Director of Development & Relationships
2 days ago
Portland
Job Description:\n\nAbout Cultivate Initiatives:\nCultivate Initiatives is a group of people who work alongside those on the margins to empower individuals and communities through an inclusive range of initiatives and support. We build communities from the inside out through workforce development, housing and homemaking, and supportive sheltering.\n\nPosition Summary:\nThe Director of Development & Relationships is a key member of Cultivate Initiatives’ executive leadership and serves as the organization’s senior development and fundraising leader. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development & Relationships provides leadership for the organization’s fundraising and relationship-building efforts, including individual giving, major gifts, institutional funding, corporate and community partnerships, events, and donor engagement.\n\nThe Director of Development & Relationships works closely with the Executive Director and Director of Finance to translate organizational strategy into a comprehensive and sustainable development strategy, strengthen revenue and financial sustainability, and align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities. The Director of Development & Relationships establishes clear fundraising goals and meaningful metrics, develops and strengthens systems that support successful fundraising, and aligns fundraising efforts with organizational priorities. The Director also partners with the Executive Director, Board, and leadership team to cultivate high-level relationships and engage donors, funders, and community leaders in meaningful support of Cultivate Initiatives’ work. \n\nAt the heart of the role is ensuring that Cultivate Initiatives has the financial resources and relationships needed to advance its mission, sustain its work, and grow its impact. This is a hands-on executive leadership role requiring both strategic vision and a willingness to personally engage in fundraising—cultivating major donors, developing partnerships, pursuing funding opportunities, making the case for investment, and stewarding relationships over time. The Director of Development & Relationships serves as a leading external representative of Cultivate Initiatives and a key ambassador for the organization’s mission, impact, and vision for the future.\n\nCompensation/Benefits:\n\n$80,000 - 88,000 annually depending on experience\nComprehensive benefits package including health, dental and retirement plans.\nOpportunity to make a meaningful impact by contributing to the success of a non-profit organization.\nCollaborative and inclusive work environment that values diversity and professional growth.\n\nPrimary Duties:\nExecutive Leadership & Revenue Strategy\n\nPartner with the Executive Director and director team to develop and implement organizational strategy, priorities, and plans for sustainable revenue growth.\nDevelop and lead a comprehensive fundraising and revenue development strategy aligned with Cultivate Initiatives’ mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial goals.\nEstablish clear fundraising goals, revenue targets, metrics, and accountability structures, and regularly assess progress and adjust strategies to maximize results.\nIdentify opportunities to increase and diversify revenue through individual giving, major gifts, institutional funding, corporate and community partnerships, events, and other philanthropic opportunities.\nKeep the organization’s mission, impact, and the needs of the people it serves at the center of fundraising strategy and donor engagement.\nIdentify emerging opportunities, risks, and challenges affecting the organization’s fundraising and financial sustainability and develop creative, strategic responses.\n\nFundraising & Revenue Development\n\nLead the organization’s overall fundraising efforts, with particular emphasis on building a strong and sustainable major-gift and individual-giving program.\nDevelop and maintain a robust portfolio of current and prospective major donors, funders, corporate partners, and other key supporters.\nPersonally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level donors and funders, including identifying prospects, developing relationships, making compelling asks, and securing significant financial commitments.\nPartner with the Executive Director and Board to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors and strategically leverage leadership relationships to advance fundraising goals.\nDevelop compelling cases for support that clearly communicate Cultivate Initiatives’ mission, impact, needs, and vision for the future.\nOversee donor stewardship and engagement strategies that build trust, demonstrate impact, and strengthen long-term donor relationships and retention.\nLead the development and implementation of strategies to grow unrestricted and flexible funding and strengthen the organization’s overall revenue mix.\nEnsure fundraising activities are coordinated, timely, and aligned across individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, events, and other development efforts.\n\nInstitutional Funding & Partnerships\n\nProvide strategic leadership for institutional fundraising, including foundations, government funding, corporate philanthropy, and other institutional sources.\nIdentify and pursue new funding opportunities that align with organizational priorities and demonstrate potential for sustainable impact.\nOversee the development of high-quality proposals, reports, funding requests, and other materials that effectively communicate organizational impact and funding needs.\nBuild and maintain strong relationships with foundation, corporate, government, and community partners.\nMonitor funding commitments, deliverables, and reporting requirements in partnership with program and finance leadership to ensure strong stewardship and compliance.\n\nDonor Relations & Community Engagement\n\nServe as a primary relationship-builder and ambassador for Cultivate Initiatives with donors, funders, community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other external stakeholders.\nDevelop meaningful and authentic relationships with supporters that foster long-term engagement with the organization and its mission.\nCreate opportunities for donors and community partners to understand and experience the impact of Cultivate Initiatives’ work.\nStrengthen the organization’s visibility, reputation, and philanthropic network within the community.\nRepresent Cultivate Initiatives at community events, meetings, presentations, and other external engagements as appropriate.\n\nBoard & Executive Partnership\n\nPartner closely with the Executive Director to develop fundraising priorities, cultivate key relationships, and secure philanthropic support for organizational priorities.\nEquip and engage Board members as ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraising partners.\nProvide the Board with clear and regular updates on fundraising performance, revenue projections, donor relationships, opportunities, and risks.\nSupport the development and implementation of Board fundraising goals and strategies.\nLead and/or participate in Board and staff committees to advance fundraising and organizational priorities.\n\nFinancial Stewardship & Organizational Sustainability\n\nPartner with the Director of Finance and Executive Director to develop revenue projections, fundraising budgets, and long-term financial sustainability strategies.\nMonitor fundraising performance and assess the financial impact and sustainability of development strategies and funding opportunities.\nAnalyze revenue trends, donor behavior, funding pipelines, and other relevant data to inform strategy and decision-making.\nIdentify opportunities to strengthen revenue diversification, donor retention, fundraising efficiency, and long-term organizational sustainability.\nEnsure fundraising practices and resources are used effectively and strategically to maximize philanthropic impact.\n\nDevelopment Leadership & Organizational Culture\n\nBuild a culture of philanthropy throughout Cultivate Initiatives in which staff and leadership understand their role in supporting relationships, communicating impact, and advancing the mission.\nCoach and support development staff in achieving fundraising goals, cultivating relationships, and building strong, effective development practices.\nEstablish clear roles, systems, processes, and accountability for fundraising activities across the organization.\nCollaborate with Human Resources and organizational leadership to support effective hiring, development, performance management, and retention within the development function.\nFoster a development culture grounded in authenticity, relationship-building, equity, inclusion, and respect for the dignity and experiences of the people and communities Cultivate Initiatives serves.\n\nPreferred Competencies, Skills, & Experience:\n\nSignificant fundraising leadership experience, including demonstrated success in developing and executing strategies that generate substantial philanthropic revenue.\nProven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and/or other high-level philanthropic partners, with the ability to personally build relationships and make significant asks.\nDemonstrated ability to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy across multiple revenue streams, including individual giving, major gifts, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, and other philanthropic sources.\nStrong understanding of the principles and practices of major-gift fundraising, donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management.\nDemonstrated success growing revenue, diversifying funding sources, and strengthening long-term financial sustainability.\nExecutive-level presence and the ability to inspire confidence, build relationships, influence others, and serve as a compelling ambassador for an organization and its mission.\nExceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex organizational work into compelling stories, cases for support, proposals, presentations, and funding requests.\nStrong financial acumen, including the ability to understand budgets, revenue projections, fundraising performance, and the financial implications of development strategies.\nDemonstrated ability to establish and manage meaningful fundraising metrics, analyze data and trends, assess performance, and translate strategy into measurable results.\nStrong strategic and organizational skills, with the ability to balance long-term revenue strategy with the hands-on work required to cultivate relationships and secure funding.\nProven ability to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, develop creative solutions, and effectively lead through change and complex situations.\nHighly effective collaborator with strong judgment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust and accountability with donors, Board members, staff, community partners, and organizational leadership.\nAbility to effectively engage and activate Board members, volunteers, and organizational leaders in fundraising and relationship-building.\nDemonstrated ability to build authentic relationships across differences and communicate effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and experiences.\nCommitment to equity and inclusion, with the ability to lead fundraising and relationship-building practices that honor the dignity, voice, and lived experiences of the people and communities Cultivate Initiatives serves.\nCommitment to Cultivate Initiatives’ mission and the ability to authentically communicate the organization’s impact, vision, and value to current and prospective supporters.\n\nWork Conditions and Physical Requirements:\n\n Work is performed primarily indoors with occasional engagements outside\n Ability to work in environments with varying noise levels, from quiet offices to louder, industrial settings\nAbility to occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 15 pounds\nWork requires the ability to perform repetitive movements of the wrist, hands, or fingers due to continuous use of computer keyboards and other office equipment\nMust be able to work weekends and evenings, when necessary\nBeing physically present in the CI offices from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday - Friday\nMust be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or religious exemption\nMust be able to provide proof of Driver’s License\n\nThe position is open until filled. Applications received by October 5, 2026, will receive priorityconsideration. If a suitable candidate is found during that screening, later applications will not beconsidered. We look forward to speaking with you!\nCI is committed to maintaining a safe and secure work environment for employees and neighbors.As part of our hiring process, we conduct criminal history checks for the top candidates of allrecruitments and driving history checks for candidates of positions that require operatingcompany vehicles. CI also conducts routine drug tests.\nCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CI values a diverse, inclusive workforce and provides equalemployment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants foremployment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity,gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mentaldisability, medical condition, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, geneticinformation, military or veteran status, vaccination status, or any other basis protected by federal,state, or local laws. If you require accommodation to apply, please contact Emily Hutsell at thefollowing number or email.\nQuestions: employment@cultivatepdx.org or (503) 719-6135