Director of Development & Relationships

About Cultivate Initiatives:

Cultivate 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.

Compensation/Benefits:

• $80,000 - 88,000 annually depending on experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and retirement plans.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact by contributing to the success of a non-profit organization.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment that values diversity and professional growth.

Primary Duties:

Executive Leadership & Revenue Strategy

• Partner with the Executive Director and director team to develop and implement organizational strategy, priorities, and plans for sustainable revenue growth.
• Lead a comprehensive development strategy aligned with Cultivate Initiatives’ mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial goals with particular emphasis on growing major-gifts,  individual-giving, and unrestricted, flexible funding.
• Establish fundraising goals, revenue targets, performance metrics, and accountability structures; regularly assess progress and adjust strategies to maximize results.
• Diversify and strengthen revenue through individual giving, major gifts, institutional funding, corporate and community partnerships, events, and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Keep the organization’s mission, impact, and the needs of the people it serves at the center of fundraising strategy and donor engagement.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and challenges affecting the organization’s fundraising and financial sustainability and develop creative, strategic responses.
• Develop and manage a robust portfolio of current and prospective major donors, funders, corporate partners, and other key supporters.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level donors and funders, including identifying prospects, developing relationships, making compelling asks, and securing significant financial commitments.
• Partner with the Executive Director to engage the Board to advance fundraising goals.
• Develop compelling cases for support that clearly communicate Cultivate Initiatives’ mission, impact, needs, and vision for the future, inviting in staff & neighbors to center their stories.
• Envision and oversee fundraising activities across individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, events, and other development efforts.

Institutional Funding & Partnerships

• Lead institutional fundraising strategies across foundations, government funding, corporate philanthropy, and other aligned funding sources.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities that align with organizational priorities and demonstrate potential for sustainable impact.
• Oversee the development of high-quality proposals, reports, funding requests, and other materials that effectively communicate organizational impact and funding needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional funders and community partners while collaborating with program and finance leadership to monitor funding commitments, deliverables, and reporting requirements, and compliance.

Donor Relations & Community Engagement

• Serve as a primary ambassador for Cultivate Initiatives, building authentic relationships with donors, funders, community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other external stakeholders.
• Develop meaningful opportunities for supporters to understand and experience the impact of Cultivate Initiatives’ work.
• Strengthen the Cultivate Initiatives’ visibility, reputation, and philanthropic network through  community engagement, presentations, and other external activities.

Board & Executive Partnership

• Equip and engage Board members as ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraising partners.
• Lead the Development Committee by establishing goals, delegating responsibilities, and supporting volunteers in advancing fundraising priorities.
• Provide the Board with clear and regular updates on fundraising performance, revenue projections, donor relationships, opportunities, and risks.
• Lead or participate in Board and staff committees to advance fundraising and organizational priorities.

Financial Stewardship & Organizational Sustainability

• Partner with the Executive Director and Director of Finance to develop revenue projections, fundraising budgets, and long-term financial sustainability strategies.
• Analyze fundraising performance, revenue trends, donor behavior, and funding pipelines to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen revenue diversification, donor retention, fundraising efficiency, and long-term organizational sustainability.

Development Team Leadership & Organizational Culture

• Build a culture of philanthropy in which staff and leadership understand their role in cultivating relationships, communicating impact, and advancing the mission.
• Coach and support development team, establishing clear roles, effective systems, and accountability for fundraising performance and relationship building. 
• Collaborate with Human Resources and organizational leadership on hiring, professional development, performance management, and retention within the development function.
• Foster 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 by building connections between neighbors and donors. 

Marketing & Communications

• Lead the development and implementation of marketing and communications strategies that strengthen Cultivate Initiatives’ visibility, advance its mission, and support fundraising and organizational priorities.
• Oversee messaging, storytelling, and content development across digital platforms, publications, campaigns, and other communications channels to engage donors, community partners, and the broader public.
• Ensure communications consistently reflect Cultivate Initiatives’ mission, values, and impact while honoring the dignity, privacy, and lived experiences of neighbors.
• Partner with organizational leadership and program teams to identify and communicate compelling stories, outcomes, and opportunities for community engagement and philanthropic support.
• Guide brand management and messaging to maintain a consistent, authentic organizational identity across internal and external communications.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts and use data and stakeholder feedback to strengthen engagement, reach, and impact.

Preferred Competencies, Skills, & Experience:

• Significant fundraising leadership experience, including demonstrated success in developing and executing strategies that generate substantial philanthropic revenue.
• Proven 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.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Strong understanding of the principles and practices of major-gift fundraising, donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management.
• Demonstrated success growing revenue, diversifying funding sources, and strengthening long-term financial sustainability.
• Executive-level presence and the ability to inspire confidence, build relationships, influence others, and serve as a compelling ambassador for an organization and its mission.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex organizational work into compelling stories, cases for support, proposals, presentations, and funding requests.
• Strong financial acumen, including the ability to understand budgets, revenue projections, fundraising performance, and the financial implications of development strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and manage meaningful fundraising metrics, analyze data and trends, assess performance, and translate strategy into measurable results.
• Strong 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.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, develop creative solutions, and effectively lead through change and complex situations.
• Highly 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.
• Ability to effectively engage and activate Board members, volunteers, and organizational leaders in fundraising and relationship-building.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships across differences and communicate effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Commitment 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.
• Commitment to Cultivate Initiatives’ mission and the ability to authentically communicate the organization’s impact, vision, and value to current and prospective supporters.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements:

•  Work is performed primarily indoors with occasional engagements outside
•   Ability to work in environments with varying noise levels, from quiet offices to louder, industrial settings
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 15 pounds
• Work requires the ability to perform repetitive movements of the wrist, hands, or fingers due to continuous use of computer keyboards and other office equipment
• Must be able to work weekends and evenings, when necessary
• Being physically present in the CI offices from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
• Must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or religious exemption
• Must be able to provide proof of Driver’s License

How to apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume electronically through our website. 

The position is open until filled. Applications received by November 5, 2026, will receive priority consideration. If a suitable candidate is found during that screening, later applications will not be considered. Ideally, we hope to have our next Director of Development & Relationships start in early December 2026. We look forward to speaking with you!

CI 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 all recruitments and driving history checks for candidates of positions that require operating company vehicles.  CI also conducts routine drug tests.

CI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CI values a diverse, inclusive workforce and provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment 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 mental disability, medical condition, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, 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 the following number or email.

Questions: [email protected] or (503) 719-6135