Duties / Expectations:
Director of Development
Liberation Programs Inc.
339 West Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Full-time
Skills
Do you have experience in Research?
Education
Do you have a Bachelor's degree?
Benefits
Loan forgiveness
Tuition reimbursement
401(k) matching
Paid time off
Full job description
Who We Are:
Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County's leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants and stimulants. Our goal is to help individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Liberation provides services for youth, adults and families that include two inpatient treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, health education for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, treatment and resources for adolescents and their families, education and prevention efforts in the community, and permanent supportive housing for families. In operation since 1971, the agency has sites in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and served more than 2,400 individuals in our last fiscal year.
Job Purpose / Function
The Director of Development is a fundraising leader responsible for driving revenue growth through frontline fundraising, donor cultivation, and strategic development initiatives. This role carries responsibility for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and existing donors, with a strong emphasis on expanding the organization’s individual and corporate donor base.
Working in close partnership with the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Development leads key fundraising strategies, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, events, and peer-to-peer campaigns, while ensuring strong systems, stewardship practices, and cross-departmental alignment. This position is ideal for a seasoned fundraiser who combines relationship-driven fundraising expertise with strong execution, collaboration, and leadership skills.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Frontline Fundraising & Donor Cultivation (40%)
Manages portfolio of individual and corporate prospects, with responsibility for cultivating new donor relationships and soliciting gifts across a range of giving levels.
Identifies, qualifies, and develops new donor prospects through research, networking, events, and referrals, with a focus on long-term engagement and growth.
Conducts donor meetings, prepares solicitation strategies, drafts proposals, and collaborates with leadership on major and leadership-level asks.
Leads stewardship efforts for assigned donors, ensuring meaningful engagement, timely follow-up, and alignment with donor interests and organizational priorities.
Events, Peer-to-Peer Fundraising & Community Engagement (25%)
Provides strategic leadership for major fundraising and engagement initiatives, including the annual gala, donor cultivation and appreciation events, Recovery Month activities, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.
Oversees planning and execution, including timelines, budgets, vendor management, run-of-show development, and day-of leadership.
Leverages events and campaigns as intentional donor cultivation and acquisition opportunities, ensuring clear fundraising goals and follow-up strategies.
Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships (15%)
Leads corporate partnership strategy, including identifying new prospects, developing sponsorship opportunities, and securing financial and in-kind support.
Manages corporate relationships from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, ensuring consistent fulfillment of benefits and strong partner engagement.
Collaborates with marketing and leadership to align corporate partnerships with visibility, mission impact, and organizational goals.
Marketing, Communications & Case Support (10%)
Contributes to the development of cases for support, donor-facing materials, event materials, presentations, website, and reports that translate program impact into donor-relevant outcomes.
Supports public relations and visibility efforts related to fundraising initiatives, in collaboration with leadership.
Donor Operations, Stewardship & Infrastructure (5%)
Ensures accurate gift processing, donor acknowledgment, and database integrity in collaboration with development operations staff.
Uses data and reporting to inform fundraising strategy, track progress toward goals, and support portfolio management.
Helps maintain and refine development systems, workflows, and standard operating procedures to support sustainable growth.
Volunteer Engagement, Gift-in-Kind & Special Projects (5%)
Oversees volunteer engagement and gift-in-kind activities in support of fundraising, donor stewardship, and community engagement goals.
Coordinates the solicitation, tracking, acknowledgment, and fulfillment of in-kind contributions, ensuring accurate documentation and alignment with organizational needs.
Partners with program and operations staff to identify and support meaningful volunteer and in-kind opportunities.
Leads or supports special projects and cross-functional initiatives as assigned by the Chief Development Officer.
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