Development Director

Development Director

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Manager is responsible for leading and implementing Acadiana Animal Aid’s comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement strategy. This role oversees annual giving membership programs; donor cultivation and stewardship; major fundraising events; and integrated marketing and communications campaigns as essential to the organization’s revenue. 

The Development Director works closely with senior leadership and board members to identify and pursue funding opportunities, develop strategic partnerships, and expand philanthropic support in alignment with Acadiana Animal Aid’s mission and organizational goals. This position also manages and maintains the organization’s DonorPerfect CRM, ensuring accurate records and effective donor engagement tracking.

Key Responsibilities

A. Fund Development, Strategic Planning, and Relationship Building

• Make direct fundraising solicitations as well as cultivate and steward relationships with donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a strategic, multi-channel fundraising plan that includes individual and corporate monthly giving, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, digital fundraising, and events.
• Manage and grow existing individual monthly giving programs by identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, implementing stewardship strategies, and upgrading current members.
• Craft a portfolio of grant proposals and support grant funding opportunities.

B. Communications and Donor Engagement

• Work with the Executive and Assistant Directors to develop targeted donor communications and solicitations, including weekly newsletters, email and direct mail campaigns, and year-end appeals.
• Help create online fundraising initiatives, including email campaigns, social media appeals, and website-based donation and campaign pages.
• Manage website and social media content to ensure event announcements and fundraising appeal accuracy.
• Utilize excellent written and verbal communication skills to create compelling messaging for donor communications, appeals, and presentations.
• Promote events and campaigns to media outlets, including television, radio, and print.

C. Database Management and Administration

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive donor records within the DonorPerfect CRM.
• Ensure factual integration of Fundraise Up transactional data to the DonorPerfect CRM.
• Generate standard and custom reports on a weekly, monthly, and as-needed basis to support fundraising activities and organizational decision-making.
• Manage data queries and exports for targeted donor solicitations and stewardship segmentation.
• Lead ongoing data management initiatives, including database clean-up and donor record enrichment.

D. Special Events Fundraising

• Plan, executive and evaluate multiple fundraising events and one formal gala. 
• Secure financial sponsorships; in-kind sponsorships and donations; and partnerships for special events and related programs.
• Manage all print and digital materials related to events. 
• Collaborate effectively with executive leadership, staff, board members, and volunteers.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. 
• Three+ years of proven and successful experience in building fundraising programs and achieving annual fundraising goals.
• Comfortable making direct solicitations and managing donor relationships through the full giving cycle.
• Strong organizational skills to orchestrate projects and events simultaneously.
• Exemplary writing, editing and verbal communication skills; willingness to deliver presentations to donors, leadership, and community groups.
• CRM experience (DonorPerfect experience is highly desirable).
• Attendance and participation in board meetings, community meetings and other off-site activities as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain professionalism and flexibility in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding animal welfare environment.
• Strategic thinker with a strong work ethic and exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and execution.
• Ability to problem solve and work as part of a cohesive team while also managing independent projects.
• Ability to handle confidential records and sensitive donor information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in animal welfare or mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
• CFRE certification
• Proficiency with DonorPerfect 
• Experience with event planning and execution

Additional Information:

• Valid driver’s license required and must have excellent driving record
• Occasional travel
• Primary schedule may include weekdays and/or weekends, including evenings as appropriate
• Working area: Acadiana Animal Aid and venues for meetings and events throughout Acadiana Region