Director of Development

About the Adams Presidential Center

The Adams family left us an extraordinary legacy as architects of our democracy, engaged citizens, and selfless leaders. John, Abigail, John Quincy, and Louisa Catherine Adams were also men and women of impeccable character. Our mission is to share the history of a great American family, to promote their ideals of citizenship and selfless public service, and to inspire future generations to serve their communities and our nation. By exploring the Adamses’ collective story, we can draw inspiration for how to live as responsible citizens. Just as the Adamses were great advocates for education, the Adams Presidential Center (APC) believes that we have a responsibility to learn from history to gain the knowledge we need to build a better future. The Center’s charge is to meaningfully engage with the Adamses’ legacy. By critically examining the challenges and lessons of the past, we work to fulfill the promise of our nation.

 The APC provides a variety of experiences for its visitors and community. Immersive and interactive exhibits explore the legacy of this extraordinary family. Families, tourists, and school groups are energized to take action and bring the Center’s ideals into their own communities. The Center is also a hub for civic education, inspiring citizens to engage with their communities and think critically. At the APC, K-12 students discover the power they have to shape their communities—and our nation. Lectures, workshops, film festivals, service learning opportunities, teacher training tools, remote classrooms, and more foster life-long learning for local, national, and international visitors of all ages. The APC partners with libraries, universities, and historical societies in order to bring original artifacts to scholars, university students, high schoolers, and everyday visitors. The Center’s partnerships help us stay at the forefront of the academic study of U.S. history. And, the objects provide matchless experiences that can only be found here.

Learn more about the Adams Presidential Center at theadamspresidentialcenter.org.

The Opportunity 

The Adams Presidential Center is seeking a strategic and systems-oriented Director of Development to lead all fundraising activities for the organization. Reporting directly to the President, this role will design, implement, and manage a comprehensive development program that includes major gifts, annual fund, institutional giving, and capital campaigns.

The successful candidate will develop the case for support and strategic fundraising plans in alignment with mission, vision, and values. Seeking a confident fundraiser, the Director of Development will be knowledgeable of strategies and best practices to secure strategic gifts from individuals and institutional donors as well as how various giving programs can be integrated to diversify the funding base and cultivate greater donor commitments.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional skills and attributes:

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with APC's mission and growth goals.
• Lead all fundraising initiatives, including annual campaigns, major gifts, institutional grants, and capital efforts.

Systems & Infrastructure 

• Design and implement robust systems, tools, and workflows to manage the full fundraising lifecycle—from prospecting and cultivation to solicitation, stewardship, and reporting.
• Oversee the implementation and daily management of a fundraising CRM/database, ensuring accurate tracking of donor and prospect activity.
• Maintain systems for tracking contributions, pledges, and donor communications in compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors.
• Lead the execution of donor touchpoints, including personalized outreach, events, and recognition efforts.
• Guide and support the President and Board in donor engagement and solicitation strategies.

Operations & Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate gift processing, acknowledgments, and compliance with federal and multi-state charitable registration requirements.
• Prepare regular reports for the President and Board on fundraising progress, donor trends, and campaign performance.

Board & Constituent Engagement

• Engage and support the Board of Directors in fundraising efforts, including prospect identification, strategy development, and cultivation opportunities.
• Train and prepare key staff and constituents to participate effectively in fundraising initiatives.

Collaborate on the development of compelling fundraising collateral, case statements, grant applications, and donor communications.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

• Proven success in nonprofit fundraising, including experience with major gifts, annual campaigns, and capital campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to build and optimize fundraising systems and infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices and 501(c)(3) legal requirements.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and donor-centric relationship management.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities, including donor-facing content.
• Discretion in handling sensitive donor and organizational information.
• Proficiency with fundraising software and CRM platforms.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary for the role is anticipated to range from $125,000 to $135,000, along with a generous benefits package.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trevor Hooper and Judene Hylton. Express interest in this position by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Adams Presidential Center is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

 DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.