Sr. Director of Development

Company: Buffalo City Mission
Location: Buffalo
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Full-time Description Sr. Director of Development Buffalo, NY $70,000.00-$75,000.00 per year Buffalo City Mission is seeking a Sr. Director of Development. This position is full-time, working across our Buffalo, NY locations. Serve with Purpose: Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are more than a workplace. We are a community united by faith, compassion, and a shared commitment to changing lives. At Buffalo City Mission, we believe everyone deserves a second chance. Every day, we witness lives transformed through the power of grace, love, and hope. Our mission is to serve men, women, and families facing barriers to stability. Offering not just shelter and support, but the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose. Why Buffalo City Mission: We are proud to offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage with a single-high premium paid in full by the employer, a Health Savings Account (HSA), vision coverage, employer-paid life insurance, and supplemental insurance options. Beyond compensation and benefits, we cultivate a workplace where faith inspires action, service is a calling, and every team member plays a role in restoring hope. Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & External Representation: Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the organization's strategic plan and financial goals. Serve as a key external representative and spokesperson for The Buffalo City Mission building and nurturing relationships with donors, partners, community leaders, and other stakeholders. Establish annual and long-term fundraising goals and metrics, track progress and provide regular reports to the CEO and Board of Directors. Stay abreast of current trends and best practices in philanthropy and fundraising, incorporating innovative approaches into the organization's development efforts. Develop and manage the Development department budget, ensuring efficient and effective resource allocation. Represent the organization at external events, conferences, and meetings to raise awareness and cultivate potential donors and partners. Fundraising & Donor Relations: Major Gifts: Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with high-capacity individual donors to secure significant major gifts. Individual Giving: Develop and implement strategies to grow and sustain a robust base of individual donors through annual appeals, online giving, and other initiatives. Corporate Partnerships: Identify, cultivate, and solicit partnerships with corporations to secure sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations. Events: Provide strategic direction and oversight for fundraising events, ensuring they are well-planned, executed, and achieve fundraising goals. Donor Retention: Implement and manage strategies to cultivate strong relationships with existing donors, maximizing donor loyalty and increasing lifetime giving. Estate Planning: Develop and implement a planned giving program to encourage and secure legacy gifts. Volunteer Services Oversight: Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Volunteer Services department, ensuring alignment with organizational needs and development efforts. Collaborate with the Volunteer Services Manager to develop and implement effective volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement strategies. Foster a culture of appreciation and recognition for volunteers. Explore opportunities to integrate volunteer engagement into fundraising initiatives. Team Management & Collaboration: Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and mentor a high-performing Development team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented work environment. Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance evaluations for direct reports. Promote effective communication and collaboration within the Development team and across other organizational departments. Collaborate with the Finance department to ensure accurate financial reporting and reconciliation of donations. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred. Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in fundraising and development, with a proven track record of success in securing significant gifts across multiple fundraising channels. In the midst of a mature walk with Jesus Christ Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a comprehensive development program and a high-performing team. Strong understanding of philanthropic principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices, and fundraising best practices. Proven ability to develop and implement successful fundraising strategies and achieve ambitious goals. Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate the organization's mission and impact persuasively. Proficiency in using donor database software and other fundraising technology. Understanding of and commitment to the mission and values of The Buffalo City Mission Job postings are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. The employee may be asked to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically stated in this description. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone has the chance to thrive. Salary Description $70,000.00-$75,000.00/Year

Keywords: Buffalo City Mission, Buffalo , Sr. Director of Development, Social Services , Buffalo, New York