Sr Director of Development
| Requisition ID |
2026-21189
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Category |
Corporate and Support Services
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Status |
REG - Regular (Full Time)
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Overview
We're Hiring: Senior Director of Development Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Primary Focus: Major and planned giving Department: Development Reports to: Chief Development Officer Are you looking for a new professional challenge? Do you want to build a fulfilling career with real purpose? Join Bancroft, one of the region's largest nonprofit human services organizations. Here, you'll be supported by coworkers who are committed to one another, and who strive toward one mission and purpose. As a nonprofit organization, we are solely committed to supporting people with special needs and their families, to help make it One World. For Everyone.
Responsibilities
The Senior Director of Development leads Bancroft's major and planned giving efforts, cultivating enduring relationships and securing philanthropic investments that advance services for children and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and brain injuries. Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer, the Senior Director manages a personal portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, connects philanthropic interests with strategic priorities, and secures significant current and future commitments. Major and planned giving are the primary focus, complemented by oversight of corporate and foundation relations, grant development and selected fundraising initiatives. The Senior Director serves as an experienced fundraising partner to the Chief Development Officer, helping shape donor strategies and carry agreed priorities forward with sound judgment and discretion. The role builds a disciplined program supported by documented donor strategies, meaningful engagement, reliable pipeline reporting and coordinated stewardship, in collaboration with Development Operations, Donor Relations and Events, Marketing and Communications, Finance and program leaders. Core Areas of Responsibility 1 | Major and principal gift development * Build, qualify and personally manage a portfolio of individuals and families with capacity and affinity for significant philanthropic investment; develop individualized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies. * Partner with the Chief Development Officer on significant donor relationships and engage the President & CEO, board members and program leaders in introductions, visits and solicitations as appropriate. * Develop and solicit tailored proposals for outright gifts, multiyear commitments, capital initiatives and strategic priorities; coordinate gift negotiations, approved agreements, pledge documentation and operational handoffs. * Lead selected fundraising initiatives agreed with the Chief Development Officer, including naming opportunities and proposed gift amounts for the new early education school, informed by validated costs, donor potential and required approvals. 2 | Planned giving and legacy relationships * Build and implement a planned giving program that identifies, educates, cultivates and stewards individuals interested in supporting Bancroft through their estates. * Promote bequests, beneficiary designations and other approved legacy giving options; coordinate complex arrangements with qualified legal, tax and financial advisers. * Reengage planned giving webinar participants and other qualified legacy prospects through personal outreach, education and coordinated communications. * Maintain confidential documentation of legacy intentions and expectancies, distinguishing revocable intentions from realized gifts and avoiding speculative revenue projections. 3 | Corporate and foundation relations * Provide oversight of corporate and foundation fundraising, including institutional prospect identification, funder cultivation, grant writing, proposal development, stewardship and reporting. * Partner with program and Finance leaders to develop compelling funding opportunities with validated budgets, measurable outcomes and sustainability plans; oversee application and reporting calendars and fulfillment of grant requirements. * Develop and write grant proposals, letters of inquiry and funder reports as needed. Supervise staff assigned to corporate and foundation relations and grant development as the program grows, setting goals, reviewing work and evaluating performance. * Coordinate corporate relationships with Donor Relations and Events where sponsorship and broader philanthropic opportunities intersect. 4 | Donor stewardship and family engagement * Create personalized stewardship strategies that communicate philanthropic impact and sustain long-term donor relationships, including year-end outreach and meaningful engagement of major donors and event honorees. * Partner with Donor Relations and Events on recognition, donor experience, volunteer committee engagement and follow-up that extend beyond annual fundraising events. * Support Family Advisory Board engagement and cultivation in partnership with the Chief Development Officer, deepening family philanthropy and identifying opportunities for future volunteer leadership. * Partner with Marketing and Communications on cases for support, donor stories, campaign materials and legacy outreach, consistent with consent and privacy requirements. 5 | Fundraising strategy and portfolio accountability * Serve as an experienced fundraising partner to the Chief Development Officer, helping shape priorities and donor strategies and carry agreed plans forward with sound judgment and discretion. * Maintain accurate Salesforce records of donor contacts, relationship stages, strategies, proposals, next steps and commitments; help establish consistent moves management and prospect tracking practices with Development Operations. * Maintain a major and planned giving dashboard showing qualification, visits, proposals, solicitations, commitments and legacy intentions; provide monthly progress and forecast updates and lead regular prospect strategy discussions. * Use donor history, research, capacity and affinity indicators responsibly to strengthen qualification, retention, upgrades and pipeline movement; agree on annual goals with the Chief Development Officer and identify barriers and leadership support needed.
Cross-functional and community responsibilities * Visit programs and collaborate with service leaders to identify philanthropic opportunities grounded in Bancroft's strategic priorities, operational needs and the experiences of individuals and families. * Provide practical coaching, shared work and feedback to strengthen colleagues' fundraising skills, proposal writing and personalized acknowledgments; develop examples and guidance that improve quality and reduce repeated editing. * Contribute to new-hire orientation and staff education about philanthropy's role at Bancroft. * Collaborate with Donor Relations and Events and Development Operations, which report directly to the Chief Development Officer; coaching and collaboration do not confer supervisory authority over those functions. * Coordinate with Development Operations on gift processing, pledge follow-up, acknowledgments and accurate donor records. * Represent Bancroft at appropriate donor, community and professional gatherings, including occasional evening and weekend events. * Follow Bancroft policies, confidentiality requirements, mission and values; perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required * Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent relevant professional experience, subject to HR approval. * At least eight years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including direct responsibility for major gift cultivation and solicitation and experience guiding colleagues or supervising staff. * Demonstrated success managing donor portfolios, building relationships, securing significant gifts and maintaining accurate CRM records. * Excellent interpersonal communication, proposal writing, judgment, discretion, project management and cross-functional collaboration skills. * Ability to travel regionally and attend occasional evening or weekend events; valid driver's license when essential to the role, subject to reasonable accommodation. Preferred * Experience with planned giving and legacy donor engagement, including knowledge of bequests, beneficiary designations and gift acceptance considerations. * Experience in disability services, healthcare, education or another complex nonprofit service environment. * Experience using Salesforce or a comparable CRM, donor research tools, portfolio dashboards and fundraising forecasts. * Experience with corporate and foundation fundraising, grant writing, grant reporting and supervision of fundraising staff. * CFRE credential or relevant advanced professional education. The current hiring range for this position is: $155,000 - $165,000
About Bancroft At Bancroft, you'll do more than just make an impact. We are a care team of 2,700 employees across 200+ facilities and homes in NJ, PA, and DE committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of the people we serve and their loved ones. Together, we work diligently and compassionately, to improve the lives of the people we serve. Find your purpose and more at Bancroft. Real Life. Real Purpose. bancroft.org/careers
EEO Statement
Bancroft stands strong against racism and hate of all kinds and supports actions leading to respect, equality, fairness and peace. We advocate for and embrace an inclusive and just world. One world. For everyone. We work with heart, respect and collaboration. We are communicators, listeners, problem solvers, partners and collaborators. Bring your authentic self to our team. Bancroft is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and supports diversity, equity and inclusion in its hiring and employment practices, so that every team member can feel a true sense of belonging, and maximize their unique potential. To this end, all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
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