Development Director

Development Director

Girls Inc. of Memphis is growing to inspire more girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Are you an accomplished fundraising professional with a record of building donor relationships and generating significant philanthropic revenue? Are you passionate about equipping girls ages 518 to find their voices, experience their power, and achieve their full potential? Join our fast-paced, mission-driven, girl-centered team as we advance our vision of empowered girls in an equitable Memphis.

Position Summary

The Development Director is an executive leadership position responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for Girls Inc. of Memphis' comprehensive fund development program. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Development Director will design, implement, manage, and evaluate a diversified fundraising strategy that supports the organization's annual operating budget, programs, facilities, special initiatives, and long-term sustainability.

This position supports efforts to raise more than $2 million annually from individuals, corporations, foundations, government sources, special events, and other philanthropic opportunities. The Development Director will have primary responsibility for corporate and individual donor development and stewardship, while also providing leadership for grant writing, grant management, fundraising events, donor communications, and development operations.

The Development Director will work closely with the President and CEO, Board of Directors, Development Committee, staff, consultants, and community volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward donors and funding partners.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Development Director will help shape organizational strategy, strengthen Girls Inc. of Memphis' presence within the philanthropic community, and contribute to the overall leadership and future direction of the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Leadership

• Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive annual fund development plan with clear goals, timelines, strategies, and performance measures.
• Lead efforts to secure more than $2 million annually from diversified revenue sources, including individuals, corporations, foundations, government, events, and in-kind support.
• Prepare fundraising forecasts, dashboards, and progress reports for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board, and Development Committee.
• Identify revenue gaps, emerging opportunities, and strategies that strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Individual Giving and Major Gifts

• Build and grow the organization's individual donor base through annual giving, major gifts, monthly giving, planned giving, and donor upgrade strategies.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, closing, and stewardship.
• Personally solicit major gifts and prepare the CEO, Board members, and volunteer leaders for effective donor engagement and solicitation.
• Transition campaign and special-project donors into long-term annual supporters.

Corporate, Foundation, and Government Support

• Develop and steward corporate partnerships, sponsorships, employee engagement opportunities, and multi-year investments.
• Lead foundation and government grant strategy with Grant Writer, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, submission, reporting, compliance, and renewal.
• Create a donor-centered stewardship program that includes timely acknowledgments, impact reporting, tours, cultivation events, and personalized engagement, supported by our marketing and communications team.
• Ensure accurate gift processing, donor records, moves management, reporting, segmentation, and data integrity within Network for Good/Bonterra or a comparable CRM.
• Reconcile fundraising records with Finance and use CRM data to guide strategy, retention, forecasting, and decision-making.

Executive, Board, and Team Leadership

• Serve as the CEO's strategic fundraising partner and provide leadership to the Board Development Committee.
• Engage and equip Board members, staff, volunteers, alumni, and community ambassadors to support fundraising goals.
• Recruit, supervise, coach, and evaluate development staff, consultants, interns, and vendors.
• Collaborate across program, finance, operations, and communications to align fundraising with organizational priorities and outcomes.
• Represent Girls Inc. of Memphis professionally throughout the Memphis philanthropic, corporate, civic, and nonprofit communities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including three years leading a comprehensive development program or significant portfolio.
• Demonstrated track record of supporting or leading fundraising efforts that generate more than $2 million annually.
• Proven success in securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, including gifts of $5,000 or more and grants of $100,000 or more.
• Strong grant-writing experience and demonstrated ability to manage grant calendars, reporting requirements, deliverables, compliance, and renewals.
• Demonstrated success in developing corporate relationships and growing an individual donor base.
• At least two years of supervisory, team leadership, or consultant-management experience.
• Experience managing a donor CRM, preferably Network for Good/Bonterra, with strong knowledge of data integrity, gift tracking, donor segmentation, moves management, and reporting.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, relationship-building, project-management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, mission-driven environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and the mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Preferred Qualifications

• CFRE or advanced degree.
• Established relationships within the Memphis philanthropic, corporate, civic, and nonprofit communities.
• Experience with capital campaigns, endowment development, planned giving, government grants, or public funding.
• Experience in youth development, education, gender equity, workforce development, or community-based organizations.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's license, current automobile insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel locally as needed.
• Ability to lift and move up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.