Development Director Jobs in Nashville, TN
Development Director jobs in Nashville are in strong demand, concentrated in Midtown, the Gulch, and downtown's nonprofit and healthcare corridors across healthcare systems, higher education, arts and culture organizations, and community nonprofits. Employers hiring right now include Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb University, and PEARL. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Development Director JobsOverview
Open roles66
Top employerVanderbilt University
Work type52% Hybrid
Top credentialBachelor's degree
Companies hiring34
Showing 5 of 66+ Development Director jobs
Director Of Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 3d ago
The Salvation Army
Director Of Development
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 3d ago
Executive Director of Training and Leadership Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 4d ago
YMCA of Middle Tennessee
Executive Director of Training and Leadership Development
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 4d ago
Associate Director - Employer & Industry Development (Engineering)
We won't show you this job again
Added 4d ago
Vanderbilt University
Associate Director - Employer & Industry Development (Engineering)
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 4d ago
Director of Corporate Partnerships and Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 5d ago
Genesys Works
Director of Corporate Partnerships and Development
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 5d ago
Director of Business Development
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
SPS Corporation
Director of Business Development
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 1w ago
Added 3d ago
Director Of Development
The Salvation Army·Nashville, Tennessee
Job functions:
$80k - $95k/yr
Bachelor's degree in public relations
5,001-10,000 employees
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY:
Administers, leads, and supervises the Development Department and monitors an aggressive Direct Fund Raising Program under the direction of an Area Commander; develops and secures funds to reach/surpass fund-raising goals through a variety of financial development vehicles including 1) individual gifts and individual donor upgrading, 2) corporate gifts and sponsorships, 3) foundation support for specific programs and projects, 4) government grants, and 5) capital campaigns, and 6) special events; plans and administers an annual development budget; performs public speaking to promote awareness and financial support for Salvation Army programs.
- Plans develops, implements, administers, and sustains an aggressive Financial Development Plan, which includes all areas of development operations, including public relations/marketing, direct mail, grant writing, donor cultivation, major gifts, and board development. Supervises development team, giving them direction and setting goals.
- Meets with Area Commander to identify program funding needs; prepares strategic plan with short and long-range goals to meet The Salvation Army’s funding objectives; enlists support from the Army’s staff, board, supervising headquarters, and volunteer organizations.
- Supports and oversees the Development and Communications Relations Manager in all activities during the course of any special event, including solicitation of donors and attendees to all special events; monitoring the writing, designs, and arranging of production mailers, envelopes, donor cards, return envelopes, advertising, incentives, promotional supporting materials, and programs; develops and manages mailing list database; manages all incoming response mail and donations; coordinating volunteer leadership and workers in completing special events.
- May supervise secretarial support personnel; ensure the efficient and productive workflow of the financial development office; instruct and train personnel in the proper methods and procedures; plans, schedules, and assigns work; review, monitor, and inspect work in progress and upon completion; motivates and evaluates employee performance.
- Develops the annual Financial Development Program budget; administers the affairs of the position within the approved budget; prepares special financial reports as requested.
- Coordinates the operation of fund-raising appeals and activities, including preparation of appeal letters, selection of donor criteria, development of methods for increasing direct mail appeal response, and working closely with mailing service firms to ensure productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency.
- Researches and initiates a fund-raising strategy to develop corporate gifts and sponsorships for special programs and projects; contacts corporations to identify corporate representatives responsible for donor solicitation; cultivates and maintains an effective working relationship with corporate officials
- Maintains awareness of current government legislation; reviews government publications to identify special funding available through government grants; in cooperation with the Program Director and Grants Manager, obtains and completes grant applications to acquire funds; reviews and monitors grant stipulations and requirements to determine if The Salvation Army is eligible to receive funds; monitors the use of resulting funds to ensure compliance with government regulations.
- Research grant-making foundations, endowments, and corporations through library, internet, and software resources; identify potential grantors based on interests and application requirements as well as program and budget needs.
- Solicits grantors for guidelines and background information; reviews same information and determines whether or not grantor's goals match Salvation Army program goals; targets grantors most likely to award funds to The Salvation Army; compiles comprehensive data on grantors to develop a database and annual grants calendar.
- Researches program and financial needs within the organization; research program and service statistics and details for inclusion in the grant application and proposal materials
- Composes compelling program summaries as justification for grant requests, detailing a persuasive plea for support while entailing a fully documented course of data on the organizations' operations.
- Provides thank you recognition, donation acknowledgment, and tax documentation for all gifts raised; maintains contact with donor over course of the year with cursory and direct mailings informing them of program and organizational needs.
- Researches, identifies, and cultivates large donors; corresponds with potential donors, keeping them abreast of organizational activities and program funding needs.
This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Advertising, Public Relations, Business Administration, or other related field,
Five years experience performing development and fund-raising activities,
or
Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the principles and practices of non-profit community relations and development functions.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of grant research, applications, and administration.
Knowledge of donor cultivation methods and techniques.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of budgeting and financial planning.
Knowledge of the effective principles and practices of donor database management.
Knowledge of fundraising and special event planning, techniques, and practices.
The Salvation Army
Director Of Development
Nashville, Tennessee
Added 3d ago5,001-10,000 employees
Job functions:
$80k - $95k/yr
Bachelor's degree in public relations
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY:
Administers, leads, and supervises the Development Department and monitors an aggressive Direct Fund Raising Program under the direction of an Area Commander; develops and secures funds to reach/surpass fund-raising goals through a variety of financial development vehicles including 1) individual gifts and individual donor upgrading, 2) corporate gifts and sponsorships, 3) foundation support for specific programs and projects, 4) government grants, and 5) capital campaigns, and 6) special events; plans and administers an annual development budget; performs public speaking to promote awareness and financial support for Salvation Army programs.
- Plans develops, implements, administers, and sustains an aggressive Financial Development Plan, which includes all areas of development operations, including public relations/marketing, direct mail, grant writing, donor cultivation, major gifts, and board development. Supervises development team, giving them direction and setting goals.
- Meets with Area Commander to identify program funding needs; prepares strategic plan with short and long-range goals to meet The Salvation Army’s funding objectives; enlists support from the Army’s staff, board, supervising headquarters, and volunteer organizations.
- Supports and oversees the Development and Communications Relations Manager in all activities during the course of any special event, including solicitation of donors and attendees to all special events; monitoring the writing, designs, and arranging of production mailers, envelopes, donor cards, return envelopes, advertising, incentives, promotional supporting materials, and programs; develops and manages mailing list database; manages all incoming response mail and donations; coordinating volunteer leadership and workers in completing special events.
- May supervise secretarial support personnel; ensure the efficient and productive workflow of the financial development office; instruct and train personnel in the proper methods and procedures; plans, schedules, and assigns work; review, monitor, and inspect work in progress and upon completion; motivates and evaluates employee performance.
- Develops the annual Financial Development Program budget; administers the affairs of the position within the approved budget; prepares special financial reports as requested.
- Coordinates the operation of fund-raising appeals and activities, including preparation of appeal letters, selection of donor criteria, development of methods for increasing direct mail appeal response, and working closely with mailing service firms to ensure productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency.
- Researches and initiates a fund-raising strategy to develop corporate gifts and sponsorships for special programs and projects; contacts corporations to identify corporate representatives responsible for donor solicitation; cultivates and maintains an effective working relationship with corporate officials
- Maintains awareness of current government legislation; reviews government publications to identify special funding available through government grants; in cooperation with the Program Director and Grants Manager, obtains and completes grant applications to acquire funds; reviews and monitors grant stipulations and requirements to determine if The Salvation Army is eligible to receive funds; monitors the use of resulting funds to ensure compliance with government regulations.
- Research grant-making foundations, endowments, and corporations through library, internet, and software resources; identify potential grantors based on interests and application requirements as well as program and budget needs.
- Solicits grantors for guidelines and background information; reviews same information and determines whether or not grantor's goals match Salvation Army program goals; targets grantors most likely to award funds to The Salvation Army; compiles comprehensive data on grantors to develop a database and annual grants calendar.
- Researches program and financial needs within the organization; research program and service statistics and details for inclusion in the grant application and proposal materials
- Composes compelling program summaries as justification for grant requests, detailing a persuasive plea for support while entailing a fully documented course of data on the organizations' operations.
- Provides thank you recognition, donation acknowledgment, and tax documentation for all gifts raised; maintains contact with donor over course of the year with cursory and direct mailings informing them of program and organizational needs.
- Researches, identifies, and cultivates large donors; corresponds with potential donors, keeping them abreast of organizational activities and program funding needs.
This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Advertising, Public Relations, Business Administration, or other related field,
Five years experience performing development and fund-raising activities,
or
Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the principles and practices of non-profit community relations and development functions.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of grant research, applications, and administration.
Knowledge of donor cultivation methods and techniques.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of budgeting and financial planning.
Knowledge of the effective principles and practices of donor database management.
Knowledge of fundraising and special event planning, techniques, and practices.
See All 66 Development Director Jobs in Nashville
Find roles in Nashville that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Job Market in Nashville
Who's Hiring
- Vanderbilt University13
- Lipscomb University3
- PEARL2
- Taher2
- L3Harris2
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- Non-Profit & Social Services
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Development Director Jobs in Nashville: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a development director job in Nashville?
Focus your search on Nashville's robust nonprofit sector, which clusters in Midtown and East Nashville, along with healthcare systems, universities, and arts organizations citywide. Candidates who stand out typically bring major gifts experience, a demonstrated history of donor cultivation, and familiarity with Nashville's philanthropic community. Attending Nashville nonprofit networking events and connecting with Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee circles can open doors faster than applying cold.
Which companies hire development directors in Nashville?
Companies currently hiring development directors in Nashville include Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb University, and PEARL, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nashville's hiring mix skews toward large health systems, universities like Vanderbilt and Belmont, and a dense layer of community nonprofits and arts institutions that rely on dedicated development leadership.
Are there remote development director jobs in Nashville?
Yes, though development director roles are less remote-friendly than many office jobs because donor relationship-building and community presence are central to the work. About 81% of development director openings tied to Nashville are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements more common than fully remote. Prospect research, grant writing, and reporting tasks are the functions most often handled off-site.
How can I get a development director job in Nashville with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a development coordinator or major gifts associate at one of Nashville's many midsize nonprofits, community foundations, or hospital foundations, then building toward a director role. Organizations like United Way of Greater Nashville and smaller arts groups frequently hire emerging fundraisers. Earning a CFRE credential and volunteering on Nashville nonprofit boards accelerates the transition into leadership faster than tenure alone.
Which industries hire the most development directors in Nashville?
Most development director openings in Nashville sit in Education, Chemicals & Materials, and Non-Profit & Social Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nashville's concentration of major health systems, nationally recognized universities, and a historically strong arts and culture scene creates consistent, year-round demand for experienced development professionals across those sectors.
Related Jobs in Tennessee
Environmental Project Manager JobsTennessee
Technical Program Manager JobsTennessee
Development Manager JobsTennessee
Project Specialist JobsTennessee
Project Controls Manager JobsTennessee
Marketing Operations Manager JobsTennessee
Quality Assurance Analyst JobsTennessee
Team Lead JobsTennessee
Civil Project Manager JobsTennessee
See All 66 Development Director Jobs in Nashville
Find roles in Nashville that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director Jobs