Director of Development

About CAFO

The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) unites more than 300 respected organizations and a global network of churches to inspire and equip Christians to effectively answer God’s call to care for vulnerable children and families. Since 2004, CAFO members have sought to “leave their logos and egos at the door” to join in shared initiatives to grow and guide effective responses for the world’s most vulnerable children, from foster care and adoption to family strengthening and care for vulnerable children worldwide.

Position Summary

The Director of Development will lead CAFO’s comprehensive fundraising strategy.  He/she will drive funding growth through a strong moves management strategy, while also supporting the team with major gift cultivation. This will include meaningful touchpoints with small- and mid-sized donors,  grant applications, and foundation partnerships.  Critically, this work aims not merely to maximize revenue from donors, but to live out a holistic vision of what we want for donors—most of all, helping them live a life of vibrant faith in Jesus Christ. While roughly 80% of this role focuses on executing this vision, approximately 20% focuses on helping CAFO’s 300+ member organizations to embrace and execute this same vision for “Development as Discipleship,” providing peer learning and other growth opportunities  in partnership with Mission Increase.  Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role involves close collaboration with the President and Director of Communications.   

Location: Remote
Position Type: Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Travel: Travel will likely average 1-2 trips per quarter. Travel will include the CAFO Summit, the annual staff retreat, and other events/activities hosted by CAFO and its partners.

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising plan with clear, measurable revenue goals.
• Partner with the President and Chief Operating Officer to evaluate strategies and report on progress.
• Lead the development team and foster collaboration across CAFO’s initiatives to execute aligned fundraising strategies. 

Grants and Corporate Partnerships

• Collaborate with Initiative leaders to craft compelling grant proposals that maximize funding success.
• Cultivate relationships with foundations and other organizations, aligning their philanthropic goals with the nonprofit's mission.

Donor Cultivation and Major Gifts

• Provide strategic support to the President in engaging major donors while also developing the organization’s major-gift prospect pipeline beyond the President’s direct network.
• Design and implement a "moves management" framework to track donor engagement and build long-term relationships.

Growth and Peer Community for CAFO Member Development Officers

• Lead CAFO’s partnership with Mission Increase to provide excellent fundraising content and teaching to the CAFO community.
• Build cohorts, collectives  and other collaborative learning opportunities to promote effective development practices in the CAFO community.

• Develop content and learning pathways for leaders and organizations to improve their development strategies.

Competency and Skills

• A committed follower of Jesus Christ who wholeheartedly shares in the mission and vision, deepest commitments, and guiding principles of the CAFO community.
• Definitive track record of success in fundraising.
• A team player, someone who is willing to work collaboratively across multiple teams and with cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent leadership, organization and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding proficiency in both spoken and written correspondence.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of leading fundraising and development strategies, preferably in a ministry setting or nonprofit organization.
• Experience with Donor Platforms and CRMs, preferably with Salesforce.
• Proven track record in managing contemporary, integrated initiatives, such as digital stewardship events, electronic solicitation, and peer-led advocacy projects.
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications or related field (or equivalent experience).