Director of Development

Director of Development Job Description

Milwaukee Parks Foundation (MPF) is hiring a Director of Development. Join a passionate, highly skilled team and help us raise funds to fulfill our mission to collectively steward a thriving park system.

To apply, please send your resume and one fundraising-related writing sample to [email protected] by 5 pm Friday, December 4, 2026.

Title: Director of Development

Reports To: Executive Director

Employment Type: Full-Time Exempt

Salary Range: $75,000 – $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Target Start Date: February 15, 2027, or sooner

Milwaukee Parks Foundation Overview

Our Milwaukee County Parks (MCP) system consists of 215+ miles of trails and is home to 15,500 acres of land, with 150+ parks.  MCP offers vital environmental, health, cultural, and recreational benefits to residents. However, MCP has half the budget it had in the 1980s, once adjusted for inflation, and the system is in significant disrepair, with $500M+ in deferred maintenance needs. This disinvestment has left many parks, particularly those in Milwaukee’s Black and Brown neighborhoods, under-resourced and therefore underutilized.

MPF was founded in December 2019 to combat these fiscal challenges with an equity lens through fundraising and grantmaking, advocacy and engagement. Founded by thirteen members of the community, today MPF is a $2M+ organization with a team of five dedicated to supporting our Milwaukee County Parks system, with the belief that these are our parks, this is our community, and this is our future.

Job Summary

The Director of Development will serve in a key leadership role to implement a strategic and comprehensive development plan that generates revenue for MPF. The Director of Development will work closely with the Executive Director and Associate Director to oversee donor relationships, manage grant writing, the grants calendar and reporting, and facilitate corporate volunteering events and other engagement/networking events for MPF.

Ultimately, the Director of Development is responsible for working alongside the Executive Director to ensure MPF has significant resources to fulfill its mission to collectively steward a thriving park system. MPF aims to raise $3–4M annually over the next three years and is preparing for a future comprehensive campaign. This role includes some evening and weekend events, especially during our busy summer and fall season. We offer flex time to help balance them out.

Essential Functions:

Donor Relationship Management and Fundraising

Grants Management

Engagement and Revenue Generating Events

Corporate Volunteering and Sponsorship

Leadership Responsibilities

Administration and Team Development

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Other Duties as Assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director of Development will oversee a fundraising consultant relationship and many volunteers, and will occasionally assign responsibilities to other teammates. This role does not currently have any direct reports, but as MPF grows, we hope to build a development team with staff who report directly to this role. 

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, fundraising, business, communications, arts and sciences, social justice, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered. Five to ten (5–10) years of progressive fundraising experience, with a proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. Capital or comprehensive campaign experience preferred. CFRE credential, experience in parks, conservation or the environment, and familiarity with Milwaukee’s philanthropic community are a plus.

Skills

Excellent relationship management skills and emotional intelligence

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Strong leadership and management skills

Ability to work collaboratively

Connection to and passion for Milwaukee Parks and Milwaukee residents

Strong focus on equity, inclusion, and community engagement

Comfort analyzing donor data and reporting on fundraising results

Familiarity and/or experience with Blackbaud eTapestry or other donor database software

Comfort with and experience using a range of technology, including the Google Workspace suite of applications, and effective email management

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This role requires an individual to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time. The remainder of the time this individual will need to move around inside as well as outside in various weather conditions throughout our County Parks system. Constantly operating a computer and phone and communicating with key partners will be critical for this role. Lastly, this role will occasionally need to move A/V equipment, event supplies, and other items up to 40 pounds for various events and activities in our parks. The employee must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision

SIMPLE IRA (3% match)

Short-term and long-term disability

Flex time up to 4 hours daily

Opportunity for 2 virtual workdays per week

Competitive PTO package

Laptop computer and cell phone provided as needed

Budget available for professional development, membership fees and dues

Equal Employment Opportunity

Milwaukee Parks Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

To apply, please send your resume and one fundraising-related writing sample to [email protected] by 5 pm Friday, December 4, 2026.