Research And Development Director Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

DEPARTMENT: Development
JOB STATUS: Full time
FLSA: Exempt
REPORTS TO: President/CEO
BENEFITS: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, 403b Plan, Paid Vacation/Sick, Paid Parking

Overview

The Director of Development leads the Community Foundation’s philanthropy program, providing strategic direction for fund development, fundraising, and donor engagement. This individual approaches leadership with a service mindset—prioritizing the needs of donors, team members, and community partners while fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and shared purpose. They set priorities for Development staff, including the affiliate team, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s mission to grow assets, support impactful grantmaking, and strengthen a culture of philanthropy across the greater Dubuque region.

This role calls for a relationship-driven leader who can balance attracting and supporting fundholders, growing the asset base, and advancing the Forever Fund. The Director cultivates and stewards relationships with donors, prospects, and professional advisors through authentic community engagement and strategic outreach, while advancing the Foundation’s philanthropic strategy through integrated growth and stewardship efforts. This individual oversees the Foundation’s internal and external calendar of events and represents its philanthropic interests through an active and visible presence in the community.

Strategic Leadership & Philanthropic Program Oversight

• Provide overall strategic direction for the Development Department, setting annual and long-term goals for fundraising, donor engagement, and asset growth in alignment with the Foundation’s mission and strategic plan.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Development team, including the affiliate team, building a high-performing culture of philanthropy, best practices, and continuous improvement across all development functions including:
  • Donor visits and relationship management
  • Prospect research, cultivation, and solicitation
  • Annual giving and major gifts
  • Estate and planned giving
  • Professional Advisor Partnerships
  • Transfer of Wealth / Planned Giving program
• Actively seek to grow the Foundation’s asset base in support of its grantmaking goals, with strategic oversight of donor fund development.
• Communicate the Foundation’s unique philanthropic value proposition to current and prospective donors and fundholders, articulating how the Foundation supports community impact while equipping donors to achieve their own charitable goals.
• Work with donors to understand and advance their philanthropic interests, providing access to tools, information, and resources that enhance the effectiveness of their charitable giving.

External-Facing Stewardship Strategy

• Design and lead a comprehensive, donor-centered stewardship strategy that reflects the Foundation’s commitment to concierge-level service for both prospective and current donors.
• Oversee the development and management of an integrated internal and external calendar of events, including donor recognition events, cultivation gatherings, professional advisor programming, and community-facing activities.
• Lead the Foundation’s efforts to recognize and celebrate philanthropic leadership in the community, including identifying and nominating deserving individuals for local and regional awards and recognition programs.
• Enhance external partnerships with wealth advisors, estate planning professionals, and other professional advisors, serving as a primary relationship manager for these strategic alliances.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy in the greater Dubuque community through consistent public presence, storytelling, and engagement.

Planned Giving & Advisor Partnerships

• Lead and develop a planned giving program tied to the Transfer of Wealth study, identifying and cultivating relationships with prospective planned giving donors.
• Oversees the Foundation’s Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) program to deepen relationships with professional advisors and expand philanthropic expertise across the region.
• Participate in professional development organizations such as AFP, AdNet, and other planned giving associations to stay current on trends and best practices.

Community Representation & Organizational Participation

• Serve as the Development Department's liaison to the Board of Directors, providing regular updates on philanthropic strategy, fundraising progress, and donor engagement initiatives.
• Represent the Community Foundation at community, regional, and statewide events, serving as an ambassador for the Foundation’s philanthropic mission.
• Participate in regular staff and internal leadership meetings, contributing to organizational strategy and culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education / Skills / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Demonstrated success in relationship building, fundraising, fund development, and/or sales experience, including planned giving.
• Supervisory and management experience, with a track record of leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to design and execute philanthropic programs at an organizational level.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• A high level of flexibility and the ability to thrive in a small-office environment while fostering a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Computer proficiency in all Microsoft Office components and industry-specific software.
• Effective and efficient time management skills
• Ability to work the hours required for this position, including occasional travel and working evenings and occasional weekends.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Legal and Equal Opportunity

The Employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. This job description is general and may evolve over time. The description is subject to periodic updating. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different and/or additional duties or responsibilities.