StepUp Wilmington seeks a dynamic and strategic Director of Development to lead and grow our fund development efforts. This individual will oversee all aspects of fundraising, including grants, special events, direct mail campaigns, donor stewardship, and major gift strategies. The Director of Development will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and staff to secure the resources necessary to advance StepUp Wilmington’s mission of empowering individuals through employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Fund Development Strategy

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan aligned with StepUp Wilmington’s strategic goals.

  • Identify new funding opportunities and cultivate relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporate donors.

  • Track progress toward fundraising goals and provide regular reports to the CEO and Board.

  Grants Management

  • Research, write, and manage grant proposals and reports to foundations, corporations, and government agencies.

  • In collaboration with the grant writer, maintain a grants calendar and ensure timely submissions and compliance with grant requirements.

  Donor Relations & Stewardship

  • Oversee direct mail campaigns, donor acknowledgments, and stewardship communications.

  • Ensure accurate and timely data entry into Salesforce.
    

  Special Events

  • Plan and execute fundraising and stewardship events.

  • Lead event sponsorship outreach and donor engagement strategies related to events.
    

  Board & Staff Engagement

  • Partner with the CEO and Board Fundraising Committee to support Board member engagement in fundraising.

  • Collaborate with program and marketing staff to gather impact stories and outcomes for fundraising materials.
    

Qualifications

• First and foremost, the successful candidate must have a passion for the mission of StepUp Wilmington.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in nonprofit development.

• Proven track record in writing successful grants, managing direct mail campaigns, and planning successful fundraising events.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and project management skills.

• Proficiency in donor management systems, with experience in Salesforce a major plus.

• CFRE certification is a plus.

• Ability to set priorities, multi-task, and meet deadlines

• Proficient in Microsoft and Google applications, Salesforce a plus.

• Good sense of humor and ability to work well with a dynamic team.

• Flexible schedule outside of typical working hours, with the ability and willingness to work occasional nights or weekends, as necessary.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range for this position is $75k to $85k, commensurate with experience.

• Benefits include generous PTO, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and Simple IRA with employer match.