Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. From our humble beginnings with one boy’s wish to be a police officer, we have evolved to be one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 400 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida granted 453 wishes last year.

Position Summary

The Director of Development serves as a front-line fundraiser, establishing a local organizational presence and advancing relationships with individuals and organizations with the capacity or network to make philanthropic investments in Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida. This individual will be responsible for managing a Fundraising & Advisory Board, as well as a portfolio of individual and corporate donors and prospects; moving them through the qualification and cultivation processes to successful solicitation; ensuring donors in the portfolio receive appropriate mission-guided stewardship; and collaborating with development colleagues and organization leadership. This job requires a dynamic, motivated, energetic, and personable individual with a “go-getter” attitude and a drive to meet and exceed budgetary fundraising goals.

This is a remote regional role located in the Northwest territory of the chapter, preferably based in Tallahassee or another major market within the NW Region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth

• Drive strategic development of the NW region’s 18 counties, achieving $400,000 revenue growth in year one and increasing goals annually.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 250+ individual and corporate prospects, developing strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with a strong emphasis on facetoface engagement.
• Achieve activity metrics aligned with revenue goals, including meaningful touchpoints, solicitations, and gifts received.
• Partner with Wish Alumni Manager to engage families in fundraising, storytelling, and event ambassadorship.
• Utilize Salesforce CRM for moves management, ensuring timely documentation of strategies, interactions, and proposals within 24 hours; review records for accuracy and conduct regular portfolio reviews.

Board & Community Engagement

• Identify, recruit, and lead an advisory board and fundraising council to expand awareness, networks, and revenue.
• Maintain purposeful communication with board members and act promptly on referrals.
• Establish a strong presence in networking groups and community events to enhance visibility.
• Design and implement creative, costeffective stewardship initiatives for donors, volunteers, and alumni.

Mission Delivery Support

• Build relationships with medical professionals in collaboration with the Medical Outreach Manager; assist with content delivery for virtual and inperson sessions.
• Seek opportunities to recognize medical professionals throughout the year (e.g., Nurses’ Week, Doctors’ Day).
• Collaborate with Volunteer Manager to plan meaningful recognition opportunities.
• Identify and solicit inkind contributions and local wish experts; represent the organization at local wishes and special events.

Administrative & Reporting

• Complete proposals, pledge documents, regional mail logs, invoicing and expense tracking, and general correspondence.
• Complete monthly forecasting and regular chapter board reporting in collaboration with other Development team leads.
• Assist with other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Thrives in a resultsoriented culture of accountability, working independently and remotely with minimal supervision.
• Highly motivated, goaloriented selfstarter with strong initiative and selfdirection.
• Exercises critical thinking to grow major markets, build strategic plans, and engage Advisory Council and Wish Alumni to advance the mission.
• Ability to create innovative ideas and events to increase regional support.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across multiple departments, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Maintains consistent outreach, followup, and solicitation to achieve revenue goals.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fastpaced, deadlinedriven environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to adhere to timelines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for donor engagement and internal collaboration.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and community engagement.

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum of five years in nonprofit development with a proven record of cultivating donor relationships and leading volunteer councils toward defined objectives.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing a donor portfolio, increasing value over time through donorcentric relationship management.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic gifts (nonevent), including $5,000+ individual and $25,000+ corporate/foundation donations.
• Ability to form and leverage relationships with prospects, donors, and advisory council members, with a strong focus on increasing local visibility and presence.
• Experience engaging local media to promote events and highlight Wish Alumni stories.
• Must be able to clearly articulate the case for supporting MakeAWish in oneonone settings and to audiences of all sizes.
• Possess an outgoing, positive personality and collaborative working style.
• Demonstrated maturity, integrity, and ethical awareness; ability to handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and donor management software (Salesforce).
• Comfortable working independently in a remote environment with minimal oversight.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the NW Region (18 counties from Perry to Pensacola).
• Commitment to the MakeAWish mission and vision.

Working Conditions

This is a remote regional role located in the Northwest territory of the chapter, preferably based in Tallahassee or another major market within the NW Region. The individual will be the sole representative for this market and must be comfortable operating as a single-person team without local peers. While the position is remote, it requires regular in-person engagement, representing the organization at meetings, events, and prospecting opportunities.

The role involves frequent travel within the 18 counties of the Northwest Region and an additional 25–30% travel throughout the chapter, including Northeast and Central Florida. Candidates must be willing and able to work independently, manage their territory proactively, and maintain strong communication with the broader team. Some nights and weekends will be required as needed.

Rewards and Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package: Medical, Vision, Dental
• 100% employer paid for employee: Long Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Annual incentive potential
• 401(b) Retirement Savings Plan: up to 3% Employee Match
• 15 PTO days, 10 Paid Holidays, and 2 Personal Days
• Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Quarterly Team Outings
• Individual and Leadership Development
• Employee Rewards and Recognition Programs

Join Our Team of Inspired People Transforming Lives

We are more than a great place to work - our work impacts children’s lives We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thoughts and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values - values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the transformational work we do every day.

We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics.

About Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida

Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. From our humble beginnings with one boy’s wish to be a police officer, we have evolved to be one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 400 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida granted 367 local wishes and 368 wish assists last year.