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About the Role

Are you a strategic fundraiser who believes in the power of storytelling, relationships, and data to drive meaningful impact? Are you energized by building systems, mentoring teams, and bringing an organization’s mission to life for donors and partners?

Commonpoint is seeking a Senior Director of Development to play a key leadership role in advancing philanthropic revenue through individual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, events, and alums engagement, with a strong emphasis on impact storytelling across written, digital, video, and presentation formats.

This is an ideal role for an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about strengthening communities and expanding opportunities for individuals and families across New York City.

Organizational Culture

Commonpoint is a diverse, mission-driven organization dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of New York City communities. Our staff reflects the people we serve—collaborative, community-rooted, and committed to equity, dignity, and impact.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Senior Director of Development is a key member of the development leadership team, responsible for executing and strengthening the agency’s fundraising strategy. This role oversees major gifts, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships, special events, and donor communications, while helping manage and mentor a growing development team.

In partnership with senior leadership, the Senior Director will help strengthen donor engagement systems, storytelling, stewardship practices, and cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring fundraising efforts align with organizational priorities and impact goals.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Partner with the VP to define and implement an integrated, organization-wide fundraising strategy across individual, major, and institutional giving, aligning annual and multi-year revenue goals with institutional priorities.

• Strengthen and oversee the systems and processes that help the development team track prospects, manage donor pipelines, and measure progress toward revenue goals.

• Establish strategies for managing major donor and institutional funder relationships, ensuring consistent, high-quality cultivation and stewardship across the team.

• Oversee the briefing and preparation process to ensure every solicitor is fully prepped, aligned on goals, and ready for high-stakes donor meetings.

• Set the strategic role of major events within the overall fundraising plan, ensuring they advance revenue, goals, donor pipeline development, and long-term relationship building.

• Identify and develop new funding pathways and growth opportunities, including multi-year and capacity-building support, and emerging donor segments (e.g., alumni). Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development to the development team members, fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and continuously learning team culture.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Programs, and Communications to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities.

• Prepare fundraising updates and reports for senior leadership and the Board.

Grant Writing & Institutional Partnerships

• Lead the strategic planning for the foundation and corporate giving portfolio, shaping priorities, prospecting focus, and partnership goals to strengthen and diversify long-term revenue.

• Direct the development of high-quality proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports that align with mission, strategy, and funder requirements.

• Partner with program and finance teams to translate outcomes and budgets into compelling, funder-ready narratives.

• Track grant pipeline and performance across foundations and corporations, using data and insights to strengthen strategy, improve win rates, and inform resource allocation.

• Monitor trends in the institutional funding landscape and share insights that inform prospecting, diversification, and long-term revenue planning.

Development Narrative Strategy & Alignment

• Define the development impact narrative and messaging framework that guides how the organization presents its mission, priorities and results to donors and institutional partners.

• Build the systems, standards, and shared language that enable consistent, compelling and high-quality fundraising communications across the development team.

• Partner with Communications to align development messaging with the organization’s brand and external positioning.

• Advise program teams on adopting and adapting the core narrative for different funding audiences and development contexts.

Donor Storytelling, Impact Communications & Presentations

• Lead the development of donor-centered storytelling strategy, defining how Commonpoint’s impact is brought to life across digital platforms, presentations, events, and campaigns.

• Collaborate with Communications, Programs, and leadership to translate program outcomes into clear, emotionally resonant written and video materials for digital channels (social media, email, etc), fundraising presentations, and donor engagement.

• Oversee a portfolio of impact assets—including slide decks, grant proposals and reports, social and email content, and written and video stories—that support solicitation, stewardship, and long-term donor engagement.

• Ensure consistent messaging and storytelling for external audiences (donors, foundations, corporate partners, alumni, media) and internal stakeholders (board, leadership, staff).

• Support leadership and board members with talking points, presentations, and visual materials for donor meetings, site visits, and events.

• Align storytelling efforts with fundraising goals, stewardship strategies, and long-term donor engagement.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Set and oversee clear standards and processes for donor acknowledgment, recognition, and reporting to ensure a high-quality, consistent donor experience.

• Oversee the systems and practices that track donor gifts, relationships, and engagement, ensuring effective use of CRM/database systems (DonorPerfect) across the development team.

• Lead stewardship strategy to promote donor retention and long-term partnership, leveraging cultivation and stewardship events to deepen relationships with major donors, partners, and institutional stakeholders.

Jewish & Cultural Arts Strategy & Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Jewish and Cultural Arts programming, leveraging it as a driver of donor engagement, partnership development, and philanthropic growth, and positioning it as a core component of Commonpoint’s community engagement and institutional identity.

• Shape the direction and growth of this work, strengthening Commonpoint’s role as a hub for Jewish, intergenerational, and cross-cultural connection.

• Ensure strong alignment between cultural programming, organizational priorities, and fundraising strategy, including partnership development and philanthropic growth.

• Oversee a more integrated, cross-organizational approach to this work, strengthening coordination, visibility, and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts and grant writing

• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals

• Exceptional writing, presentation, and communication skills

• Demonstrated experience using storytelling as a fundraising and engagement tool, including written, digital, and presentation formats

• Strong relationship-building skills with individual donors, institutional funders, and community partners

• Experience leading teams while managing a personal portfolio of donors

• Proficiency with donor databases/CRMs (DonorPerfect or similar)

• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills

• Commitment to Commonpoint’s mission and values

Work Environment

• Hybrid work environment based in Queens, with flexibility to work from Forest Hills, Bronx, or Manhattan offices

• Local travel required; occasional evenings and weekends for events

• Ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds for event-related setup

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, generous PTO, professional development opportunities, and retirement plan options

Equal Opportunity Statement

Commonpoint is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We serve more than 125,000 individuals annually through 90+ sites across New York City, providing social, educational, and recreational services to people of all backgrounds and ages.