Director of Development

Mental Health America of the MidSouth

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Job Summary

The Director of Development will lead and execute the organization’s fundraising strategy, advancing revenue growth through individual donors, major gifts, corporate/ foundation partnerships, and events. This role will collaborate closely with the Media and Marketing Manager and the Grants and Data Manager to ensure cohesive donor engagement, data-driven strategy, and outcomes. The ideal candidate is strategic, collaborative, results-oriented, and capable of building strong relationships with donors, board members, and internal stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Serve as the organization’s chief frontline fundraiser, responsible for proactively identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts from individuals, corporations, and sponsors to meet ambitious revenue targets (with an expectation of achieving 4–10x the annual salary in contributed revenue, in alignment with national fundraising benchmarks).
• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan with clear revenue goals across individual giving, major gifts, corporate/foundation contributions, sponsorships, and events.
• Revisit membership structure as part of a long-term strategic planning initiative.
• Drive year-round pipeline development, ensuring a consistent flow of new prospects, re-engaged lapsed donors, and upgraded supporters.

Donor Cultivation, Stewardship & Community Connection

• Build trust with the community through a high-touch, relationship-centered approach, building new donors and leading efforts to re-engage past supporters with transparency and authenticity.
• Conduct regular donor visits, presentations, and outreach with a disciplined schedule of follow-up to ensure movement through the donor lifecycle.
• Ensure the donor experience is strategic, personalized, and mission-centered from first contact to stewardship.

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

• Lead all aspects of corporate fundraising, including prospecting, pitching, negotiating partnership agreements, and delivering sponsorship fulfillment.
• Develop compelling sponsorship packages and employer-engagement opportunities tied to mission impact and events, focusing on sustainable, long term, multiyear, commitments from funders.

Events Management & Revenue Optimization

• Oversee fundraising events (bi-annual Massey Leadership Award, regular community events, additional fundraising and donor cultivation events, etc.), including strategy, budgeting, planning, execution, and post-event donor follow-up.
• Identify opportunities to leverage events as donor acquisition, cultivation, and stewardship tools, not standalone activities.

Team Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with grant writing and data functions to ensure clarity of roles, avoid duplication, and align efforts toward revenue goals.
• Work closely with the Grants & Data Manager and Director of Finance to ensure accurate donor records, prospect research, segmentation, and performance tracking.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Program Operations and Media & Marketing Manager to create aligned fundraising messaging, campaigns, and storytelling that advance acquisition, retention, and revenue growth.
• Collaborate with board members and senior leadership to activate networks, develop donor strategies, and integrate fundraising into organizational planning and culture.

Data, Metrics, and Performance Management

• Monitor, track, and analyze key fundraising metrics; produce regular progress reports for senior leadership and the board.
• Use data insights to refine strategy, strengthen donor journeys, and improve conversion and retention rates.
• Oversee pledge tracking, sponsorship deliverables, acknowledgment timeliness, and full donor-cycle documentation.
• Ensure compliance with charitable solicitation requirements, gift acceptance policies, and donor confidentiality standards.
• Maintain knowledge of fundraising trends, regulations (e.g., charitable solicitation, tax-deductible gifts), and maintain ethical standards, such as AFP Code of Ethical Standards (or equivalent).
• Maintain current knowledge of fundraising trends, tools, and best practices.
• Supervise and mentor staff, contractors, or volunteers (as applicable) who support development functions.

Additional Expectations and Considerations

• Maintain a robust schedule of external meetings (a minimum weekly target can be defined) to build visibility and strengthen donor relationships.
• Represent the organization at community events, civic meetings, and partner gatherings to raise organizational visibility and reconnect with stakeholders.
• This position may require occasional evening or weekend work (events, donor meetings).
• Travel (local/regional) may be required for donor cultivation and conferences.
• This role must work collaboratively across departments to ensure fundraising is integrated into marketing/communications and data systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in nonprofit management, business, public administration, or related field.
• At least 5–7 years of demonstrated successful fundraising experience (including major gifts, individual donors, corporate/foundation partnerships).
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
• Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills; comfortable engaging with donors, board members, volunteers, and senior leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals, donor materials, and presentations.
• Experience with donor management systems/CRMs (e.g., Bloomerang, Blackbaud CRM, etc.).
• Experience analyzing fundraising metrics and using data to drive decisions.
• Strategic mindset, self-starter, comfortable working in both strategic and hands-on mode.
• Commitment to be an ambassador and advocate for the mission of the organization, capable of articulating impact, outcomes, and funding priorities to a wide range of audiences while positively representing the organization in the community.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Interested applicants may send a cover letter and resume to Amber Hampton, Executive Director, at ahampton@mhamidsouth.org.

Details

• Date Posted: December 16, 2025
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Fundraising / Revenue Development
• Service Area: Health (Physical, Mental)
• Start Date: 02/03/2025
• Working Hours: M-F 8:30 am-5 pm