for AWE and its affiliates, representing the mission through public speaking, events, community partnerships, professional associations, and philanthropic networks to expand visibility and attract support.
Oversee development operations, ensuring efficient utilization of donor management systems, process standardization, and user adoption.
Ensure a high degree of data integrity, confidentiality, and efficiency in managing donor and member records, proposals, recognition programs, reporting, project management, and related processes.
Drive process improvements to streamline fundraising efforts, enhance donor and stakeholder experiences, and increase overall development and advancement results.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local fundraising regulations, as well as internal policies and best practices.
Oversee grant development and compliance processes, including proposal preparation, reporting, and alignment with funder requirements.
Develop and deliver high-level fundraising reports to senior leadership and stakeholders, incorporating key metrics (dollars raised, donor retention, pipeline growth, campaign progress).
Use analytics to assess fundraising effectiveness, donor trends, and philanthropic demographics, providing data-driven recommendations to inform strategic decisions.
Monitor and analyze development KPIs against industry benchmarks, using insights to continuously improve performance.
Perform other duties and special assignments as needed to support organizational priorities and strategic goals.