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Lead the charge for community impact! Grow donor support, and champion community across Avery & Mitchell Counties in Western NC.
Job Description
This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Association Development Director is a strategic, mission-aligned leader responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining comprehensive fundraising and external engagement strategies to support a $5 million annual operating budget. The Association Development Director oversees all philanthropic initiatives across two YMCA branches and a licensed daycare center, ensuring funding for impactful programs that serve youth, families, and individuals across Avery and Mitchell Counties and any additional locations as the YMCA grows.
Reporting directly to the COO, the Association Development Director leads a team of Volunteers focused on annual giving, major gifts, grant development, special events, and donor stewardship—while fostering a culture of philanthropy rooted in the YMCA’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred) in nonprofit management, communications, or related field or a minimum 5 years development experience, with a successful track record in annual fundraising campaigns, major gifts, and grant writing.
- Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills for both print and digital formats.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on experience leading and executing fundraising plans.
- Experience in planning events and fundraising campaigns.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage diverse stakeholders with proven ability to cultivate major donors and secure large institutional grants.
- High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and collaborative leadership style.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management abilities.
- Comfortable attending events and working occasional evenings or weekends as needed.
- Familiarity with donor databases, CRMs, and fundraising analytics.
- Excellent personal computer skills and experience with standard business software.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
- The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- This position requires some travel between the two YMCA branches and the daycare each week.
Essential Functions
Fundraising Strategy & Campaign Leadership
a. Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising plan aligned with strategic goals and programmatic priorities.
b. Lead the Annual Campaign across both counties, incorporating staff, volunteer, and board involvement.
c. Build and manage a robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
d. Oversee donor segmentation, prospect research, and targeted solicitations.
Grant Development & Management
a. Research, write, and manage competitive grant proposals to federal, state, and private funders.
b. Ensure timely reporting, compliance, and data collection in partnership with program and finance staff.
c. Maintain a calendar of deadlines and funding cycles to support long-term planning.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
a. Oversee donor recognition and engagement strategies, including thank-you campaigns, donor spotlights, and impact communications.
b. Organize cultivation events and experiences that connect donors to the Y’s mission.
c. Strengthen retention through consistent, personalized donor relations and storytelling.
Marketing & Communications
a. Collaborate on development-focused marketing, including newsletters, social media, and annual reports.
Collaboration & Leadership
a. Serve as a thought partner to the CEO, COO and leadership team on organizational advancement strategies.
b. Provide development support and training to staff, volunteers, and board members.
c. Supervise and mentor development team members as assigned.
Data Management & Reporting
a. Manage development databases, donor records, and CRM systems (e.g., Daxko, Funraise, and Monday.com).
b. Track key performance indicators, campaign progress, and grant deliverables.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community.
Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.
Philanthropy: Secures resources and support to advance the Y’s work.
Required Certifications
- CPR/AED, First Aid Certification within 90 days
- Team Leader Certification within 1 year