Director of Development
2 days ago
Bridgeport
Job Description Job Description Position: Director of Development Department: Development Status: Full-Time, Exempt Reports To: President & Chief Executive Officer Direct Reports: Development Associate Salary Range: $85,000 – $125,000 Work Flexibility: Occasional remote work may be approved, in alignment with organizational needs and supervisory approval. Last Revision: December 2025 Join our dynamic and diverse team of professionals making an impact! LifeBridge Community Services is a trauma-informed, community-centered nonprofit committed to addressing the complex mental health and wellness challenges faced by youth, adults, and families in the Greater Bridgeport community. We provide trauma-informed services and promote collaboration and shared learning to maximize our impact. Our continuum of mental and behavioral health services includes talk therapy, clinical art therapy, school-based supports, youth development programs, and community education on the biology of trauma and the skills that foster regulation and resilience. LifeBridge is committed to building a diverse, inclusive workplace where every team member feels a sense of belonging and is valued for their unique contributions. In all interactions—with clients, colleagues, partners, and community members—we strive to embody our core values: to be trauma-informed, respectful, transparent, collaborative, deliberate, and impactful. Job Purpose The Director of Development leads LifeBridge’s fundraising strategy and execution to support long-term growth and financial sustainability. Guided by community-centric fundraising principles, this role builds strong donor relationships, manages structured fundraising activities and channels that generate ongoing revenue, including the annual giving program, major gifts pipeline, institutional funding, corporate giving, and events. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, self-driven fundraiser with an established network of philanthropic, corporate, and community relationships in Southwest Connecticut. This role requires a proactive ‘go-getter’ who thrives in front-line donor engagement, is energized by building a culture of philanthropy, and is motivated by ambitious fundraising goals and measurable results. This is a relational, front-line fundraising role combining strategy, donor engagement, and hands-on execution within a collaborative, mission-driven environment. Key Responsibilities Fundraising Strategy & Leadership • Lead LifeBridge’s overall fundraising strategy in partnership with the President & CEO., • Implement a multi-year donor acquisition and retention strategy with annual revenue targets that gradually grow unrestricted giving from ~$375,000 to ~$910,000 over a 3–5 year period., • Oversee a diversified fundraising program including:, • Individual and major gifts, • Corporate partnerships and sponsorships, • Foundation and institutional grants, • Government grants (in partnership with program and finance teams), • Drive a results-oriented development culture grounded in proactive outreach, consistent follow-up, and measurable growth in donor engagement and revenue., • Lead the strategy and writing of major grants and reports, working closely with program and finance staff to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely submission. Donor Engagement & Portfolio Management • Serve as an ambassador for LifeBridge in the philanthropic community, maintaining a strong presence across Fairfield County through meetings, cultivation activities, networking, and community engagement., • Personally manage a portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations., • Leverage donor data and local insights to inform targeted outreach and stewardship, guiding donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and ongoing engagement across the donor lifecycle., • Grow and strengthen:, • Monthly giving program, • Donor upgrade and retention pathways, • Community and peer ambassador fundraising efforts, • Partner closely with the Senior Director of Mission Advancement and Communications to ensure donor-facing materials, campaigns, and messaging are aligned, timely, and compelling., • Oversee donor stewardship, including personalized outreach and quarterly impact updates. Board & Leadership Engagement • Partner with the President & CEO to engage Board members in fundraising efforts., • Support Board participation in donor cultivation, introductions, solicitation, and ambassadorship. Campaigns & Annual Fundraising Event • Coordinate LifeBridge’s annual fundraising event in partnership with the Marketing & Communications team, overseeing event budget, logistics, sponsorships, and overall execution., • Lead development strategy and revenue generation for the event, including sponsorship cultivation, donor and guest engagement, and revenue forecasting., • Collaborate with Marketing & Communications on event messaging, materials, and promotion., • Lead annual giving campaigns (direct mail, digital, and multi-channel) to support unrestricted revenue growth., • Develop and manage campaign calendars, revenue goals, and timelines. Development Operations & Systems • Strengthen development systems, processes, and donor pipelines to support growth., • Ensure accurate donor data management, reporting, and stewardship tracking., • Oversee development operations and continuous improvement efforts., • Ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and confidentiality standards in all fundraising activities. Financial Oversight & Performance Tracking • Develop and manage the development budget in partnership with the CEO and finance team., • Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to meet revenue goals., • Accountable for achieving annual revenue targets and ensuring development activities are tied to clear KPIs, timelines, and forecasting., • Track and report on key performance indicators such as:, • Funds raised, • Donor acquisition and retention, • Campaign and event performance, • Sponsorship and institutional growth, • Use CRM and basic analytics to guide strategy and decision-making. Team Leadership • Serve as a player-coach who leads by example, providing mentorship, guidance, and accountability to ensure the development team is equipped, motivated, and aligned to achieve fundraising goals., • Foster a collaborative and accountable team environment that supports high performance., • Support professional growth and capacity building within the team., • Demonstrate trauma-informed leadership by modeling empathy, transparency, consistency, and respect; fostering psychological safety; and supporting staff wellbeing during day-to-day operations and periods of high demand. Core Outcomes Success in this role will be reflected by: • Consistent growth and diversification of LifeBridge’s philanthropic revenue, including unrestricted giving and major gifts., • Expansion of the donor base within Southwest Connecticut’s philanthropic community., • High-quality, proactive stewardship that strengthens donor relationships, increases retention, and drives donor upgrades., • Clear, predictable revenue forecasting and transparent performance reporting., • Effective annual fundraising event and multi-channel campaigns., • Improved development systems, pipelines, and donor engagement processes., • Positive collaboration with staff, leadership, and Board. Qualifications We encourage candidates who meet most of the qualifications below—and who are eager to grow with LifeBridge—to apply. Given the relationship-driven nature of this role, candidates with established connections within the Fairfield County/Southwest Connecticut philanthropic, corporate, and community sectors are strongly encouraged to apply. Education & Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or related field (or equivalent experience)., • Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors within the Fairfield County/Southwest Connecticut philanthropic community, with strong existing relationships preferred., • 6–10 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience., • Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and contributing to $500K–$1.5M+ in annual fundraising., • Proven experience writing public and private grant proposals, with strong writing and editing skills., • Experience working closely with leadership and Boards on fundraising strategy., • Experience in organizations with $3M–$10M budgets preferred., • Familiarity with community-centric fundraising principles strongly preferred. Skills & Attributes • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with evolving priorities., • Strong interpersonal energy and confidence engaging with donors, community partners, and corporate leaders in a dynamic, outward-facing role., • Comfortable serving as a public representative of LifeBridge through meetings, presentations, events, and community engagements., • High level of initiative, follow-through, and personal accountability for revenue targets., • Energetic, goal-oriented professional who is motivated by building relationships and closing gifts., • Comfortable owning a portfolio with clear metrics and expectations for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship., • Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills., • Ability to manage multiple fundraising streams and priorities., • Strategic thinker with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach., • Strong organizational and project management skills., • Working knowledge of donor databases, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office 365. Confidentiality: The employee will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and must adhere to all applicable federal and state confidentiality laws, including HIPAA for protected health information and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) for student records. Violation of confidentiality requirements may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate dismissal. Physical Requirements & Work Environment: This position works in office, community, and partner settings and requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, lift up to 25 pounds, and travel locally. The work environment ranges from quiet office spaces to active community or program settings and involves regular interaction with staff, clients, and partners. This position requires occasional evening and weekend hours to accommodate donor meetings, cultivation events, and community engagements, reflecting the front-line fundraising nature of the role. Disclaimer: The President & CEO may modify this job description based upon agency needs; may require the employee to perform functions beyond those mentioned; and may treat the employee as an at-will employee.