Development Director
Job Description
Position Overview
CelebrateMercy, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping people discover and learn about the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, seeks an experienced Development Director to lead fundraising efforts and drive sustainable revenue growth. Reporting to the Executive Director, you will combine strategic planning with hands-on execution to strengthen donor relationships and advance the organization's mission. This full-time role is remote for daily work but requires periodic travel for fundraising events, donor cultivation meetings, and company retreats (several times annually).
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth
- Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals and long-term financial sustainability
- Establish annual fundraising targets with detailed implementation plans and accountability measures
- Diversify revenue streams across major gifts, monthly giving, individual donations, seasonal campaigns, and institutional funding
- Research and implement innovative fundraising opportunities to expand organizational reach
Donor Relations & Major Gifts
- Personally identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift donors and build a robust pipeline of prospective supporters
- Develop individualized relationship-building and stewardship plans for key donors to maximize acquisition, retention and engagement
- Manage donor portfolios and maintain strong personal relationships with major supporters
Campaign & Organizational Leadership
- Oversee large-scale fundraising campaigns including Ramadan initiatives, GivingTuesday campaigns, and seasonal drives
- Collaborate with Marketing, Programs and other departments to align fundraising with organizational priorities
- Plan and execute fundraising events and donor engagement activities
- Analyze campaign performance and refine approaches based on results
Team Development & Operations
- Lead and mentor the Development team, establishing clear goals and fostering accountability and collaboration
- Set performance expectations, provide feedback and support professional growth for direct reports
- Build efficient systems and workflows that support departmental growth
- Identify team expansion and resource needs as the organization scales
Data & Performance Management
- Oversee donor database management and CRM systems
- Use donor segmentation and performance analytics to optimize fundraising strategies
- Monitor key metrics and fundraising trends, providing regular reporting to executive leadership
- Adjust tactics based on performance data to maximize revenue outcomes
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 7+ years of nonprofit fundraising or development experience with demonstrated leadership or management responsibilities
- Proven ability to personally cultivate and secure major gifts, grow fundraising revenue and achieve measurable targets
- Deep understanding of donor cultivation, stewardship models, recurring giving programs and major fundraising campaigns
- Track record of translating strategic plans into measurable organizational results
- Demonstrated success leading and developing team members
- Strong communication, relationship-building and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with donor CRM platforms, fundraising analytics and performance reporting tools
- Ability to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on implementation in a growing organization
- Willingness to travel several times annually for events and meetings
- Personal commitment to and genuine interest in the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the organization's mission
What We Offer
Competitive salary based on experience, with performance-based bonus opportunities. Benefits include paid time off, paid holidays, and paid maternity and paternity leave.