Director of Development

The Director of Development will serve as Canterbury Shaker Village’s lead fundraiser and is responsible for planning, implementing, evaluating, and reporting on the organization’s development and engagement activities. This leader will oversee donor relations, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grant writing, and special events as well as fundraising for operating, capital and endowment campaigns. The Director will lead efforts to build a network of new support for Canterbury Shaker Village and steward its longtime donors. As a member of the leadership team, the Director of Development will contribute to organizational strategy, ensure the sustainability of fundraising programs, and represent Canterbury Shaker Village with credibility, diplomacy, and enthusiasm. The Director of Development will be an organized and visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation. They will be a collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring staff, board members, and donors. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate successful time and priority management, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Build a Culture of Philanthropy: Foster a unified commitment to giving by educating staff, volunteers, and stakeholders on the importance of philanthropy, integrating fundraising into all aspects of the organization’s activities, and creating opportunities for meaningful donor engagement and recognition.
• Fundraising Strategy: Establish and implement clear short- and long-term goals to drive successful fundraising initiatives. Lead and manage all aspects of fundraising.
• Comprehensive Donor Engagement: Build, cultivate, and steward relationships with individual, corporate, foundation, and government donors.
  • Develop and oversee implementation of a Donor Experience Plan
    • Design and oversee a structured process for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, acknowledging, and stewarding donors.
    • Collaborate with staff and trustees to devise tailored engagement strategies for existing and new prospects.
    • Strengthen donor engagement by crafting compelling cases for support and personalized stewardship plans.
  • Emphasize relationship-building practices that support both immediate fundraising needs and long-term donor retention.
    • Establish and maintain relationships with lead donors. Act as a key solicitor while managing the Village’s development program.
    • Actively engage with the CSV community through events and other interactions to build relationships and foster support.
  • Lead processes to identify, research, approach, and cultivate potential new supporters, with a focus on lead/transformational donors.
• Collaborate with Leadership: Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees to align development efforts with organizational goals.
  • Engage Board and Volunteers in Fundraising. Provide training, guidance, and opportunities for them to actively participate in fundraising efforts.
  • Act as the key liaison and facilitator for the Board’s Development Committee.
• Donor Recognition: Ensure all donors are thanked and acknowledged promptly and appropriately, using tailored strategies to reinforce relationships and inspire continued support.
  • Strategic Communications and Reporting: Develop and oversee implementation of a Communications and Engagement Plan
  • Work with communications staff and/or consultants to develop impactful materials such as the annual report, direct mail appeals, project case statements, and sponsorship proposals.
  • Collaborate with staff and consultants to ensure consistent communication with donors, members, and the broader community.
• Data-Driven Fundraising: Oversee data collection, management, and analysis to guide strategy and decision-making. Leverage metrics to evaluate fundraising performance and refine practices for maximum efficiency and impact.
  • Ensure that a comprehensive donor database is in place and maintained to track relationships and engagement.
  • Provide reports on development department activities and progress to the Executive Director, board, and donors
• Plan and Lead Fundraising Events: Organize and manage fundraising-related events, integrating meaningful engagement opportunities for Board members, donors, and volunteers to deepen their connection to the organization.
  • Engage with the CSV community through active participation in events to build relationships and foster support.
• Supervise Development Staff: Manage and support development team members (likely 1-3 people), ensuring their efforts align with the organization’s fundraising objectives.
  • Coordinate departmental responsibilities through an annual work plan and master calendar, setting clear goals, providing regular feedback, fostering professional growth, and encouraging a collaborative culture.
• Program Management:
  • Assist with the creation of an annual development budget. Ensure operations in line with the approved budget.
  • Oversee development operations, making improvements to policies and procedures as needed
• Grant Management:
  • Work with grant-writing consultants and CSV staff to identify, apply for, and manage grants in support of the village and its work, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities