Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading local hunger-relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and Appleton. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our network partners, we serve nearly half a million food-insecure people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Director of Development oversees the day-to-day execution and operational performance of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s comprehensive fundraising program. Reporting to and working closely with the Chief Development Officer, this role translates fundraising strategy into operational plans that drive donor engagement, stewardship, and philanthropic investment.
The Director manages key fundraising functions, including major gifts and corporate giving, grants, and philanthropic operations. This role leads staff responsible for donor pipeline management, grant funding, fundraising systems, and portfolio performance while fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture that supports the organization’s growth and impact.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth:
- Maintain and grow a portfolio of a minimum of 75 major gifts donors and prospects
- Represent Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin at key community and networking events
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer to execute the organization’s annual and long-term fundraising strategy
- Translate strategic goals into operational plans and performance metrics for the fundraising team
- Drive achievement of departmental revenue goals through effective leadership of major gifts, grants, and donor engagement strategies
- Ensure strong pipeline development and donor cultivation across all fundraising portfolios
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer to develop annual fundraising revenue projections, portfolio targets, and departmental performance benchmarks
- Identify opportunities to grow and diversify philanthropic revenue through new partnerships, donor segments, and funding opportunities
Team Leadership & Management:
- Provide direct supervision and leadership to the Philanthropic Operations Manager, Senior Grants Manager, and Senior Development Manager
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance within the development team
- Set clear goals and performance expectations for team members aligned with departmental priorities
- Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development to direct reports
- Ensure alignment and coordination across fundraising functions
Major Gifts & Donor Strategy:
- Partner with the Senior Development Manager to strengthen the major gifts program and corporate donor pipeline
- Lead cultivation and stewardship of high-capacity donors and key relationships within your portfolio
- Participate in select donor meetings and engagements with team members as needed to support revenue goals
- Lead regular portfolio and pipeline review meetings to monitor donor engagement strategies, track progress toward revenue goals, and support team accountability
Grant & Foundation Funding:
- Provide strategic oversight of the grants program in partnership with the Senior Grants Manager
- Ensure strong pipeline development for foundation, corporate, and institutional funding
- Monitor grant performance, reporting compliance, and revenue forecasting
- Support the development of compelling grant proposals aligned with organizational priorities
Philanthropic Operations & Systems:
- Oversee the Philanthropic Operations Manager to ensure excellence in fundraising systems, data integrity, reporting, and gift processing
- Ensure development operations support fundraising effectiveness, donor stewardship, and financial transparency
- Collaborate with finance and leadership teams to ensure accurate revenue tracking and reporting
- Utilize data insights and dashboards to guide fundraising strategy and decision making
- Partner with marketing, programs, and leadership team to align donor communications, funding opportunities, and organizational impact priorities
- Other duties as assigned
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Commitment to understand and support FAEW’s mission, vision, and effective actions to end food insecurity and its causes.
- Respect for the people FAEW serves and commitment to learn the causes of their food insecurity and need.
- Ability to travel throughout the organization’s 35-county service area as needed for donor engagement
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university preferred.
- Minimum of four years of development experience, including personal solicitation and securing major gifts of $10,000+.
- Experience fundraising for capital campaign is a strong plus.
- Ability to speak and present in front of individuals, groups, or media.
- Excellent organizational, critical thinking, analytical, decision making, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with donor CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT) and business software tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database platforms to support fundraising strategy and reporting.
- Ability to effectively engage, inspire, and steward donors to support the organization’s mission through philanthropic investment.
- Demonstrate capacity to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- A positive, team-oriented mindset with a “can-do” approach to supporting the organization, demonstrating cross-functional collaboration and a focus on developing solutions.
- Ability to work safely following FAEW safety procedures.
- Demonstrate the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be open-minded of differing opinions and views.
- Valid Driver’s license, proof of insurance and transportation to support work activities.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds while moving files or small packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
Work is performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. FAEW prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, arrest or conviction record, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.