Director of Development

About The Samaritans Cape Cod and the Islands

The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands is a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and support for those affected by suicide loss. Through our 24/7 Crisis Helpline, community-based prevention programs, and grief support services, we provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support to individuals and families across Cape Cod and the Islands.

The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands (SCCI) seeks a strategic, relationship-centered development leader to strengthen philanthropic support for our suicide prevention and bereavement support mission.

This is SCCI’s first Director of Development position and an opportunity to build a disciplined, sustainable fundraising program in partnership with the Executive Director, Board, staff, donors, and community.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will lead SCCI’s fundraising strategy and increase private philanthropic support through individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, donor stewardship, and Board engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan with clear goals, timelines, revenue targets, and performance measures.
• Build and manage a qualified portfolio of individual, foundation, corporate, planned-giving, current, lapsed, and prospective donors.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and major gift prospects; strengthen retention, recurring giving, annual giving, and unrestricted support.
• Research funding opportunities and oversee grant proposals, sponsorship materials, reports, and supporting documentation in coordination with program and finance staff.
• Develop corporate sponsorships, community partnerships, and fundraising opportunities; assess events for mission alignment, revenue potential, and donor engagement.
• Equip Board members and volunteers to identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit donors through practical tools, training, talking points, and follow-up.
• Maintain effective donor data, gift processing, acknowledgement, pledge tracking, segmentation, reporting, prospect management, and ethical fundraising practices.
• Provide regular written fundraising reports to the Executive Director, Development Committee, and Board of Directors.
• Establish measurable progress toward the position becoming self-sustaining through increased philanthropic revenue by the end of year two.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, development leadership, donor cultivation, and revenue growth.
• Experience securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, annual gifts, or comparable philanthropic support.
• Strong writing and speaking skills, including donor proposals, appeals, and impact messages.
• Ability to work effectively with executive leadership, Boards, committees, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Comfort with donor databases, fundraising reports, prospect tracking, and data-informed decisions.
• Ability to work independently in a remote setting with strong communication, organization, and accountability.
• Discretion, integrity, emotional intelligence, and sensitivity to suicide prevention and bereavement support.
• Knowledge of Cape Cod and the Islands’ philanthropic, civic, nonprofit, or community networks is strongly preferred.

Work Arrangement and Residency Requirements

This is a fully remote position. The Director must reside full-time on Cape Cod, maintain a professional home office with reliable internet, participate in regular virtual meetings, and attend in-person staff gatherings, donor meetings, events, and community activities on Cape Cod and the Islands as needed. The role requires independent time management and reliable follow-through on agreed goals, deadlines, and reports.

Compensation and Benefits

• $120,000 starting annual salary.
• $5,000 annual health stipend.
• A performance bonus may be considered at each annual performance review, in an amount determined at that time, provided mutually established goals and objectives have been met.
• $5,000 retention bonus after three years of continuous, achievement-oriented service.
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.

How to Apply

Applications are due December 1, 2026. Interested candidates should submit their application using the application link provided.

For questions about the position or application process, please contact Susan Ricardi, Manager of Administration, at sricardi@capesamaritans.org.