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Development Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Playworks

Development Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE POSITION , The Development Director is part of a team of fundraisers and relationship builders working together to support Playworks' strategic growth plan. The Director's main roles are to ...

Bridge Industrial

Development - Director

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Director, Development-East Rutherford NJ location Company Overview: Kurv Industrial ("Kurv") is a privately-owned, vertically integrated real estate operating company and investment manager that ...

YWCA Charleston

Development Director

Charleston, WV · On-site

We are looking for a Development Director to serve as the captain of our fundraising ship. This is a relationship role, a storytelling role, and a strategic leadership role, all wrapped into one. You ...

DLP Capital

Development Director

Saint Augustine, FL · On-site

The Development Director position is responsible for all aspects of taking a project from initial acquisition analysis and potential purchase through municipal entitlements, design team coordination ...

Playworks

Development Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE POSITION , The Development Director is part of a team of fundraisers and relationship builders working together to support Playworks' strategic growth plan. The Director's main roles are to ...

YWCA Greater Flint

Development Director

Flint, MI · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

The Director of Development will be joining the organization during an exciting time of expansion and growth. Reporting to the CEO, the Director will oversee and drive fundraising efforts in support ...

Ywcaflint

Development Director

Flint, MI · On-site

Position Summary The Director of Development will be joining the organization during an exciting time of expansion and growth. Reporting to the CEO, the Director will oversee and drive fundraising ...

Timbers Resorts

Development Director

Winter Park, FL · On-site

Timbers Company is seeking an experienced Development Director to lead luxury real estate projects from concept through completion. In this role, you'll shape high-end destinations, guide cross ...

The Lucy Project

Development Director

Miami, FL · On-site

We offer comprehensive direct services to children within schools, after school, and during the summer. We also support schools in building capacity by providing professional development, mentoring ...

DMAX Foundation

Development Director

Bryn Mawr, PA

$300K/yr

Review and enhance a multi-year development plan which includes annual, major gift, event based and ... Reports to Executive Director and works with Board Fundraising Committee. Salary commensurate with ...

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Development Director information

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$40.5K

$92.4K

$155K

How much do development director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for development director in the United States is $92,386.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $108,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Development Director do?

A Development Director is responsible for overseeing fundraising and resource development efforts within an organization, typically a nonprofit. They create and implement strategies to secure financial support, manage donor relationships, lead fundraising campaigns, and often supervise development staff. Their goal is to ensure the organization has the funding needed to achieve its mission and objectives. Development Directors also work closely with executive leadership and the board of directors to align fundraising goals with the organization's overall strategy.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

Development Directors in large organizations or corporations can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, profit sharing, and extensive experience. High-level executive roles such as Chief Development Officer or similar senior leadership positions in nonprofit or corporate sectors also have the potential for such compensation, often requiring advanced skills, strategic planning, and a strong network.

How much money should a development director raise?

A development director's fundraising goals vary depending on the organization size and sector, but they typically aim to raise several million dollars annually for nonprofits or large projects. Success often depends on skills in donor relations, strategic planning, and use of fundraising tools. Setting realistic targets aligned with organizational needs is essential for effective performance.

What Does a Development Director Do?

A development director is responsible for fundraising strategies and initiatives to help promote the business and operations of nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and hospitals. As a development director, your job duties include reaching out to potential benefactors, maintaining relationships with existing donors, devising new strategies for fundraising, and organizing fundraising events. These events may consist of benefit concerts, dinners, parties, and special events. Collaborating with company management is also a regular part of your job. Depending on the organization, your exact duties may vary.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Development Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Development Director, you need expertise in fundraising strategy, donor relations, and nonprofit management, often supported by a relevant degree or CFRE certification. Familiarity with donor management systems (like Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge) and CRM platforms is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills set top performers apart in this role. These abilities are crucial for driving organizational growth, securing funding, and building lasting partnerships essential to the nonprofit’s mission.

How does a Development Director typically collaborate with other departments to achieve organizational goals?

A Development Director frequently works cross-functionally with teams such as marketing, finance, and program management to align fundraising strategies with organizational objectives. This collaboration often involves coordinating on campaigns, sharing donor insights, and ensuring consistent messaging across platforms. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as the Development Director serves as a bridge between departments to maximize impact and foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

What does a Director of Development do?

A Director of Development oversees fundraising efforts, builds relationships with donors, and develops strategies to support an organization’s financial growth. They often manage a team, coordinate campaigns, and utilize tools like CRM systems to track progress, ensuring the organization meets its funding goals.

What is the difference between Development Director vs Fundraising Manager?

AspectDevelopment DirectorFundraising Manager
Primary FocusOversees overall fundraising strategies, donor relations, and development initiativesExecutes specific fundraising campaigns and manages donor outreach
ResponsibilitiesStrategic planning, team leadership, major gift cultivationEvent planning, donor communication, campaign execution
CredentialsBachelor’s or Master’s in Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, or related fields; experience in leadership rolesBachelor’s degree; experience in fundraising or development roles often preferred
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, charities, educational institutionsNonprofit organizations, charities, fundraising agencies

The Development Director typically holds a strategic leadership role, overseeing the entire development department and long-term fundraising goals. In contrast, the Fundraising Manager focuses on executing specific campaigns and managing day-to-day donor activities. Both roles require similar credentials and work in similar environments, but the Development Director has broader responsibilities and higher-level oversight.

Is being a BDM a stressful job?

A Business Development Manager (BDM) role can be stressful due to targets, client negotiations, and workload management. Success often depends on strong communication, time management, and resilience, with some roles involving high-pressure environments and performance metrics.
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Development Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Development Director job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,386 per year, or $44.4 per hour.
Development Director

Development Director

Playworks

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION, The Development Director is part of a team of fundraisers and relationship builders working together to support Playworks' strategic growth plan. The Director's main roles are to create and implement the overarching regional fundraising strategy, lead cultivation and stewardship of many high-level external relationships, and lead, develop, and mobilize the region to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. Reporting directly to the Executive Director in Northern California, the Director creatively develops, leads and drives ambitious fundraising strategy, board management in close partnership with the Executive Director, and new fundraising generation. As a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to the ED, the Director is a senior leader in the region who catalyzes regional growth as a resource mobilizer, elevates the Playworks brand, as a fundraising and external relations expert, and as a savvy people leader and relationship builder. This role is an in-person role responsible for conducting in-person meetings and site visits across the Bay Area, based primarily in our Oakland offices.
Specifically, this role will have the following responsibilities:
Create, lead, and drive overarching fundraising strategy, operational plans, and all revenue activities to meet or exceed fundraising goals for the region.
  • Maintain high renewal rates
  • Maintain donor relationships and build new ones
  • Maximize upgrade opportunities for individual and institutional gifts
  • Increase revenue in all streams by 10% in FY26
  • Identify strategies to generate prospects to support impact goals through 2027
  • Own, develop, and implement innovative strategies to increase individual and institutional funding streams and identify prospective government funding opportunities.
  • Deliver on a comprehensive development plan for FY26 with a private revenue goal of $1 million and support current local government fundraising sources $1.3M
  • Personally manages a high-level portfolio of major individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations (existing and prospective), driving cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to secure six- and seven-figure gifts and achieve personal fundraising targets.

Drive regional external relations and local brand:
  • Develop a comprehensive communications and public relations plan to help elevate the Playworks brand
  • Building external relationships is essential for donor cultivation, prospect identification, and partnership opportunities in the education and literacy sectors.
  • Oversee all external communications, ensuring persuasive and compelling messaging, campaigns, and alignment
  • Oversee the strategy and support in cultivating and stewarding individual donors
  • Manage relationships with institutional donors, including corporate and entertainment alignments
  • Staff and provide strategic support to the board through management of Fundraising and Engagement, and Corporate committees
  • Ensure systems and operations of the development department, optimizing efficiencies and skills
  • Provide strategic advice and direction to the Executive Director to ensure the region's success against goals and benchmarks

How you'll do it:
Strategy Development
  • Demonstrate an ability to devise innovative regional strategic fundraising plans, create action steps, and mobilize many stakeholders to achieve fundraising goals (ie event best practices and innovation) . Build sustainable plans to maximize market opportunities, meet goals and significantly grow funding. In addition, leverage systems, people, and resources to drive processes and track progress against goals to report on progress to senior leadership and board. Execute work in a highly organized, analytical, and data-informed manner.
  • Work with the Executive Director to provide best in class cultivation and activation strategies to move all prospects through pipeline moves management from research/ prospecting to close.

External Relations & Communication
  • Demonstrate advanced experience in external relations, corporate alignment, board management and communication, and strategic stewardship and cultivation of donors. Deliver convincing messaging and demonstrate a genuine joy in connecting with donors, and all external stakeholders that reflects Playworks' culture and values.
  • Serve as an ambassador of Playworks. Quickly establish credibility when promoting Playworks to external audiences. Demonstrate a high degree of comfort and poise with donors, corporations, and prospects. Develop strategic corporate partnerships.
  • Create compelling external materials and collateral. Engage press and secure earned media opportunities. Develop and lead on social media strategies and content generation.

New Revenue Generation
  • Demonstrate a strong track record in driving development efforts in rapidly growing organizations, particularly in Northern California. Demonstrate ability to hit fundraising goals, generate new funding sources, and run sophisticated corporate and individual giving campaigns. Demonstrate cultivation success. Show a strong hunger and drive to not only drive strategy internally but also to heavily participate in external relationship building and fundraising.
  • Lead the strategy, development, and execution of innovative fundraising events that generate new revenue, deepen community engagement, expand Playworks' network of supporters, and achieve annual fundraising goals.

People Leadership
  • Collaborate with the Northern California leadership team, and lead an internal team to meet and exceed aggressive fundraising goals. Consistently coach, grow, and create stretch assignments to grow future fundraising leaders from within.
  • In close partnership with the Executive Director, recruit, cultivate, and co-lead our 14-member Regional Advisory Board and 8-10 member Associate Board, ensuring achievement of annual give-get goals averaging $15,000 per member/board annually, while providing strategic support to Fundraising & Engagement and Corporate committees.

About you!
You'll be successful in this role if you:
  • Have 5+ years of increasing responsibility in a development or related role, including 3 years of team management or leadership
  • Demonstrate a strong track record in driving development efforts in rapidly growing mission-oriented organizations, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Can demonstrate the ability to maintain strong long-term donor relationships
  • Have experience reading, interpreting, and providing financial reports for donors
  • Are an exceptional and persuasive communicator in writing and verbally
  • Are achievement-oriented and have a demonstrated track record of achieving aggressive fundraising goals; have consistently met or exceeded fundraising goals
  • Demonstrate a commitment to fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment.
  • Display a deep belief in our mission and root your work in our core values.
  • Ability to prove eligibility to work legally in the U.S. and that you are at least 18 years of age.

Bonus points if you:
  • Have experience working in launch or growth phases of organizations
  • Have a bachelor's or master's degree in business, public administration, or a comparable field
  • Have a high degree of comfort with Salesforce or other fundraising database
  • Have experience working in education or literacy

The other things you need to know:
  • This role is an in-person role responsible for conducting in-person meetings and site visits across the Bay Area, with flexibility for remote work when not engaged in field activities, based primarily in our Oakland or San Francisco offices.
  • Travel: This position travels regularly throughout Northern California. This position may also involve occasional travel to Playworks' National Headquarters in Oakland, CA.

Compensation & Benefits:
Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work, and an opportunity to grow professionally. We offer:
  • This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Chief Development Officer.
  • At Playworks, our starting salary takes into consideration internal pay equity, geographic pay differential, and robust external market data. We highly value transparency and equity within compensation and, therefore, are committed to adhering to established compensation pay points. The hiring salary for this position is $122,600.
  • A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) plans with employer match of up to 3% of salary, life insurance, employee-funded pre-tax health, and child care spending accounts.
  • Generous Flexible PTO policy with paid sick and holiday leave.

This is a hands-on, creative, playful, and fun-loving place to work, all while contributing to the success of our nation's youth. So if you're ready to immerse yourself in the education sector, working on a rewarding set of challenges and if you've got the skills, experience, passion, and a team spirit, apply today!
Please include:
  • A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
  • Resume.
  • References will be requested.

ABOUT PLAYWORKS: At Playworks, we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We create a place for every kid on the playground to get active, build valuable skills, connect, and have fun. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services, including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships.
As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, faith, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities, or board service on a merit basis.

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