New

Development Director

D.A. Blodgett
83187.82 To 90527.00 (USD) Annually
United States, Michigan, Grand Rapids
2172 Dean Lake Avenue Northeast (Show on map)
Apr 29, 2026
Development Director Job Summary and Job Description Job Title: Development Director Department: Advancement Reports To: Chief Executive Office Pay Range: $83,187.82 to $90,527 Classification: Full Time Salaried- Exempt D.A. Blodgett- St. John's D.A. Blodgett- St. John's provides a continuum of care with comprehensive services, including counseling, foster care, adoption, mentoring and residential care. These programs are built on our core belief, backed by research, that as long as children can be safe, they do best when they are with their families. D.A. Blodgett- St. John's primarily serves children, youth and families in the greater Grand Rapids area, and some programming throughout the State of Michigan. D.A. Blodgett- St. John's is dedicated to providing an inclusive and welcoming experience for all children, all families and all individuals. MISSION STATEMENT: To help children and empower families by providing safety, advocacy, and support. VISION: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family. VALUES: Exceptional Service: Client-focused and teaming at the center of our work. Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: All are welcomed, valued, and belong. Excellence: Ongoing commitment to learning and improvement. Integrity: Responsibility and ownership of our actions and results. Creativity: Imagination, innovation, and intelligent risk taking. Passion: Relentless positive energy toward our mission and vision. SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS: Nonviolence: Maintaining safety for all members of the community. Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions so we don't hurt ourselves or others. Social Learning: Together we accomplish more, we care for one another. Democracy: Everyone has a voice, not necessarily a vote. Open Communication: Respecting and sharing ideas of our team. Social Responsibility: Say what you mean, don't be mean when you say it. Growth & Change: Creating hope for ourselves and the people we serve. POSITION SUMMARY The Development Director is a senior fundraising leader responsible for growing philanthropic revenue and strengthening community support for D.A. Blodgett - St. John's. The role provides leadership across major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate and foundation relations, donor stewardship, special events, and development operations. The Development Director partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer and agency leadership to plan and deliver a comprehensive fundraising program that supports the mission and long-term sustainability of DABSJ. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Lead implementation of a comprehensive fundraising plan with clear revenue goals and performance metrics. Manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Direct donor stewardship and recognition activities to ensure a positive donor experience. Identify, pursue, and manage grant opportunities in collaboration with program and finance staff. Work with the Director of Corporate Relations & Events to develop effective fundraising events and sponsorship strategies. Collaborate with communications team to craft targeted donor communications, including newsletters, appeals, emails, and other external communications. Ensure strong development operations, including gift processing, acknowledgements, and data integrity. Supervise and develop Advancement staff, setting priorities and supporting professional growth. Collaborate with agency leadership to translate program priorities into compelling cases for support. Perform other duties as assigned. Advocates for children and family needs at an organizational and program level Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences in all interactions. Supervision Received: General Direction - Plans and arranges own work. Uses a wide range of procedures to accomplish assigned objectives. Supervisory Responsibilities: Basic supervision - Determines work assignments, priorities, and procedures for team members; ensuring the quality and quantity of work. Provides recommendations and feedback on employee life-cycle activities including hiring, training, promotions, perform MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education requirements are a Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience Five or more years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts and annual giving Demonstrated success meeting fundraising goals Experience with donor database systems (Raiser's Edge preferred) Supervisory experience preferred Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends Valid driver's licensee and ability to travel locally Commitment to the mission, values and equity principles of DABSJ CORE COMPETENCIES Working Under Pressure: Ability to maintain composure and effectiveness when exposed to stressful or emotionally charged situations, while supporting families with empathy and professionalism. Communication: Ability to effectively receive and express ideas, both written and verbal; using clear and concise vocabulary and active listening skills. Ability to communicate with small and large groups and ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences. Integrity: Ability to adhere to organization policies and procedures, acting in a fair and just manner while maintaining confidentiality. Decision Making: Ability to select and commit to an effective course of action by understanding issues, comparing solutions, and drawing conclusions to resolve problems. Cultural Responsiveness: Ability to recognize, respect and adapt to cultural differences, promote equity and inclusion. Motivation: Ability to inspire and encourage others to reach a goal; maintaining high level of productivity and self-direction PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 5+ hours per day Work in stationary position Use hands/fingers to handle or feel Communicate with various parties Visual acuity Read and understand written word Operate computer and general office machines Less than 2 hours per day Move about work area None Reach with hands and arms Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch. Or crawl Detect flavors or smells Operate machines or material handling equipment Environmental Conditions: 5+ hours per day Office Environment: No exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals or hazardous equipment None: Manufacturing Environment: exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents or fumes Medical Environment: Exposure to body fluids, radiation, medical equipment, solvents or chemicals Noise: Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds Temperature: Exposure to extreme heat or cold either indoors or outside. DABSJ strives to be a fully inclusive organization as we support a diverse group of children and families. We are building a diverse team that represents our customers and our community and recognize that each of us brings a unique perspective to the organization. We welcome differing thoughts, faiths, beliefs, groups, and lived experiences. The diversity and differences of each team member, foster parent, adoptive parent, child, and family make us #DABSJstrongertogether for children and families. DABSJ is an equal opportunity, at-will employer, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. DABSJ does not discriminate on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists; culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic status, disability, or other legally-protected characteristics as required by law. This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company's at will employment status.