Director of Development - Advancement/Fundraising & Donor Engagement

Job Description

Job Description

Organization: World Farmers, Inc.
Location: Lancaster, MA
Reports to: Executive Director
Employment Type: Full-time Hybrid (1 day working from home); occasional evening or weekend attendance for fundraising events.

Travel: Local Travel to attend events and meet donors (foundations, corporations and sponsors of grants).Occasional travel out-of-state to attend conferences and events.

Job Overview:

As a key member of a passionate and dedicated team of talented individuals, who care about supporting and partnering with our farmers in their farming careers and livelihood, the Director of Development plays a critical role in providing funding and revenue streams for the vital work that we do! Reporting to the Executive Director of this small non-profit organization, the Director of Development is an exciting opportunity to creatively engage and grow World Farmer’s donor base, and lead/champion fundraising efforts through grants, foundations, corporate partnerships, and special events.

The Director of Development will create a comprehensive and phased development strategy. This professional will collaborate internally and externally building community in-person, and through crafting and executing an engaging and interactive relationship building/communication plans supported by a contracted social media specialist.

Key Responsibilities:

Advancement/Fundraising and Donor Engagement & Development:

● Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships, and special campaigns.

● Identify and build a contact database (in the Monday.com system or other designated system) of potential donors and create/grow/sustain a communication plan and new channels for key relationship building.

● Develop and manage donor communications and fundraising materials, including donor reports, newsletters, and impact stories.

● Cultivate and manage relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners to build sustainable revenue streams and secure/maintain long-term commitments.

● Research and identify new funding opportunities, including local, state, and federal grants as well as private and corporate foundations.

● Write, submit, and manage grant and foundation proposals, ensuring compliance with all deadlines and reporting requirements.

● Design campaigns that grow financial support for the mission of World Farmers.

● Lead reporting and presentation for short and long-range goal achievement including monthly updates to the Executive Team on progress and mitigation plans to close gaps and achieve or exceed funding targets.

Event Planning and Coordination:

● Plan and execute special fundraising events and campaigns to engage donors and increase awareness of World Farmers’ mission and programs.

● Work with volunteers, staff, and Board members to coordinate events, ensuring they align with organizational goals.

Strategic Development Planning:

● Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to create and implement long-term development strategies aligned with the organization’s growth and mission.

● Monitor and report on progress towards development goals and adjust strategies as needed, and develop and publish dashboards accordingly.

● Identify and solicit gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.

● Ensure accurate donor records and maintain a donor management database for tracking gifts, pledges, and communications.

Collaboration and Communication:

● Collaborate with program staff to gather relevant information about World Farmers’ work for use in fundraising and donor communications.

● Represent World Farmers at public events, networking opportunities, and community engagements to promote the organization’s mission and increase visibility.

Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).

● Minimum 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, development, or a related role.

● Proven success in securing grants, major gifts/donations, and corporate sponsorships.

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in grant writing and donor outreach.

● Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

● Experience with donor management software and fundraising tools.

● Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a diverse team.

Preferred Qualifications:

● Experience working in the agricultural sector or with immigrant/refugee communities is highly preferred. Passion or interest with knowledge about farming, local agriculture and food systems.

● Knowledge of donor networks and philanthropy trends within the nonprofit sector.

● Expertise in donor research and identification of new prospects. Ability to tailor pitches aligned to donor needs.

● A self-starter with demonstrated experience running campaigns with significant fund development results.

● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, and donors.

● Team player with a track record of collaboration on projects and experience mentoring others.

● Proficiency using fundraising software. Experience with Google Suite, Zoom, Excel, and Powerpoint.

● Excellent writing and communication skills.

● Schedule will be Hybrid – working 1 day remotely weekly; 8-hour shift with some evening or weekend work as needed to attend/manage occasional planned special events to connect with donor and stakeholder community.

● Our ideal candidate will recognize the value of fundraising and what it means to the work we do at World Farmers in helping us to build immigrant farmer expertise and independence as business leaders and entrepreneurs and the vital role they play in providing fresh and healthy food to our local communities.

Benefits: health insurance, vacation and sick time, as well as fresh veggies!

Compensation : Salary $80,000-$90,000. This position is full-time year-round.

To apply: Submit résumé, brief cover letter, and three references to [email protected] with the subject line: Director of Development Application . References will not be contacted without your prior approval and notification.

Start Date: Applications will be reviewed in late July/early August 2025.

World Farmers is not providing employment sponsorship.

World Farmers has 30+ years of experience in supporting immigrant, refugee, and beginning farmers to grow and market fresh and healthy produce in our local communities. Through Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster, MA, World Farmers assists over 350 farmers by providing access to land, farming infrastructure, and technical assistance in agricultural production and marketing so that immigrants and refugees passionate about agriculture and living in New England can grow familiar foods and contribute to community food systems where locally produced cultural crops are available to all.

World Farmers is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applicants from culturally diverse backgrounds and/or historically under-represented communities.

We are an equal opportunity employer (EOE)that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law. World Farmers is committed to equal employment opportunity and strongly encourages women and people of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Company Description

World Farmers’ mission is to support small farmers in sustainable agricultural production and successful marketing practices to connect culturally relevant produce to viable markets. World Farmers provides mentoring, training, and hands-on assistance when working with each farmer to build the capacity needed to operate individual farming enterprises. We enact our mission through various initiatives, the most prominent of which is the Flats Mentor Farm program.

Since 1984, Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster, Massachusetts has provided the space and infrastructure for small immigrant and refugee farmers to get started. The farmers at Flats Mentor Farm produce over 55 acres of ethnic specialty crops; supplying to wholesale and retail markets throughout New England, including over 40 farmers’ markets and dozens of small-scale direct-to-consumer outlets in and around Massachusetts. Participating farmers are skilled producers who come from agrarian backgrounds and seek to make a new life for themselves while preserving their cultural identity. In order to contribute to their success in the new culture and climate of the Northeast, the World Farmers’ Mentoring Program offers regular training in agricultural production, business development, and marketing. All programming is performed in a respectful environment of cross-cultural co-learning among farmers, World Farmers staff, and our interns and volunteers.

Many of the farmers at Flats Mentor Farm have told us that they never believed there would be an opportunity like this when they came to this country: access to land, trainings in new growing practices for this climate, and support in building a business in farming have made a huge impact on their ability to adapt and thrive. Just as important as our programming and services is the simple access to a safe space to learn from their neighbors, feed their families, heal, rebuild their cultural foundations, and teach the next generation all that agriculture can provide.

Company Description

World Farmers’ mission is to support small farmers in sustainable agricultural production and successful marketing practices to connect culturally relevant produce to viable markets. World Farmers provides mentoring, training, and hands-on assistance when working with each farmer to build the capacity needed to operate individual farming enterprises. We enact our mission through various initiatives, the most prominent of which is the Flats Mentor Farm program.\r\n\r\nSince 1984, Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster, Massachusetts has provided the space and infrastructure for small immigrant and refugee farmers to get started. The farmers at Flats Mentor Farm produce over 55 acres of ethnic specialty crops; supplying to wholesale and retail markets throughout New England, including over 40 farmers’ markets and dozens of small-scale direct-to-consumer outlets in and around Massachusetts. Participating farmers are skilled producers who come from agrarian backgrounds and seek to make a new life for themselves while preserving their cultural identity. In order to contribute to their success in the new culture and climate of the Northeast, the World Farmers’ Mentoring Program offers regular training in agricultural production, business development, and marketing. All programming is performed in a respectful environment of cross-cultural co-learning among farmers, World Farmers staff, and our interns and volunteers.\r\n\r\nMany of the farmers at Flats Mentor Farm have told us that they never believed there would be an opportunity like this when they came to this country: access to land, trainings in new growing practices for this climate, and support in building a business in farming have made a huge impact on their ability to adapt and thrive. Just as important as our programming and services is the simple access to a safe space to learn from their neighbors, feed their families, heal, rebuild their cultural foundations, and teach the next generation all that agriculture can provide.