Director of Development

If you thrive on building successful fundraising programs, recruiting talented colleagues, and translating your work into meaningful community impact, this position offers an exceptional opportunity.

Edu-Futuro seeks an accomplished Director of Development to lead its fundraising program through a period of growth. You will develop the fundraising strategy, recruit and lead a Development Associate and Grant Writer, and supervise the Volunteer Coordinator to build a high-performing development team.

Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, you will help advance Edu-Futuro’s goal of growing its annual operating budget from $5 million to $10 million over five years. You will strengthen an existing major gifts program, develop new sources of support, and secure significant multiyear commitments.

We are looking for someone who enjoys both the planning and the personal work of fundraising: making thoughtful decisions about where to invest time and resources, building lasting donor relationships, and helping colleagues become more effective.

Responsibilities

Set the direction for fundraising

• Develop an annual development plan and multiyear strategy with clear priorities, revenue goals, staffing needs, and resource requirements.
• Expand individual, foundation, and corporate support. Work with organizational leadership on government funding and contract opportunities.
• Manage the development budget, maintain revenue forecasts, and track key fundraising indicators—including revenue growth, donor retention, acquisition, solicitation activity, and pipeline conversion—to guide decisions and report regularly to the Executive Director and Board Fundraising Committee.
• Help the Executive Director and Board Fundraising Committee identify prospects, build relationships, and participate effectively in fundraising.

Grow major gifts and strengthen donor relationships

• Expand Circles of Empowerment, Edu-Futuro’s mid-level and major gifts program, including its pipeline of donors giving $25,000 or more; track prospect movement, donor engagement, and progress toward major-gift goals.
• Personally manage a portfolio of qualified donors and prospects, developing thoughtful plans for engagement, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Secure five- and six-figure gifts and multiyear commitments that connect donors’ interests with Edu-Futuro’s priorities.
• Strengthen annual and monthly giving to attract new supporters, retain donors, and encourage increased giving.

Develop support for long-term priorities

• Work with leadership to turn emerging organizational priorities into compelling opportunities for philanthropic support.
• Assess prospective donor interest and capacity, organizational readiness, and feasibility findings when considering significant fundraising initiatives, including potential comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Develop proposals, leadership gift strategies, and confidential plans for engaging prospective supporters and volunteer leaders.
• As initiatives are approved, establish fundraising milestones, coordinate donor outreach, and oversee gift and pledge tracking while maintaining annual support.

Build and lead the development team

• Recruit, supervise, and coach a Development Associate and Grant Writer, and provide administrative supervision to the Volunteer Coordinator as part of the Development Team, coordinating with program leadership on volunteer assignments and program needs.
• Establish clear responsibilities, practical workflows, and performance expectations; provide regular feedback and staff performance evaluations. Delegate administrative and logistical work so staff can focus on their areas of responsibility.
• Oversee prospect research, grant proposals and reports, fundraising campaigns, donor-focused community engagement initiatives, timely gift acknowledgment, and accurate donor records in DonorPerfect.
• Work with finance and program staff to ensure proposals, restricted gifts, reports, and donor commitments are accurate and aligned.
• Uphold ethical fundraising practices, protect donor confidentiality, and maintain appropriate gift acceptance and stewardship procedures.

Guide fundraising communications and events

• Work with the communications team to develop persuasive proposals, appeals, presentations, and donor impact reports.
• Set fundraising and donor engagement goals for the annual spring gala, quarterly Circles of Empowerment gatherings, and donor-focused community engagement campaigns, while delegating logistical responsibilities appropriately.
• Represent Edu-Futuro in meetings with donors, funders, and community partners.

Early Priorities

During the first 90 days, review current funding, donor relationships, systems, and staffing needs. Establish baseline measures and agree with the Executive Director on a development plan and hiring timeline.

During the first year, hire and develop the team, strengthen the qualified donor pipeline, improve forecasting and stewardship, and demonstrate measurable progress toward agreed fundraising goals and performance indicators. Goals will reflect existing relationships, funding opportunities, and available resources.

Qualifications

We are seeking someone who brings:

• A record of building or expanding fundraising programs and increasing revenue.
• Success securing and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience hiring, supervising, or developing fundraising professionals.
• The ability to translate organizational priorities into persuasive proposals and multiyear commitments.
• Experience working productively with executive leaders, board members, and program staff.
• Strong writing, listening, and presentation skills.
• Sound judgment when handling confidential donor and organizational information.
• Experience using donor databases and fundraising reports to manage relationships and guide decisions.
• A collaborative approach to leadership and respect for the experiences and strengths of the communities Edu-Futuro serves.

Ten or more years of relevant experience is preferred. Candidates with fewer years and exceptional accomplishments will also be considered.

Additional strengths include experience planning or executing comprehensive or capital campaigns, knowledge of Northern Virginia philanthropy, work with education or youth-serving organizations, and familiarity with DonorPerfect. English–Spanish bilingual communication skills are valued. CFRE certification is welcome but not required.

• Health and vision coverage through the Kaiser Permanente Platinum Plan, with Edu-Futuro covering 80% of employee premiums and 60% for eligible family members.
• Fully covered dental insurance.
• Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance.
• Retirement plan with a 3% employer match.
• Vacation and sick leave based on tenure.
• Ten observed federal holidays.
• Professional development and networking opportunities.
• Cell phone stipend and reimbursement for eligible local travel.

English–Spanish bilingual communication skills are valued.