Job Description:
Why a career with Independence First? When you join Independence First you will be part of a
collaborative and passionate team. You will also enjoy lucrative
benefits! Independence First was selected as one of Milwaukee
Business Journal's Best Places to Work in 2022 - 2025 Independence First is looking for awesome people to join our
management team! You
are just the person to join our growing team if you are... * Looking for an Excellent Benefits Package * Passionate About Helping Others
Benefits include: *18 vacation days, 12 sick days, and an additional 12 paid holidays a year * Employer paid Dental, Life Insurance (twice annual salary),
AD&D, Short and Long Term Disability * Health Insurance Benefits (partially employer paid, depending on coverage) * Free Dental Insurance * Low-cost Vision Insurance * Employer-matched 403(b) Retirement Account * Fitness Center On-site * Annual Health Risk Assessment * Annual Flu Shot * Comprehensive Wellness Program * Tuition Reimbursement Program
POSITION DESCRIPTION Position: Director of Fund Development Status: Full-Time, Salaried Reports to:CEO Position Summary:The Director of Fund Development
provides executive leadership for all private fundraising efforts at
Independence First and is responsible for identifying, cultivating,
and expanding the organization's donor base through a
relationship-driven, results-oriented approach. The position leads and
personally engages in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding
individual donors, major gift prospects, and community partners, while
serving as a visible and trusted ambassador for Independence First in
the community. This role strengthens the organization's public
presence and advances its mission by building and sustaining authentic
relationships with donors, partners, and key community stakeholders.
The Director works closely with the President/CEO to advance
fundraising strategy and donor engagement, aligned with the agency's
strategic plan. The Director of Fund Development holds primary
accountability for achieving revenue goals established in the
strategic plan and leads the development, implementation, and
evaluation of the Agency's Fund Development Plan. This position
collaborates closely with leadership, internal and external
stakeholders to ensure fundraising initiatives are aligned with
organizational priorities and brand strategy. This position is
responsible for supervising the Grants Administrator and the Marketing
and Communications Manager, ensuring integrated fundraising, grant,
and communications strategies that support sustainable growth and
long-term financial stability, and serves as part of the leadership team.
Position Expected Hours of Work:This is a full-time
position, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with
occasional evenings and weekends required. Work is performed in the
office, remotely, and regularly in the community. A minimum of 40
hours per week is required to fulfill job responsibilities.
Essential Functions of the Position:
- Direct and coordinate all fundraising programs, including annual
giving, major gifts, special gifts, planned giving, memorial and
tribute gifts, and foundation and corporate contributions. - Develop and implement fundraising campaigns, planned giving
initiatives, charitable trusts, endowments, and special development projects. - Lead the planning, promotion, and execution of fundraising events
and appeals, ensuring strong donor engagement and measurable results. - Utilize the donor management database to plan, implement, track,
and evaluate fundraising strategies; analyze donor trends and
prepare regular performance and revenue reports for leadership. - Establish, monitor, and exceed annual fundraising targets and
strategic plan development goals; responsible for tracking progress,
measuring outcomes, and ensuring alignment with agency-wide
strategic objectives. - Develop, staff, and support fund development committees and donor
engagement efforts as appropriate. - Collaborate with the agency's grant writer to research funding
opportunities and support proposal development, reporting, and
special projects as needed. - Ensure accurate, timely, and complete documentation of all
fundraising activities and donor records. - Stay current on trends in philanthropy, donor engagement, and
nonprofit fundraising to strengthen community relationships and
identify new opportunities. - Serve as a visible and active representative of Independence First
in the community, including attending events, meeting with donors,
cultivating prospects, and maintaining strong external relationships. - Maintain an active portfolio of individual and major gift donors;
conduct in-person and virtual donor meetings and make direct asks
for financial support in partnership with the President/CEO. - Proactively advocates for the rights and involvement of
individuals with disabilities; provide advocacy and support for the
Independent Living Philosophy. As a member of the agency's
management team, will attend fundraising and other special events as
requested and will interact with members of the Board of Directors - Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience and Skills:
Professional Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred but not required,
and a minimum of five (5) years of nonprofit fundraising and
development experience, with demonstrated success in major gifts and
donor relationship management. - Proven ability to build, steward, and solicit relationships with
donors, sponsors, and community partners. - Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple,
concurrent projects and deadlines. - Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team-building skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience with storytelling, messaging, website and newsletter
content development. - Functional knowledge of branding, public relations, social media,
digital marketing, photography, videography, print production, media
planning, and website dynamics. - Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and
communities and balance a variety of stakeholder needs. - Computer proficiency, including donor databases, word processing,
Excel, and spreadsheet applications. - Reliable transportation or ability to arrange transportation
throughout the four-county Metro Milwaukee area; occasional state
and national travel required. - Experience working with people with disabilities and familiarity
with the Independent Living Philosophy strongly preferred. - Strong research and analytical skills.
- Must work collaboratively as a member of a leadership team.
- CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) or CFRM (Certified Fund
Raising Manager) preferred but not required; candidates must be
willing to obtain certification within a reasonable timeframe.
Work Environment
- A. Work is performed in an office setting with minimal to moderate
noise levels, as well as in community and event-based environments. - B. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
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Independence First
dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, paid holidays, sick time, long term disability, tuition reimbursement, 403(b)
Feb 11, 2026