Director of Development

About the Position

The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for building and executing WREN’s fundraising strategy to support our policy, advocacy, and narrative-change work across South Carolina. This position leads the design and implementation of a comprehensive development program—strengthening individual, institutional, and corporate giving while ensuring strong donor relationships, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.

WREN is a statewide advocacy organization dedication to advancing policy and systems change for women and girls in South Carolina. We are not a direct-service provider; instead, our work focuses on shaping legislation, shifting public narrative, and mobilizing communities. Because our work centers on systems change, our fundraising efforts support vision, strategy, and long-term structural impact. The Director of Development must be able to translate this into compelling philanthropic investment opportunities that build durable power.

Reporting to the CEO, this role serves as a key strategic partner—driving donor pipelines, overseeing development operations, supporting CEO-led major gifts, and ensuring disciplined moves management across all revenue streams. This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, organized, and values-driven fundraiser to shape WREN’s growth during a critical moment of expansion.

This position supervises the Annual Giving & Database Manager and works closely with a contracted grant writer.

This is a remote position; candidates must be located in South Carolina.

About the Organization

WREN is a non-partisan, gender justice advocacy organization. We advocate, educate, research, and convene community in service to women and girls for a more equitable South Carolina. We envision a liberated South Carolina where women and girls can shape their own futures.

Through research, coalition-building, civic engagement, and strategic communications, WREN works to ensure that women and girls, particularly those from marginalized communities, have lasting protections and meaning access to opportunity.

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional development and growth.

If you seek a fulfilling and inspiring career that genuinely creates change, join WREN.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Revenue Leadership

• • Design and implement WREN’s multi-year development strategy aligned with organizational goals.
  • Build and manage donor pipelines across individual, institutional, and corporate support.
  • Develop fundraising benchmarks, dashboards, and quarterly plans to track progress and guide decisions.
  • Lead individual giving campaigns and donor-facing initiatives in partnership with Communications and Annual Giving staff.
  • Analyze fundraising performance and adjust strategies based on trends and opportunities.

Executive Partnership & Moves Management

• • Support CEO-led major donor engagement through cultivation plans, briefing materials, and follow-up systems.
  • Ensure disciplined tracking and execution of donor strategies across the pipeline.
  • Align development efforts with cross-departmental initiatives.

Individual, Institutional & Corporate Giving

• • Manage mid-level donor portfolios and oversee major gift strategies.
  • Lead institutional and corporate fundraising, including prospecting and relationship management.
  • Oversee grant development with contracted grant writer, ensuring strong proposals and timely reporting.
  • Partner with Finance on proposal budgets and financial narratives.
  • Identify sponsorship opportunities and cultivate corporate partners.

Department Leadership & Accountability

• • Supervise and support Development staff and consultants.
  • Establish clear workflows, priorities, and accountability systems.
  • Partner with the CEO to engage the Board in fundraising, including goal-setting and tracking.
  • Prepare fundraising updates and materials for Board meetings.
  • Model inclusive leadership and uphold WREN’s values.

The Ideal Candidate

You bring both strategic vision and operational rigor to fundraising work and are excited to help grow a mission-driven organization focused on equity and systemic change.

You have:

• • At least 5 years of progressive nonprofit development experience with a record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals
  • Demonstrated success in managing donor portfolios, major gift and planned giving strategies in a non direct-services organization
  • Strong knowledge of development systems and CRMs (Bloomerang or similar)
  • Demonstrated success leading fundraising across individual giving, grants, and events
  • Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
  • Demonstrated critical thinking, project management, and people management skills
  • Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
  • Comfort working collaboratively with executive leadership and boards
  • Commitment to equity-centered fundraising practices
  • Deep alignment with WREN’s mission and values
  • You are not just looking for a job—you’re looking for a place to make meaningful impact.

Health Benefits: You are eligible to enroll immediately. Coverage begins the first day of the month following your hire date. (e.g., Start date: January 1 → Coverage Begins: February 1. Start Date: January 17 → Coverage Begins: February 1)

Medical, Dental, & Vision:WREN covers 100% of employee’s premium and 50% of family/spouse/children coverage

Dependent Care and FSA Plans: Pay dependent care and medical costs with pre-tax dollars

401K Plan: Eligible 3 months after start of employment with 5% employer match.

Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 Weeks at 100% pay for birth or adoption of child.