Fractional Director of Development at Domestic Violence Services Network

Are you an out-of-the-box thinker? Are you a relationship-driven fundraiser who knows how to build donor trust around sensitive, complex causes? 

Join the team at Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN), a highly regarded nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence in Central Middlesex County. We are looking for a Fractional Director of Development to help us grow and deepen our fundraising capacity at a pivotal moment for the organization.

Riverwalker Talent has been retained to assist this search.

Job Type: | Part-Time: 20 hours a week + 24-month contract + $50K | Hybrid in Acton, MA and surrounding towns | Leadership role

Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is a volunteer-centric nonprofit providing victims of domestic abuse with crisis intervention, advocacy, risk assessment, safety planning, court accompaniment, support groups, and a wide array of wraparound services — in close partnership with social service agencies, municipal departments, police departments, and Concord District Court. All services are free and confidential. We support clients in the decisions they make, at the pace they can manage, without judgment or expectation.

This is a part-time (20-hours a week), fractional position structured as a 24-month contract, open to renewal with successful milestones and deliverables. The Director of Development will work closely with the Executive Director and staff to build, steward, and grow DVSN's individual donor base, manage community engagement and fundraising events, and help lay the infrastructure for sustainable development work over time.

This is a role for a doer: someone who can build relationships, generate revenue, and engage the board effectively, all while adapting their approach to the nuanced terrain of fundraising for a domestic violence organization. 

The position is hybrid, with required in-person presence in Middlesex County for relationship-building, community events, and team integration. More in-person time required during onboarding, more flexibility after onboarding. 

• Develop and implement a donor stewardship plan to deepen engagement and increase giving, develop pathways for legacy gifts and planned giving 

• Build and maintain relationships with current and prospective individual donors, with a focus on mid-level and major gift cultivation

• Identify and cultivate a small portfolio of major donor prospects, including those with potential for multi-year commitments

• Support preparation of donor acknowledgment letters, impact updates, and personalized communications

• Develop partnerships with businesses in Middlesex District and create low-barrier events to bring in awareness and donations 

• Support planning and execution of fundraising events, including logistics, sponsor coordination, and follow-up

• Manage and grow community engagement activities, including volunteer outreach and tabling events

• Represent DVSN at community events as appropriate, in coordination with the Executive Director

• Train and support board members in their fundraising roles, providing ongoing guidance rather than one-time presentations

• Develop tools and structures to help board members make introductions, open doors, and engage their own networks

• Prepare and present regular development reports to the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors, highlighting progress, challenges, and future strategies.

• Maintain and improve donor database (currently Little Green Light; transition to a new platform may be in scope)

• Track and report on fundraising activity, pipeline, and progress on a regular basis

• Oversee accurate and timely gift processing, acknowledgment, and documentation

• Support with staff on grant tracking support and donor data integrity

• Bring new fundraising ideas to leadership and help assess feasibility

• Develop and implement an initial development plan in the first weeks through meetings with key stakeholders, discovery process, and creativity 

• Contribute to the organization's longer-term development strategy in partnership with the Executive Director

In the first six months, success looks like: an initial development plan, an active stewardship strategy underway, strengthened relationships with existing donors, and early-stage cultivation of new prospects. At 18 months, success looks like a growing, engaged donor base, new revenue generated beyond existing relationships, and a development function that runs with greater independence and infrastructure than when you arrived.

• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising, individual giving, or development. Ideally with experience in a cause area that requires donor sensitivity and relationship nuance. (We imagine this will mean 5+ years of experience).

• A relationship-builder who is proactive, persistent, and genuinely invested in the mission

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfort with donor-facing writing

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a part-time, self-directed structure

• Experience with donor databases (Little Green Light, Neon, Bloomerang, or similar)

• Board engagement experience — specifically helping board members show up as fundraisers

• Creativity and ideas, we need to bring new energy to a local market with untapped potential

• Experience fundraising for a domestic violence, sexual assault, or similarly sensitive cause

• Experience managing or supporting community engagement and volunteer programs

• Familiarity with planned giving or investment-based development strategies

• Grant writing experience, although not required at this stage, would be helpful

• Initial screening: Video interview with Riverwalker Talent
• Second round: Zoom interview with DVSN staff and Riverwalker Talent
• Paid Assessment: Brief, paid assessment to be completed for finalists
• Final round: In-person interview at DVSN
• References & Negotiations: Reference checks, offer letters, and contract negotiations

DVSN is a small, tight-knit team that takes the work seriously and takes care of each other. Leadership is approachable and committed to a supportive, inclusive environment. Professional development is paramount, ED comes from an educator background. This is a place where your work will matter and where you will see the impact directly.

Riverwalker Talent has been retained to conduct this search. To apply, fill out the application by clicking Apply Now. In lieu of a cover letter, you will be asked three short-answer questions and will upload your resume.

1. Tell us about a fundraising success. What were you responsible for and what was the result? Include numbers where possible. 

2. Describe a donor relationship you built from the ground up. How did you approach it, how did it develop, and what was the outcome?

3. Tell us about a time you helped an organization improve or build out a development function. What did you find when you arrived, what did you do, and what changed?

If you have any accessibility needs, require accommodations, or have questions about this search, please contact Jessye Kass Karlin at jessye@riverwalkertalent.com. No phone calls, please.

DVSN is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in the workplace.