Development Director Jobs in Maryland
Development Director jobs in Maryland are concentrated in Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Washington D.C. suburbs, with strong demand across nonprofit management, higher education advancement, and healthcare philanthropy. Major employers with lasting presences in the state include Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland Medical System, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, all of which run active development functions. The role attracts candidates from entry-level major gifts coordinators through seasoned vice presidents of development, reflecting Maryland's deep nonprofit and institutional sector. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 68+ Development Director jobs
Are you ready to grow philanthropic impact in a mission-driven organization serving children and families?
The Children’s Guild (TCG) is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven Managing Director of Development to lead the full scope of our Fundraising and Grants operation. This hybrid role is ideal for an experienced fundraising professional who thrives on building relationships, managing a pipeline of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors, and driving both contributed revenue and grant funding in alignment with organizational goals. You’ll directly supervise the Grants Writer and serve as the senior leader responsible for fundraising and grants strategy, with the opportunity to build out a development team beginning in FY2028. You’ll work closely with the Vice President, Chief of Staff and collaborate with the CEO and executive leadership to expand our reach and deepen philanthropic and grant-based support for The Children’s Guild’s mission.
Summary
The Managing Director of Development leads the full scope of The Children’s Guild’s Fundraising and Grants function. This individual owns both the fundraising and grants strategies, directly supervises the Development Team and Grants Writer, and is accountable for contributed revenue goals across all donor and funder segments. The Managing Director will drive the annual giving program, oversee grant identification and stewardship, build community partnerships, and support special initiatives, campaigns, and events. They will represent the organization externally, developing business relationships and civic engagement to advance The Children’s Guild’s visibility and mission. Beginning in FY2028, this leader will have the opportunity to hire and build out a broader development team.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising, Grants & Annual Giving
- Develop and implement short- and long-term fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
- Set and achieve dollar, participation, and qualitative goals for the annual giving program.
- Create a calendar/schedule of multi-channel appeals (email, mail, events, face-to-face) that engage and inspire giving.
- Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Lead annual planning and post-campaign assessment.
Donor Cultivation, Stewardship & Retention
- Build and manage a pipeline of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors across giving levels, including individual, corporate, and foundation supporters.
- Identify and cultivate major gift prospects in collaboration with executive leadership.
- Oversee stewardship activities, including recognition of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors, reporting, and engagement touchpoints.
- Ensure ethical fundraising practices and donor confidentiality.
Business Development & Community Engagement
- Represent The Children’s Guild at weekly community, civic, and networking functions to enhance visibility.
- Develop partnerships with local businesses and community leaders to expand support and foster long-term relationships.
- Collaborate with program staff to identify opportunities for community collaboration and giving.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Serve as the senior leader of the Fundraising and Grants department, directly supervising the Grants Writer and providing strategic direction across all fundraising and grant functions. Work closely with the Marketing department to develop donor communications and materials.
- Own the grants strategy, including foundation prospect identification, grant calendar management, grant writer supervision, site visit preparation, and long-term funder relationship development. Collaborate with program staff to ensure proposals are grounded in program outcomes and organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, especially the Vice President, Chief of Staff and CEO, to integrate fundraising into strategic initiatives.
- Lead the execution of fundraising events and partner with the development team to innovate donor experiences.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Demonstrated success in fundraising leadership and donor cultivation.
- Strategic thinker with strong project management skills.
- Deep understanding of the Baltimore philanthropic and civic landscape.
- Proficiency in CRM/database systems for tracking of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors and reporting.
- Ability to attend in-person events and meetings regularly in the Baltimore-DC-Virginia (DMV) area.
- Capital campaigns and major gift fundraising strategies experience.
- Donor stewardship and cultivation of long-term philanthropic relationships.
- Experience preparing and hosting for Foundation and individual donor site visits to deepen engagement and highlight impact.
- Ability to build and manage foundation relationships, including post-award stewardship and multi-year funding opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and continuously improve a grants program, including prospect research, proposal development oversight, grant writer supervision, compliance, reporting, and long-range funding strategy.
- Extensive experience designing and executing fundraising events, annual appeals, and multi-channel donor campaigns
- Ability to translate data insights into actionable strategies and tactics.
- Excellent public speaker and strong written communication skills.
Education & Experience
- A demonstrated track record of results in fundraising and grants leadership is what matters. Equivalent combinations of professional experience, certifications, and practical expertise are fully considered. Associates or higher degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising and/or grants management, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or department leadership role.
Work Arrangement & Travel
This is a hybrid role with approximately 50% remote and 50% in-person expectations. Candidates must be located in or near Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC. A valid driver’s license and working vehicle is required. Mileage is reimbursable based on company policies.
This position requires regular in-person attendance at:
- Donor meetings
- Civic and community events (such as luncheons, dinners, and special events)
- Local industry meetups and education opportunities
- Foundation site visits and donor tours of our programs
Regional travel across Maryland and the DMV area is required to support relationship building, donor engagement, and fundraising efforts. Outside of the region travel is approximately 10-15%.
Are you ready to grow philanthropic impact in a mission-driven organization serving children and families?
The Children’s Guild (TCG) is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven Managing Director of Development to lead the full scope of our Fundraising and Grants operation. This hybrid role is ideal for an experienced fundraising professional who thrives on building relationships, managing a pipeline of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors, and driving both contributed revenue and grant funding in alignment with organizational goals. You’ll directly supervise the Grants Writer and serve as the senior leader responsible for fundraising and grants strategy, with the opportunity to build out a development team beginning in FY2028. You’ll work closely with the Vice President, Chief of Staff and collaborate with the CEO and executive leadership to expand our reach and deepen philanthropic and grant-based support for The Children’s Guild’s mission.
Summary
The Managing Director of Development leads the full scope of The Children’s Guild’s Fundraising and Grants function. This individual owns both the fundraising and grants strategies, directly supervises the Development Team and Grants Writer, and is accountable for contributed revenue goals across all donor and funder segments. The Managing Director will drive the annual giving program, oversee grant identification and stewardship, build community partnerships, and support special initiatives, campaigns, and events. They will represent the organization externally, developing business relationships and civic engagement to advance The Children’s Guild’s visibility and mission. Beginning in FY2028, this leader will have the opportunity to hire and build out a broader development team.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising, Grants & Annual Giving
- Develop and implement short- and long-term fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
- Set and achieve dollar, participation, and qualitative goals for the annual giving program.
- Create a calendar/schedule of multi-channel appeals (email, mail, events, face-to-face) that engage and inspire giving.
- Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Lead annual planning and post-campaign assessment.
Donor Cultivation, Stewardship & Retention
- Build and manage a pipeline of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors across giving levels, including individual, corporate, and foundation supporters.
- Identify and cultivate major gift prospects in collaboration with executive leadership.
- Oversee stewardship activities, including recognition of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors, reporting, and engagement touchpoints.
- Ensure ethical fundraising practices and donor confidentiality.
Business Development & Community Engagement
- Represent The Children’s Guild at weekly community, civic, and networking functions to enhance visibility.
- Develop partnerships with local businesses and community leaders to expand support and foster long-term relationships.
- Collaborate with program staff to identify opportunities for community collaboration and giving.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Serve as the senior leader of the Fundraising and Grants department, directly supervising the Grants Writer and providing strategic direction across all fundraising and grant functions. Work closely with the Marketing department to develop donor communications and materials.
- Own the grants strategy, including foundation prospect identification, grant calendar management, grant writer supervision, site visit preparation, and long-term funder relationship development. Collaborate with program staff to ensure proposals are grounded in program outcomes and organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, especially the Vice President, Chief of Staff and CEO, to integrate fundraising into strategic initiatives.
- Lead the execution of fundraising events and partner with the development team to innovate donor experiences.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Demonstrated success in fundraising leadership and donor cultivation.
- Strategic thinker with strong project management skills.
- Deep understanding of the Baltimore philanthropic and civic landscape.
- Proficiency in CRM/database systems for tracking of corporate, individual, community, and foundation donors and reporting.
- Ability to attend in-person events and meetings regularly in the Baltimore-DC-Virginia (DMV) area.
- Capital campaigns and major gift fundraising strategies experience.
- Donor stewardship and cultivation of long-term philanthropic relationships.
- Experience preparing and hosting for Foundation and individual donor site visits to deepen engagement and highlight impact.
- Ability to build and manage foundation relationships, including post-award stewardship and multi-year funding opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and continuously improve a grants program, including prospect research, proposal development oversight, grant writer supervision, compliance, reporting, and long-range funding strategy.
- Extensive experience designing and executing fundraising events, annual appeals, and multi-channel donor campaigns
- Ability to translate data insights into actionable strategies and tactics.
- Excellent public speaker and strong written communication skills.
Education & Experience
- A demonstrated track record of results in fundraising and grants leadership is what matters. Equivalent combinations of professional experience, certifications, and practical expertise are fully considered. Associates or higher degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising and/or grants management, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or department leadership role.
Work Arrangement & Travel
This is a hybrid role with approximately 50% remote and 50% in-person expectations. Candidates must be located in or near Baltimore, MD or Washington, DC. A valid driver’s license and working vehicle is required. Mileage is reimbursable based on company policies.
This position requires regular in-person attendance at:
- Donor meetings
- Civic and community events (such as luncheons, dinners, and special events)
- Local industry meetups and education opportunities
- Foundation site visits and donor tours of our programs
Regional travel across Maryland and the DMV area is required to support relationship building, donor engagement, and fundraising efforts. Outside of the region travel is approximately 10-15%.
See All 68 Development Director Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Medical Devices
- Technology & Software
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or a related field
- Demonstrated fundraising experience including major gifts, grants, and annual fund campaigns
- Proven leadership managing development staff and cross-functional teams toward revenue goals
- Experience building and sustaining relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners
- Proficiency with donor management software such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or Blackbaud
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for proposals, reports, and board presentations
Development Director Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in Maryland?
Most development directors in Maryland enter through fundraising or donor relations roles at nonprofits, universities, or hospitals, then advance by building a portfolio of successful campaigns. Maryland does not require a state license for this role, but earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential through CFRE International strengthens competitiveness. Many candidates also pursue graduate degrees in nonprofit management or public administration from institutions such as the University of Maryland or Johns Hopkins.
Which companies hire development directors in Maryland?
Employers hiring development directors in Maryland right now include Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland University College, and AstraZeneca, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Maryland's concentration of research universities, health systems, and Chesapeake-focused environmental nonprofits makes it one of the more active development hiring markets on the East Coast.
Which Maryland cities have the most development director jobs?
The cities with the most development director openings in Maryland are Baltimore, Gaithersburg, and College Park. Baltimore drives the largest share of postings because of its density of anchor institutions, including major hospital systems, research universities, and arts and social service nonprofits, while the D.C.-adjacent suburbs in Montgomery and Prince George's counties generate consistent demand from policy-focused associations and regional foundations.
Are there remote development director jobs in Maryland?
Yes, and more than many leadership roles, since major gifts cultivation, grant writing, and donor stewardship can often be handled off-site. About 79% of development director openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-heavy nature of much fundraising work. Grant management and prospect research positions tend to offer the most flexibility, while roles with heavy board engagement or in-person event responsibilities are more likely to require a regular on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a development director in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a development associate or annual fund coordinator role at a Maryland nonprofit or university, where you build direct solicitation and database skills. Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, and large Baltimore-area health systems regularly hire development coordinators and grants assistants as a pipeline into senior roles. Earning your CFRE International certification early and building a portfolio of grant proposals or donor acquisition campaigns signals readiness for director-level responsibility even without years of tenure.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the roles available, identify the ones that match your background and sector preference, and apply directly through each listing.
See All 68 Development Director Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director Jobs