Development Director

Development Director
Elevate Youth
Location: In-person, Portland, Oregon
Compensation: $100,000 – $120,000 + Full benefits package

Motus Recruiting and Staffing is proud to partner with Elevate Youth in the search for its next Development Director.

ABOUT ELEVATE YOUTH
Elevate Youth inspires young people to ignite vision, build confidence, develop character, and create successful futures. Through dedicated full-time Teacher-Mentors embedded in schools, students receive daily academic support and benefit from strong partnerships among schools, families, and the community.
Teacher-Mentors build one-on-one relationships that empower students to grow academically, socially, and personally. Reflecting the lived experiences of the youth they serve, they show up every day to listen, lead, and provide consistent support.
Through in-class programming and out-of-school activities, students are empowered to set and achieve meaningful goals—improving attendance, raising grades, graduating from high school, exploring future opportunities, and developing the confidence and skills to thrive.

To learn more about Elevate Youth, visit their website: https://elevateyouthnow.org/

OVERVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR POSITION
The Development Director serves as a strategic leader responsible for advancing Elevate Youth's fundraising, communications, and community engagement efforts in support of the organization's mission and long-term sustainability. Working closely with the Executive Director, leadership team, and Board of Directors, this role develops and strengthens a comprehensive, diversified development program that builds meaningful relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, and community stakeholders. The Development Director provides strategic direction for fundraising initiatives while fostering a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

This position also provides leadership for the organization's communications and external visibility, ensuring messaging effectively reflects Elevate Youth's mission, impact, and evolving brand. The Development Director collaborates across departments to align fundraising and communications strategies with organizational priorities, while using data, performance metrics, and market insights to evaluate results, identify opportunities, and continuously strengthen development efforts. As a member of the leadership team, this individual helps position Elevate Youth for continued growth by building sustainable systems, cultivating strategic partnerships, and supporting organizational capacity for long-term success.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

• Creates and manages a comprehensive annual development plan that ensures fundraising goals are met or exceeded; monitors progress toward goals; proactively crafts strategies for course-correction as needed.
• Develops, executes, and monitors strategies to engage, support, and equip the Elevate team and all Board members in year-round fundraising; ensures strategic goals are met.
• Builds, refines and exploits donor databases and messaging systems to maximize fundraising and communications efforts through targeted analysis and focused dissemination.
• Crafts, manages, and monitors an annual communications plan that ensures high community visibility and compelling messaging that inspires and engages constituents.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

• Provides leadership, coaching, and day-to-day supervision to members of the Development team.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, trains, and develops staff in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.
• Establishes clear performance expectations; plans, assigns, and monitors work to ensure departmental goals are achieved.
• Conducts regular performance evaluations, provides ongoing feedback, and supports employee growth and professional development.
• Recognizes performance, addresses employee concerns, and implements corrective action or disciplinary measures when appropriate.
• Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and mission achievement.
• Ensures compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and employment practices while promoting effective communication and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive fundraising and development experience with a demonstrated track record of success.
• Proven experience soliciting and securing major gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate giving, and special events.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record and access to reliable, insured transportation.
• Ability to travel occasionally for local meetings, events, and donor engagement activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, proposals, and presentations, and effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret information, evaluate data, and make sound decisions.
• Demonstrated proficiency with fundraising databases/CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and other technology used to support fundraising, reporting, and communications.
• Ability to analyze financial and performance data, monitor progress toward goals, and interpret reports and metrics.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate is a strategic, relationship-driven fundraising leader who is passionate about advancing opportunities for youth and strengthening community impact. They combine strong fundraising expertise with exceptional communication, collaborative leadership, and the ability to build lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, board members, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven success developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that diversify revenue and achieve ambitious annual fundraising goals.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors while building strong relationships with foundations, corporations, and community partners.
• A strategic and data-informed mindset, using metrics and performance insights to evaluate results, identify opportunities, and continuously improve fundraising and communications efforts.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, coach, and engage staff, board members, and volunteers in year-round fundraising and community engagement.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling ambassador for Elevate Youth's mission.
• Experience overseeing marketing, communications, and brand awareness initiatives that increase visibility, strengthen community engagement, and inspire philanthropic support.
• Sound financial and business acumen with experience managing fundraising performance, budgets, and development operations while building sustainable systems for long-term growth.
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach that builds trust across departments and aligns fundraising strategies with organizational priorities.
• A genuine passion for empowering young people and a commitment to advancing Elevate Youth's mission through equity, partnership, innovation, and meaningful community impact.

About Motus Recruiting and Staffing, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Motus is an award-winning recruiting and staffing firm in the Pacific Northwest specializing in accounting and finance, professional services, technology solutions, and executive search. We are a group of people who recognize the importance of representation and actively fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment process. Our goal is to educate organizations on the importance of DEI when hiring, promoting, and supporting diverse employees. We are calling organizations to demonstrate their commitment to DEI by being intentional about whom they hire.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, or protected veteran status.