Senior Director of Development

Position Summary:

At Down Syndrome of Louisville (DSL), we envision a world where every person with Down syndrome reaches their full potential. The Director of Development plays a vital role in fueling that vision by building relationships and resources that help our members and their families thrive. This leader brings strategy and heart together to expand philanthropic support and ensure our work is not only sustained, but growing stronger each year.

 

The Director will mature DSL's development program by diversifying revenue streams to ensure long-term sustainability. This role also guides DSL through transformational investment and organizational growth by supporting major fundraising initiatives, such as capital campaigns.

 

This role is a key member of DSL's Director's Team and serves as a visible ambassador for the organization in the community.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising and donor relationship activities to meet or exceed annual revenue goals.

• Steward and grow a diverse portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and community supporters through intentional, relationship-based engagement.

• Lead the planning and execution of a comprehensive development program with diverse fundraising efforts aligned with DSL's strategic priorities.

• Manage and strengthen development operations, including budgeting, forecasting, data management, gift processing, and stewardship systems.

• Serve as a key organizational leader and ambassador, collaborating across departments to advance DSL's mission and cultivate a culture of philanthropy.

 

Essential Duties:

 

Strategic Leadership & Department Management

• Manage and coach two Development Specialists, fostering growth, accountability, and a supportive environment where people feel empowered to do their best work.

• Develop and manage the annual development budget, forecast revenue, and track performance against goals.

• Establish and document development processes, workflows, and best practices for consistent departmental performance.

• Stay curious about new tools and best practices in fundraising operations and donor engagement.

 

Fundraising & Revenue Generation

• Design, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive annual fundraising program that includes individual giving, major gifts, monthly giving, planned and legacy giving, corporate partnerships, grants, and community fundraising.

• Maintain primary responsibility for achieving annual revenue targets through relationship-based fundraising, helping donors see the meaningful impact of their giving and cultivating long-term partnerships built on trust.

• Provide leadership for fundraising events through the full project lifecycle, ensuring they support development goals and deepen donor engagement.

• Develop strategies to expand philanthropic support beyond events, including proactive major donor development and corporate partnership pipelines.

• Lead major, multi-year fundraising initiatives, including capital campaign planning, prospect identification, donor cultivation strategies, and collaboration with volunteer committees.

 

Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Build and strengthen authentic relationships with donors and sponsors, ensuring consistent communication, meaningful engagement, and high-quality stewardship.

• Conduct regular donor meetings in the community; prepare briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up strategies.

• Ensure timely, accurate gift acknowledgement and stewardship processes that reflect authenticity, inclusivity, and the heart of who we are, helping supporters clearly see the lives they're helping shape.

 

Collaboration & Organizational Leadership

• Work collaboratively with Finance to ensure accurate gift processing, reporting, and reconciliation.

• Serve as an active member of the Director's Team, contributing to organizational planning, culture, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Model donor centered values and champion a shared culture of philanthropy across the organization.

• Prepare clear, meaningful reports for leadership and the board that tell the story of our fundraising progress and impact.

 

Qualifications, Certifications, Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field.

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification or other certifications for development leaders preferred.

• 5+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in relationship-based fundraising, securing gifts, and meeting revenue goals.

• Experience leading or supporting a capital campaign preferred.

• Proven experience leading diverse teams and fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures.

• Experience overseeing annual funds, major gifts, corporate partnerships, and/or events required; experience growing a development program strongly preferred.

• Exceptional relationship building, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and sponsors.

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to turn goals into actionable plans and measurable results.

• Experience with CRM/database management, including reporting and segmentation.

• A compassionate and empathetic heart for our mission, and the ability to communicate impact with clarity and warmth.

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and donor engagement.