Director of Development

Purpose:
The Director of Development will maintain a strong donor-facing presence with an emphasis on
cultivating, stewarding, and inviting support of both new and long-time supporters of Youth
First. The Director of Development will work closely with the Vice President of Development,
President & CEO, Founder, Board, other volunteers, and staff to identify and execute strategies
that engage high-capacity donors, deepen partnerships, and achieve fundraising goals. The
Director of Development will continually collaborate with and leverage the vast network of
supporters and partners across our footprint. The Director of Development will develop revised
fundraising approaches with businesses and other initiatives that would create better
opportunities for building relationships and increased giving.

Reports to:Vice President of Development

Remote Work Option: Hybrid work plan of up to one day remote may be requested after
supervisor determines that onboarding is complete and employee is prepared.

Roles and Responsibilities:
1. Portfolio Management:
a. In collaboration with staff and board members, identify, create, and execute unique,
tailored fundraising strategies for high-capacity individuals, corporations, and private
foundations within the assigned portfolio.
b. While maintaining the utmost discretion and following ethical fundraising practices,
successfully advance prospects and donors through the donor cycle including
identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, resulting in secured gifts and
annual goal attainment.
c. Actively engage with Board members, Donor Development Committee members, and
other volunteers to identify prospects and facilitate introductions and invitations to
support.
d. Continually communicate and collaborate with Marketing & Communications, Events,
and Grants team members to ensure the appropriate overlap of donor engagement,
solicitation, and communication is in place throughout the year.
e. Throughout the fiscal year, ensure each donor-specific outreach and stewardship
metrics are thoughtfully executed, reported on and evaluated with leadership and
committee members on a monthly basis.
f. Ensure outreach and stewardship metrics are recorded appropriately for each account
utilizing Salesforce, in addition to updating contact information, capturing key intel,
uploading relevant attachments, and monitoring metrics within assigned dashboard.
g. Develop new approaches to fundraising with businesses that would create better
opportunities for building relationships and increased giving.
h. Perform mid-level donor evaluations and develop strategies for how to build
relationships, steward, and increase giving long-term.
i. Develop, implement, and oversee new initiatives to assist all Regional Development
Officers to be successful in their roles.
2. Presentations, Proposals, and Donor Recognition:
a. Effectively gain understanding of donor motivations by running research, asking
questions, listening to and affirming each donor with gratitude and hospitality.
b. Create and deliver impactful and transformative gift proposals.
c. Effectively invite donors to invest (short and long-term) in Youth First's mission and
negotiate, honor, and implement each unique request for donor recognition.
d. When appropriate, work alongside Grants team to identify, cultivate, and steward
private and corporate foundation relationships. Provide support with narrative insight
for written proposals, assist in executing funding deliverables and coordinating
appropriate donor recognition in a timely and effective manner.
e. Collaborate with Communications & Marketing team when media alerts, social media
posts, check presentations, etc. are appropriate for gift announcements and donor
recognition.
3. Special Events and Other Assignments:
a. Represent Youth First annually at the Breakfast of Champions, the Passport to
Adventure Auction, and other fundraising events throughout the year, as well as
occasional key community events if needed, to develop and nurture strategic
relationships with stakeholders and community leaders.
b. Responsible for other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's Degree required.
3+ years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success in personally cultivating,
soliciting, and stewarding donors.
Proven leadership experience.
Experience in volunteer management, especially engaging, motivating and successfully
utilizing volunteers to achieve fundraising goals.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate well and work effectively with
multiple constituencies and audiences.
Excellent written/verbal communication skills and presentation skills with experience
presenting to varied audiences.
Ability to present and deliver complex prevention and outcomes data as well as speaking
to the financial health of overall organization.
General understanding of current market, economic, and political landscapes.
Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills with experience handling objections.
Strong knowledge of the organization's mission, values, programs, services and corporate
culture is highly desired.
Team player committed to developing and working within a collaborative environment and
to ensuring the highest customer service orientation.
Pro-active, self-starter with a can-do attitude required.
Knowledge of MS Office 365 systems and Donor Database CRMs preferred.
Marketing, public relations, fundraising trainings/certifications and planned giving
experience are a plus.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Youth First will not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, assignment, evaluation, promotion,
discipline, termination, or any other employment action on the basis of any characteristic or
class, which is now or may in the future become protected by law. Employment with Youth First
is based solely on qualifications and competence for the particular position to be filled. Since
such qualifications and competencies are not peculiar to any type or class of individuals, and
since Youth First recognizes the value of a diverse workforce, there will be no discrimination in
employment decisions and actions on the basis of age, race, gender, color, national origin,
disability, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Updated 7/21/25