Development Director Jobs in Baltimore, MD

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%.