Director of Development (Fundraising)

Hopewell is a therapeutic farm community in Middlefield, Ohio that treats adults with mental illness through community engagement, meaningful work, and a comprehensive approach to healing and wellness. Hopewell is a picturesque three hundred- and twenty-five-acre working farm located in Middlefield, Ohio. Hopewell’s Development Office is currently located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Our mission is to provide an opportunity for adults with serious mental illness to experience a self-reliant and satisfying life through participation in a vibrant residential therapeutic farm community.

We are currently looking to hire a full time Director of Development.

Position Summary:

The Director of Development is a strategic leadership position responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support Hopewell and future capital campaigns. This role oversees all aspects of development including major gifts, annual giving, institutional giving, corporate sponsorships, donor stewardship, planned and legacy giving and special events. The Director reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and works closely with the Director of Communications, Board of Directors, as well as Development and Finance staff to achieve annual fundraising targets.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

- Develop and execute an annual development plan with clear goals and strategies for donor acquisition, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

- Grow and diversify revenue through individual giving, major gifts, foundation and corporate grants, planned giving, and special events.

- Collaborate with leadership to align fundraising efforts to support the organization’s strategic priorities and future capital campaigns.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

- Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, lead cultivation and solicitation strategies, and leverage Board participation.

- Ensure timely acknowledgment and stewardship of all gifts.

- Oversee donor recognition programs.

- Coordinate communication schedules and messaging with the Director of Communications.

Institutional & Grant Fundraising

- Research, write, and manage grant proposals and reports for foundations and corporations.

- Maintain strong relationships with institutional funders and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.

Events

- Plan and execute fundraising events, including donor briefings, as applicable.

- Leverage Hopewell’s annual Summer Solstice to deepen engagement and identify new supporters.

- Support the Director of Communications in fundraising efforts at Hopewell’s Summer Solstice event.

Development Operations

- Supervise development staff and contractors as applicable.

- Prepare for and facilitate the Board Development Committee.

- Work with Finance and ensure accurate donor records and reports using Raiser’s Edge.

- Continually assess the utilization of Donor Management software (currently Raiser’s Edge) for donor tracking - documentation of donor background, giving history, meeting impact and to monitor follow-up – and implement improvements when applicable.

- Track and report fundraising metrics and trends to leadership and the Board.

- Manage and track Development department budget.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.

- Minimum 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience in a nonprofit environment.

- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, especially with major gifts and institutional giving.

- Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Experience with donor management systems (Razor’s Edge preferred) and fundraising software.

- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Skills:

- Knowledge of the local philanthropic landscape.

- Experience engaging Boards and volunteers in fundraising efforts.

- Comfort with public speaking and donor presentations.

Compensation & Benefits:

Hopewell offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, and professional development support.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

- 403(b)

- 403(b) matching

- Dental insurance

- Employee assistance program

- Health insurance

- Life insurance

- Paid time off

- Vision insurance

Work Location: In person