Executive Director Of Development Jobs
Executive Director Of Development jobs are open across nonprofits, higher education, healthcare systems, and arts organizations, from associate director to senior executive level, with specializations in major gifts, capital campaigns, and planned giving. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, this leader will serve
as a strategic advisor, operational partner, and connective force for a division of nearly 60
professionals. They will be responsible for leading campaign management for Bowdoin’s upcoming
comprehensive campaign as well as future institutional priorities.
The successful candidate will bring significant fundraising and campaign experience, strong
judgment, and the ability to build trust and create clarity in a complex, fast-moving environment.
Bowdoin offers an experienced advancement leader the opportunity to build the structures and
partnerships that will turn ambitious institutional priorities into lasting impact.
The salary range for this position is $240,000–$260,000 annually.
To learn more, apply, or nominate a candidate, please visit:
https://lindauerglobal.co/BowdoinChiefOfStaff
- Demonstrated ability to manage large teams and complex multi-year projects.
- Experience with comprehensive campaigns, including silent phase strategy, case
major gifts, development operations, campaign management, strategic planning, and team
leadership, ideally in higher education or a complex nonprofit.
We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.
Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, this leader will serve
as a strategic advisor, operational partner, and connective force for a division of nearly 60
professionals. They will be responsible for leading campaign management for Bowdoin’s upcoming
comprehensive campaign as well as future institutional priorities.
The successful candidate will bring significant fundraising and campaign experience, strong
judgment, and the ability to build trust and create clarity in a complex, fast-moving environment.
Bowdoin offers an experienced advancement leader the opportunity to build the structures and
partnerships that will turn ambitious institutional priorities into lasting impact.
The salary range for this position is $240,000–$260,000 annually.
To learn more, apply, or nominate a candidate, please visit:
https://lindauerglobal.co/BowdoinChiefOfStaff
- Demonstrated ability to manage large teams and complex multi-year projects.
- Experience with comprehensive campaigns, including silent phase strategy, case
major gifts, development operations, campaign management, strategic planning, and team
leadership, ideally in higher education or a complex nonprofit.
We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.
Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.
Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
Executive Director Of Development Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsExecutive Director Of Development Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in executive director of development jobs.
- Proven experience closing major gifts and managing a fundraising portfolio
- Bachelor's degree in a related field, with CFRE certification preferred by many employers
- Experience building and managing development teams and departmental budgets
- Proficiency with donor management software such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce Nonprofit
- Demonstrated success leading capital campaigns or multi-year fundraising initiatives
- Strong board relations and executive-level stakeholder communication skills
Tips for Your Executive Director Of Development Job Search
Quantify fundraising results on your resume
List the dollar totals you personally closed, not just managed, and name the campaign type. Hiring committees for executive director of development roles distinguish between portfolio size and revenue you directly generated, so vague attribution will cost you interviews.
Tailor your materials to the mission
Boards reviewing executive director of development candidates read cover letters for authentic alignment with the cause. Mirror the organization's language around impact, constituent relationships, and strategic priorities rather than defaulting to generic fundraising vocabulary.
Target organizations at the right growth stage
A nonprofit rebuilding its development department after staff turnover needs different leadership than one launching a capital campaign. Filter openings by the organization's recent fundraising history and strategic plan so your experience matches what the role actually demands.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists executive director of development openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a board relations narrative for interviews
Search committees for executive director of development positions almost always include board members who want to know how you work with governance volunteers. Come ready with a specific example of cultivating a major donor alongside a board member and how you divided the relationship.
Negotiate scope before title or compensation
Clarify staffing levels, budget authority, and reporting structure before accepting any offer. Executive director of development roles vary widely in real autonomy, and a strong title with a lean team can limit what you accomplish and what you can claim on your next application.
Executive Director Of Development Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most executive director of developments?
The companies hiring the most executive director of developments right now include West Virginia University, The Salvation Army USA Central Territory, and LCTC, with the largest share of openings in Iowa, Texas, and Indiana, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nonprofit health systems, universities, and regional arts organizations consistently account for a large portion of active postings.
How many executive director of development jobs are remote?
About 67% of executive director of development openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though in-person presence remains the norm at many organizations. Roles focused on planned giving and individual donor stewardship are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, since the work centers on relationship management rather than on-site program oversight.
How do you become an executive director of development?
Most people reach this role by building a progression from development associate or officer to director, accumulating direct major gift experience along the way. Earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential strengthens your candidacy. Volunteering for campaign leadership within your current organization, taking on board liaison responsibilities, and managing at least one direct report all signal readiness for the executive level.
Can you get hired as an executive director of development with little experience?
Breaking in at the executive director level with limited experience is difficult, but smaller organizations with budgets under a few million dollars do sometimes hire candidates who have strong relationship skills and mission alignment over deep fundraising credentials. Demonstrating that you've closed gifts personally, even at a modest level, and showing clear management potential through volunteer or committee leadership can offset a shorter resume.
What does the executive director of development interview process look like?
The process typically runs three to four rounds. An initial screening with HR or a search consultant is followed by a panel interview with the development team, then a separate conversation with senior leadership or the CEO. Finalists usually meet with board members and may be asked to present a fundraising strategy or a first-year plan. Reference checks are thorough and often include conversations with former donors or board volunteers.
Where can I find and apply to executive director of development jobs?
You can find and apply to executive director of development jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing.
See All 26 Executive Director Of Development Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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