Development Director

Who We Are
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young girls and helping them develop into confident, capable leaders of the future? If so, we invite you to become a dynamic part of the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland team. At Badgerland Girl Scouts, we believe in the power of every girl to change the world, and we are looking for dedicated individuals who share our commitment to fostering courage, confidence, and character in the next generation of female leaders. Join us in creating a brighter future for girls, where they can discover their potential, embrace diversity, and build a better world.

Position Summary 

The Development Director is a crucial player in propelling the fundraising initiatives of Badgerland Girl Scouts to new heights. This role demands an exceptional attention to detail and a proactive approach to tracking progress and outcomes. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams the Development Director will oversee the grant cycle including identifying, applying, execution and reporting of grants, along with entry level gifts and administrative needs for the department.

The role requires a strong ability to engage with foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other institutional donors and prospects, to secure funding and support for our programs.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this position will ensure alignment in messaging and collateral to communicate our fundraising strategies clearly and consistently. The successful candidate will have excellent writing skills and a proven ability to collaborate across departments, contributing to a coordinated approach to achieving a culture of philanthropy.

Job Type: Salary/Exempt
Salary Range:  $65,000-$75,000/year
Expected hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Madison, WI

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·         Develop and lead comprehensive fundraising strategies to grow and diversify revenue across multiple funding streams, including grants and individual giving.

·         Identify, cultivate, and solicit foundation and corporate sponsorships for events, programs, and strategic initiatives, aligning partnership opportunities with brand values and organizational impact.

·         Manage all aspects of grant acquisition, from research and proposal writing to submission and reporting, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and measurable outcomes.

·         Assist with annual appeal campaigns, incorporating data-driven segmentation, personalized outreach, and donor engagement to support annual fundraising goals.

·         Assist with fundraising and engagement events that build donor relationships, raise visibility, and highlight the impact of Girl Scouts.

·         Prepare donor communications including proposals, acknowledgments, impact updates, and customized reports.

·         Ensure accurate data entry and pipeline management within the council’s CRM systems, supporting segmentation, tracking, and targeted engagement.

·         Collaborate across departments to identify fundable opportunities and craft compelling narratives that reflect program success and organizational goals.

·         Maintain a comprehensive calendar and tracking system for grants and campaigns to monitor deadlines, submissions, and outcomes.

·         Collaborate closely with the Marketing and Communications team to create cohesive Fund Development messaging, ensuring alignment in branding and outreach strategies across all platforms. 

·         Stay current with fund development best practices, donor trends, and emerging tools to continuously strengthen fundraising effectiveness.

·         Assist in managing the development budget, tracking expenditures, and ensuring financial accountability.

·         Demonstrate belief in the mission and values of Girl Scouting; actively model the Girl Scout Promise and Law and ensure communications align with the vision of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin—Badgerland.

Education or Experience

·         Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public administration, or a related field required.

·         Minimum of 2 years of progressive experience in grant writing and fund development, with demonstrated success in:

o   Securing gifts, grants, and corporate/foundation sponsorships funding

o   Managing annual campaigns and donor engagement strategies

o   Managing grants from identification to reporting

·         Exceptional written and verbal communicator with the ability to share the impact of the Girl Scout mission in a compelling way.

·         Demonstrated ability and sensitivity working with persons of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles.

·         High capacity to master and leverage data tracking platforms.

·         Outstanding project management skills and operates with an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset.

·         Highly organized and detail-oriented with a bias towards execution and action.

·         Skilled relationship builder with a demonstrated ability to motivate and collaborate cross-functionally throughout the organization.

·         A proactive team player eager to contribute at all levels while also holding a big picture, systems-thinking mindset.

·         Strong work ethic with a high degree of curiosity and a learning orientation; someone who leads and operates with high integrity, confidentiality, and discretion.

·         Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, experience working with cloud-based platforms, Salesforce, and Donor Perfect, preferred.

·         Be or become a registered member of the Girls Scouts of the United States of America; have a working knowledge of Girl Scout philosophy and programming, and be committed to the Girl Scout mission. Prior Girl Scout experience is not required.

Other Requirements

·         Must be able to occasionally work irregular hours, including nights and weekends.

·         Anticipated travel is 25% or less.

·         Possess a valid driver’s License and proof of insurance.

·         Must be able to work both in an office setting and independently off-site.

Physical Requirements

·         The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to withstand:

a.       Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

b.       Operate office equipment

c.        Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds at times.

Individual Core Competencies

·         Adaptability: Accepts criticism and feedback, adapts to changes in the work environment, changes approach or method to best fit the situation, and manages competing demands.

·         Communications: Exhibits good listening and comprehension, expresses ideas and thoughts in written and verbal form, keeps others adequately informed, and uses appropriate communication methods.

·         Customer Service: Displays courtesy and sensitivity, manages difficult or emotional customer situations, meets commitments, responds promptly to customer needs, and solicits customer feedback to improve service.

·         Dependability: Commits to doing the best job possible, follows instructions and responds to management direction, keeps commitments, meets attendance and punctuality guidelines, and responds to requests for service and assistance.

·         Cooperation: Displays a positive outlook and pleasant manner, establishes and maintains effective relations, exhibits tact and consideration, offers assistance and support to co-workers, works actively to resolve conflicts, and works cooperatively in group situations.

·         Job Knowledge: Competent in required job skills and knowledge, displays understanding of how job relations to others, exhibits the ability to learn and apply new skills, keeps up to date with current developments, requires minimal supervision, and uses resources effectively.

Other Duties

Please note that this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may be fluid depending on needs of organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland is an equal opportunity employer.