7 senior director of development jobs found
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DH
DRiWaterstone Human Capital
Tallahassee, FL
May 07, 2026
ES
ES
Location: Tice (Fort Myers, FL)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Goodwill Southwest Florida is seeking a strategic, relationship‑driven Senior Director of Development to lead and expand a comprehensive philanthropic program during a pivotal period of organizational growth. Reporting directly to the President/CEO, this executive leadership role offers a rare opportunity to advance workforce development, education, and human services while helping lead a transformational $30 million capital campaign. The ideal candidate is a confident fundraiser and leader who can move seamlessly between strategy and execution, inspire donors and volunteers, develop high‑performing teams, and personally close leadership‑level gifts in support of Goodwill's mission.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Fundraising Leadership
- Design and execute a comprehensive, multi‑channel fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
- Grow annual contributed revenue across individual, corporate, foundation, and community‑based donors.
- Establish fundraising goals, performance metrics, and accountability systems to drive results.
- Strengthen development infrastructure, including donor pipelines, prospect strategies, CRM utilization, and stewardship practices.
- Capital Campaign Leadership
- Partner with the President/CEO and Board of Directors to plan and lead a $30 million capital campaign.
- Manage campaign strategy, prospect movement, volunteer engagement, and gift tracking.
- Prepare executive and volunteer leaders for donor conversations, solicitations, and stewardship.
- Personally manage and solicit a portfolio of top campaign prospects, including six‑ and seven‑figure opportunities.
- Major & Leadership Giving
- Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high‑capacity donors.
- Build and sustain a strong leadership annual giving pipeline.
- Lead disciplined moves‑management strategies to maximize donor engagement and long‑term relationships.
- Board & Executive Partnership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the President/CEO on fundraising strategy and donor relationships.
- Engage and support Board members in fundraising efforts, donor introductions, and stewardship activities.
- Develop briefing materials, talking points, and engagement strategies for senior leaders and volunteers.
- Team Leadership & Culture
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing development team, including fundraising and grants staff.
- Foster a collaborative, donor‑centered culture grounded in accountability, professionalism, and growth.
- Clearly define roles, align resources, and support staff development to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
- Community Visibility & Partnerships
- Represent Goodwill Southwest Florida with donors, foundations, civic leaders, and corporate partners.
- Build and strengthen community relationships that elevate mission awareness and philanthropic investment.
Qualifications:
- Required:
- Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive fundraising leadership experience.
- Demonstrated success securing major and leadership annual gifts.
- Proven experience leading or serving in a senior role on a capital campaign or large‑scale fundraising initiative.
- Strong track record in prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and closing gifts.
- Experience managing, mentoring, and developing fundraising teams.
- Proven success partnering with CEOs, Boards, and senior‑level volunteers.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.
- Strong command of CRM systems, prospect pipelines, and fundraising analytics.
- Preferred:
- Experience in human services, workforce development, education, healthcare, or complex community‑based nonprofits.
- Familiarity with the Southwest Florida philanthropic landscape.
- CFRE or other advanced fundraising credentials.
Why Goodwill?
- Mission-driven nonprofit organization
- Collaborative merchandising team
- Opportunity to impact multiple store locations across Southwest Florida
Benefits & Perks
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee discounts
- Tuition Reimbursement
About Goodwill Southwest Florida
We Are More Than Our Stores
While Goodwill is best known for our popular retail thrift stores, they only scratch the surface of our story. We accept and sell donated items for multiple reasons and with many benefits!
Our stores generate revenue that allow Goodwill to offer free employment and career services. 93¢ of every dollar earned in our retail stores supports programs and services. Many Southwest Floridians want to work, but they need help identifying their skills or abilities, finding employment, and learning how to succeed long-term.
Goodwill provides services to job seekers, those who want to advance in their career (including our own employees), and employers throughout our area who need to fill permanent, full-time positions that offer benefits and a career path.
Like other nonprofits, Goodwill is managed by respected business leaders and a volunteer board of directors which provides guidance. Goodwill isn’t “owned” by anybody.
Our CEO, John Nadeau, has been with Goodwill for more than 13 years holding senior-level management positions throughout his career. Nadeau also has 23 years of extensive experience running and operating an upscale retail grocery store. Nadeau’s combined years of experiences make him very proficient in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Is he making a million dollars each year? No, but he is fairly compensated for someone who has a great deal of experience and the responsibility of managing more than 1000 employees and ensuring that one of Southwest Florida’s largest nonprofits is fulfilling its mission.
Our stores are designed to support our mission services. A lot of folks think our stores are just places that sell used items to people who have low incomes. While we’re happy we can provide affordable goods, our stores do so much more. When we sell those items, the money we raise goes toward the many programs and services we provide in Southwest Florida.
So, just like a hospital auxiliary thrift store helps the community through the hospital, a Goodwill store helps the community through all of those services that Goodwill provides.
93¢ of every dollar we earn goes back to our mission.
Charities spend a high percentage of their income on overhead and fundraising. We don’t. When you shop in our stores or donate to Goodwill, 93% of that money goes back into our mission services.
Sure, overhead expense isn’t the only way to judge a responsible charity, but it is important. And so is this: Guidestar by Candid, which rates nonprofits for donors and grantors, gives us their top rating – Platinum.
Nationwide, Goodwill is rated an “A” grade by Charity Watch, and for the last 5 years has been named one of the country’s “20 Most Inspiring Companies” in Forbes Magazine.