Position Open: Director of Development

About the Women’s Fund

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) was founded in 1996 by three local women inspired by the possibility of a gender-equal world after attending the Fourth World Women’s Conference in China. Their call to action mobilized hundreds of women across western Massachusetts to invest in advancing gender equity and supporting community-based nonprofits dedicated to improving the lives of women, girls, and gender diverse individuals.

Over the years, WFWM has advanced gender equity in our region by funding nonprofits, publishing research, developing women’s and gender-diverse leadership, and advocating for systemic change throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. We champion initiatives focused on healing and power-building.

Our mission is to advance gender equity by investing in promising solutions, partnering with results-driven organizations, and amplifying the leadership and power of women in our region.

About the Role

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is seeking a Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts at a pivotal moment in our history. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in building donor relationships as much as they enjoy building systems. Someone equally comfortable making a major gift ask and designing the stewardship infrastructure that makes the next ask possible.

You will manage a portfolio of donors across all giving levels, personally cultivating and stewarding individual and major gift relationships while helping shape WFWM’s broader fundraising strategy. Working in close partnership with the CEO and board, you will also evaluate and help improve our CRM, communications, and pipeline management while building on what already works to support sustainable, long-term growth.

As WFWM approaches its 30th Anniversary milestone, this role offers a unique opportunity to both do the work and help define what comes next. You will help grow annual revenue beyond $1 million, deepen our donor community across all four counties, and position the Fund for its next decade of impact.

WFWM operates as a hybrid organization. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to Western Massachusetts.

What Success Looks Like

In your first year, you will:

• Build genuine relationships with donors across the existing portfolio and establish a personal solicitation rhythm
• Conduct a thorough assessment of current fundraising systems and identify 2–3 priority improvements to stewardship, pipeline tracking, or donor communications
• Partner with the CEO on the 2026 strategic plan’s fundraising components and set multi-year revenue benchmarks

Within three years, you will have:

• Grown individual and major donor revenue to exceed $1 million annually with improved donor retention rates
• Built a documented, repeatable stewardship system that the whole team can rely on
• Launched at least one planned or legacy giving initiative in honor of WFWM’s 30th Anniversary
• Strengthened the board’s fundraising confidence and engagement through clear roles and shared accountability

Key Responsibilities

Donor Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of donors across individual, major, and mid-level giving, with personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each relationship
• Conduct a meaningful number of personal donor meetings, calls, and asks each year — this is a role that requires regular, direct engagement with donors
• Identify, qualify, and move prospects through the giving pipeline with discipline and care
• Develop and implement planned and legacy giving initiatives, beginning with WFWM’s 30th Anniversary as a milestone opportunity

Fundraising Strategy & Systems

• Partner with the CEO to design and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with WFWM’s 2027 strategic plan
• Build on and manage our existing systems, CRM workflows, stewardship calendars, pipeline reporting and bring new ideas that support consistent, scalable fundraising
• Track and report on key performance indicators quarterly: revenue by channel, donor retention, portfolio growth, and solicitation activity
• Identify new funding opportunities across individual, corporate, and planned giving channels

Campaigns & Donor Communications

• Lead annual appeals, giving campaigns, and donor events with clear revenue and engagement goals for each
• Develop compelling donor communications, impact reports, and proposals in partnership with the broader team
• Translate WFWM’s story and impact into invitations for investment that resonate across diverse donor audiences

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Staff the Development Committee: set agendas, prepare reports, and drive follow-through on committee commitments
• Support board members in their individual fundraising roles, including relationship management, introductions, and donor cultivation
• Engage volunteers in fundraising activities in coordination with staff

Team Leadership & Operations

• Supervise the Fundraising Data Administrator: set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct annual performance reviews
• Manage the philanthropy budget with accountability for accurate forecasting and responsible resource stewardship
• Maintain CRM data integrity in Bloomerang and produce regular pipeline and revenue reports for the CEO and board
• Support foundation grant research and reporting in collaboration with relevant staff

Gender & Racial Equity

• Center gender and racial equity in every aspect of fundraising — from donor messaging to relationship-building to how resources are allocated
• Approach community engagement through a power-building lens, consistent with WFWM’s mission and values

Qualifications

• 5 or more years of nonprofit development experience with a demonstrated track record in hands-on fundraising and direct donor solicitation
• Proven success managing a donor portfolio, including cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts
• Experience building or improving fundraising systems: stewardship workflows, CRM data practices, pipeline management, or donor communications
• Familiarity with planned or legacy giving preferred; willingness to develop this expertise required
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, financial management, budget forecasting, and compliance
• Supervisory experience; able to manage, develop, and support staff in a small-team environment
• Skilled at translating donor data and trends into practical, actionable strategies
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; comfortable managing multiple priorities with minimal oversight
• Effective communicator and writer; able to craft donor appeals, proposals, reports, and stewardship materials that move people to act
• Experience working with board members, development committees, and volunteers to advance fundraising goals
• Commitment to WFWM’s mission and values, including advancing gender and racial equity
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, and donor CRMs; Bloomerang experience strongly preferred
• Must reside in or be willing to relocate to Western Massachusetts

Why Join WFWM?

• Do meaningful work advancing equity for women, girls, and gender-expansive people through grantmaking, advocacy, and community partnerships
• Lead development at a mission-driven organization entering its 30th Anniversary year — a moment of real momentum and transformation
• Shape not just the strategy but the day-to-day relationships and systems that bring it to life
• Compensation: $80,000–$100,000, plus health insurance, retirement match, generous PTO, professional development support, and hybrid flexibility
• A culture committed to equity, work-life balance, and purpose-driven leadership

How to Apply

Send the following to admin@mywomensfund.org with the subject line “Director of Development” by May 22, 2026:

• Cover letter (max 2 pages)
• Resume
• Three professional references (name, pronouns, affiliation, relationship, email, phone) — references contacted only at the final interview stage

Please respond to the following in your cover letter:

“What inspires you to advance gender equity through philanthropy, and what is one concrete strategy you would use to grow revenue for the Women’s Fund?”