Director of Development

Organization and Mission

The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) finds adoptive homes for children and teens waiting in foster care. MARE develops public awareness and recruitment programs to inform the public about the children who wait, support families in pursuing adoption from foster care, and facilitate matches of adoptive families.  MARE specializes in the recruitment of adoptive families for teens, children of color, sibling groups, LGBTQ identified youth, and those with complex medical and developmental needs.  MARE’s values of innovation, compassion and collaboration are at the core of our services to children and families, our organizational culture and our community engagement.  We are looking for a Developmental Director to join our passionate team of champions for waiting youth in foster care as we look towards continued growth.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is a key member of the Leadership team and is responsible for leading the organization's fundraising strategies.  The organization's $2M budget is supported by a yearly fundraising plan that includes special events, foundation/corporate grants and individual giving, in addition to state contracts.  Director is responsible for setting strategic goals, implementation of fundraising activities, and tracking success.  The Director supervises a Development Associate and is supported by a robust Communications Team.  The Director of Development acts as a key community relations persons for the organization, helping to raise awareness and build networks of support.   

The ideal candidate will have most of the following qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree and 5-7 years of experience in non-profit fundraising


• Competence with Salesforce or other donor management databases


• Experience managing mid to large-scale fundraising events


• Strong relationship building skills with proven success in identifying, cultivating and soliciting donors and/or community support


• Strong written communication skills, including experience writing major gift requests and grant proposals to individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations


• Effective verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and ability to passionately engage individuals around mission


• Self-driven, entrepreneurial, able to balance competing priorities and work well under pressure


• Ability to set and monitor goals independently, and experienced in using metrics to monitor progress and inform strategy


• Demonstrated collaboration on cross-departmental initiatives and commitment to contributing to an anti-racist and holistically inclusive workplace culture


• Experience supervising staff, interns and/or volunteers


• Mission-driven and shares MARE's urgency for finding permanency for all children and teens in foster care, through innovation, compassion and collaboration


• MARE actively seeks to broaden the diversity of our team to best reflect the populations we serve and encourages BIPOC individuals and those with lived experience in the child welfare system to consider applying, even if all of qualifications are not met. 

Specific Duties

• Plan, implement and evaluate strategic fundraising plan and contribute to long-term direction of organization’s fiscal stability


• Plan and manage annual calendar of grant proposals, reports and research, including identification of new foundation/corporate giving opportunities


• Execute individual giving campaigns, including annual appeal, annual report, major donor cultivation and solicitation


• Plan and execute a minimum of two fundraising events per year, including the Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption and the Knights of Pythias Golf Tournament


• Develop and build collaborative relationships with corporations and community partners to support events and volunteer opportunities


• Co-chair the Board of Director's Fundraising Committee to create new strategies, engage board member participation and expand network of support


• Oversee Salesforce database to track donors, gifts, goals and acknowledgements, ensure accurate financial records and reports are kept 


• Supervise Development Associate and interns/Vistas as needed


• Support program events such as Adoption Meet & Greets, Family Support Events and PR efforts as needed


• Work to enhance understanding of and credibility for the mission of MARE among staff, DCF, adopters, volunteers, donors and the community-at-large

Workplace and Benefits:

MARE has a remote/in-person hybrid model for ongoing work with a minimum of one day per week in-person at MARE's Newton office. MARE staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  A valid driver’s license, periodic access to a car, and ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours is required.

MARE offers employees a comprehensive benefits package including: 

• Flexible, family-friendly working hours


• Generous paid vacation (4 weeks), holidays (12), and sick time


• Medical and Dental Insurance


• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance


• Long Term Disability


• 403(b) pre-tax savings plan, with 3% salary match after one year of service