Assistant Director of Development

Mill Neck Family of Organizations
Mill Neck, NY | Full-Time | In Office

About Mill Neck Family of Organizations

Since our founding by Lutheran Friends of the Deaf in 1947, our organization has worked steadfastly to promote equitable education, opportunities, and care for members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, including those with Developmental Disabilities. In 1951, Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf officially opened, serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students across Long Island and the New York City area, and we continue that mission to this day. For 75 years, we have worked to create a world in which Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals are included, empowered, celebrated, and embraced as equals.

Over time we have expanded our footprint to include Mill Neck Services for the Deaf, which is our program for Deaf Adults, and Mill Neck Foundation for the Deaf, which serves to fundraise to support both our mission, and the other Deaf organizations outside of ours. Together, these 4 entities, known as the Mill Neck Family of Organizations (MNFO),  serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community from infancy through K–12 education, employment support, adult services, and elder care, providing critical programs that foster independence, opportunity, and belonging. We collectively provide birth to end of life services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of  Development is a fundraising and communications leader responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive development strategy to grow philanthropic support for the Mill Neck Family of Organizations.

This role requires a dynamic professional with both fundraising and marketing/public relations expertise, capable of strengthening donor relationships, expanding community visibility, and increasing revenue across multiple philanthropic channels.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer of the MNFO, the Assistant Director of Development will play a key role in advancing the organization’s mission by stewarding donors, cultivating new funding opportunities, and strengthening the organization’s external presence.

The Assistant Director of Development will work closely with organizational leadership, donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders to build long-term philanthropic support for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

Develop and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities and growth goals. Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure fundraising success and ensure accountability. Serve as a strategic partner to executive leadership on philanthropic strategy, donor engagement, and revenue diversification. Contribute to organization-wide strategic planning and budgeting discussions.
Strengthen the culture of philanthropy across the organization.

Fundraising Programs & Revenue Generation

Oversee and grow all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, annual giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships, foundation and grant funding, appeals. Set annual revenue goals and monitor progress across giving streams; identify and cultivate new donor prospects; lead donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; develop new fundraising initiatives that increase community engagement and support.

Donor, Corporate & Development Committee Engagement

Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects. Partner with the Board Development Committee and key volunteers to strengthen donor engagement and fundraising efforts. Support the Leadership team with fundraising strategies, tools, and engagement opportunities. Represent the organization at community events and philanthropic gatherings.

Marketing, Social Media, Public Relations & Community Engagement

Because donor engagement is deeply connected to storytelling and visibility, the Assistant Director of Development will also:

Collaborate with communications and marketing partners to strengthen the Mill Neck brand and mission awareness; Spearhead PR initiatives, storytelling, and media outreach;
Ensure messaging aligns across fundraising, marketing, and community engagement efforts
Develop compelling donor communications and impact stories that demonstrate mission outcomes.

Team Leadership & Infrastructure

Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to potential future development team members and support staff. Strengthen development operations and systems that support fundraising growth. Ensure strong collaboration between development, marketing, program, and finance teams. Implement best practices in donor stewardship and fundraising operations.

Data, Analytics & Accountability

Utilize donor database systems, analytics and AI platforms to track fundraising performance.
Develop reports and dashboards to monitor fundraising progress and trends. Ensure accurate donor records and reporting for leadership, the board, and funders. Use data insights to improve fundraising strategies and donor engagement.

Qualifications

Performance Expectations and Activity Metrics

The Assistant Director of Development will maintain a disciplined and proactive fundraising practice that consistently expands and strengthens the organization’s philanthropic support. The role requires a high level of donor engagement activity and measurable outreach.

Performance expectations include:

• Conduct consistent daily outbound fundraising outreach, including phone calls and emails to current and prospective donors.
• Complete a minimum of 15–25 donor outreach calls per week focused on cultivation, relationship building, and securing meetings.
• Schedule and conduct regular in-person or virtual donor meetings to present the mission, impact, and funding priorities of the organization.
• Make direct financial solicitations to individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, including major gift requests when appropriate.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective donors and consistently move individuals through the stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conduct regular donor visits and relationship meetings with existing supporters to strengthen engagement and identify opportunities for additional giving.
• Develop and maintain consistent written communication with donors, including emails, proposals, and follow-up communications.
• Track all donor activity, outreach, and meetings within the organization’s development or CRM system to ensure proper stewardship and relationship management.
• Work closely with leadership to identify and pursue major gift opportunities that advance the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability.
• Establish and maintain an annual fundraising plan that includes clear outreach activity goals, donor engagement targets, and revenue objectives.

Core Competencies

The Assistant Director  of Development must demonstrate the professional abilities necessary to successfully build relationships and secure philanthropic support for the organization.

Core competencies include:

• Fundraising Leadership-Ability to confidently lead fundraising efforts, present the organization’s case for support, and secure financial commitments from donors.
• Donor Relationship Development-Strong ability to build authentic relationships with individuals, foundations, and philanthropic partners while maintaining long-term donor engagement.
• Direct Solicitation Skills-Comfort and effectiveness in asking for financial support, including significant and transformational gifts.
• Communication and Persuasion
• Strategic Donor Engagement-Ability to identify, cultivate, and steward donor relationships through thoughtful engagement strategies.
• Professional Persistence-A disciplined and resilient approach to outreach, including consistent follow-up and proactive relationship management.
•  Mission Advocacy-Ability to represent the organization’s mission with authenticity, passion, and credibility when speaking with donors and community partners.
• Organizational and Planning Ability-Capacity to manage a structured schedule of calls, visits, meetings, and follow-ups while maintaining accurate records of donor engagement.
• Professional Integrity and Stewardship-Commitment to responsible donor stewardship, confidentiality, and ethical fundraising practices

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree communications, marketing, or relevant area
• Advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred

Experience

• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience
• Proven success securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners
• Experience managing multi-channel fundraising programs
• Background in public relations, marketing, or communications strongly preferred
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and senior leadership
• Experience supervising or mentoring development staff

Skills 

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong relationship-building abilities with high-net-worth donors, corporate leaders, and institutional partners;
•  Strategic thinker capable of translating vision into actionable plans;
• Highly organized with excellent project management and attention to detail;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment;
• Comfortable working with donor databases and CRM systems such as DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge, or similar platforms;
• Demonstrated passion for mission-driven work and community engagement; Comfortable using AI tools to maximize work output and efficiencies.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, push, pull, and lift up to 25 pounds
• Ability to travel locally to events, meetings, and program sites;
•  Ability to travel nationally on rare occasions if the job requires it;

Why Join Mill Neck Family of Organizations

Working at Mill Neck means joining a mission-driven community dedicated to empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to live full, independent, and meaningful lives. Our work changes lives every day — and our development team plays a critical role in ensuring the sustainability and growth of programs that support the community across generations.  This full -time position is eligible for our competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b), PTO, Paid federal holidays and vacation.

In accordance with New York State pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is $85,000 to $125,000 annually. The final salary offered will be determined based on factors including the candidate’s experience, education, skills, internal equity, and organizational needs.

In addition to salary, Mill Neck Family of Organizations offers a competitive benefits package that may include health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and other benefits consistent with organizational policies.

Mill Neck Family of Organizations is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to fostering a workplace where all individuals are respected and valued.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Mill Neck Family of Organizations is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants throughout the hiring process, consistent with applicable law.

Please send your resume to careers@millneck.org