Harbor Homes of Martha's Vineyard Director of Development Vineyard Haven, MA · Full time

Apply for Director of Development

The Role:

Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead and grow the organization’s fundraising program during an important period of expansion.

Harbor Homes works to ensure that everyone on Martha’s Vineyard has access to safe shelter, essential resources, and the support needed to build a thriving, self-sufficient life. We provide a continuum of housing, shelter, outreach, and supportive services for Islanders experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will provide leadership for the annual fund, major gifts, foundation relations, and the Harbor Homes Center Capital Campaign while building the systems and relationships needed to sustain long-term philanthropic support.

This is an opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys cultivating meaningful relationships, improving fundraising systems, and turning strategy into action. As Harbor Homes’ dedicated fundraising professional, the Director of Development will help lead a transformational capital campaign and develop the fundraising capacity needed to expand housing, shelter, and supportive services across the Island.

The Director of Development will work closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, staff, campaign volunteers, and fundraising consultants to achieve goals that directly support Harbor Homes’ mission and future growth.

Why Join Harbor Homes?

Eligible full-time employees receive:

• A retirement plan with an employer match of up to 4%.
• An employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement providing up to $4,000 annually for eligible healthcare expenses.
• Three weeks of paid vacation to start.
• 40 hours of paid sick time annually.
• The opportunity to take on a significant leadership role in a growing, community-based organization addressing one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most pressing challenges.

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of the applicable plans and policies.

What You’ll Do:

The Director of Development will:

• Lead Harbor Homes’ comprehensive annual fundraising program and develop annual fundraising plans, calendars, goals, and strategies.
• Build and manage relationships with current and prospective donors, including leadership and major-gift prospects, through identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
• Serve as the day-to-day manager of the Harbor Homes Center Capital Campaign.
• Coordinate campaign planning, prospect strategy, volunteer support, donor tracking, and reporting.
• Manage foundation relationships, identify new funding opportunities, and prepare competitive grant proposals and reports.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Board members, staff, volunteers, and consultants on fundraising strategy and execution.
• Develop compelling fundraising messages, case statements, appeals, and donor communications.
• Monitor fundraising performance and use data to guide strategy.
• Build and improve the systems needed to support Harbor Homes’ long-term fundraising capacity.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Want to learn more about the position? [View the complete Director of Development job description.]

What You Bring:

The ideal candidate is a confident relationship builder who is comfortable with both strategic planning and hands-on execution. This person can move naturally between meeting with a major donor, preparing a grant proposal, analyzing fundraising results, and preparing a Board member or volunteer for a donor conversation.

Ideal candidates will bring:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, business development, sales, philanthropy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic investments, sponsorships, or major client relationships.
• Experience managing multiple fundraising initiatives or revenue-generating projects.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and proposal-development abilities.
• Strong organizational, project-management, and analytical skills.
• Experience using donor CRM systems and fundraising databases; familiarity with Bloomerang or a similar system is preferred.
• An entrepreneurial, proactive, and adaptable approach.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with donors, volunteers, Board members, colleagues, and community partners.
• A genuine commitment to Harbor Homes’ mission and the people we serve.

We recognize that great candidates may not meet every qualification listed above. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe your experience aligns with the role, we encourage you to apply.

Position Details:

Position: Director of Development

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Organization: Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard

The position is primarily office-based but includes donor meetings, community events, campaign activities, and occasional travel on or off Martha’s Vineyard. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required. Hybrid or remote work may be considered based on organizational needs and with the Executive Director’s approval. 

To Apply

Please submit an application. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Questions?

If you need assistance with the application or have questions, feel free to email [email protected].