Fundraising and Development Director

Wish of a Lifetime from AARP (WOL) believes everyone should age with hope and joy. With nearly 3,000 wishes granted to adults ages 65 and older, WOL has renewed and celebrated passions, reconnected loved ones, commemorated service, and fulfilled lifelong dreams. Through wish granting, recipients are able to connect with their past and tap into the elation that comes with doing something they never thought possible.

The Fundraising and Development Director is a newly created leadership position responsible for building and executing Wish of a Lifetime’s comprehensive fundraising strategy. Reporting to the Wish of a Lifetime Vice President & Executive Director, the Director will lead the growth and evolution of the organization's fundraising strategy by expanding philanthropic revenue, strengthening donor relationships, and building the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term national impact.  The Director is dedicated to Wish of a Lifetime, a 501(c)(3) charitable affiliate of AARP, and will lead fundraising across individual and major giving, foundation and grant support, digital and direct-response fundraising, and national in-kind partnerships. Working across programs, marketing, business development, and organizational leadership, the Director will develop compelling cases for support, build a disciplined pipeline, strengthen donor stewardship, and translate Wish of a Lifetime’s stories and impact into sustained philanthropic investment. This role offers a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraising leader to shape and grow a development function within a development-centered operating model, leveraging a fast-paced, growth-stage environment to drive lasting national impact. Working alongside cross-functional teams, the leader will leverage an organization that engages all staff in development activities, collaborates with hundreds of partners, and activates tens of thousands of individuals nationwide each year. The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, relationship-building, financial discipline, and a commitment to honoring older adults through meaningful, mission-centered storytelling.

• Manages specific aspects of the fundraising process (e.g., systems, relationship management, channel strategy) that generates contributions or grant support to the organization, in meeting fundraising goals.
• Participates and establishes an effective case for support (value proposition) and provides feedback on how it resonates with their respective assigned prospective donor pool.
• Oversees specific aspects and business processes of the pipeline (e.g., identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, systems/processing, stewardship) of potential donors to the organization within their respective assigned prospective donor pool to ensure future growth. 
• Provides the team with resources, training, guidance, and support to ensure personal and departmental success in meeting organizational and personal objectives and goals.
• Sets goals and expectations for respective team and contributes personally as an example to the team and a member of the team in reaching goals. 
• Ensures members of the team are in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and board policies (e.g., gift acceptance) pertaining to gifts, contributions, grants and other charitable support raised.
• Holds the team accountable for adhering to ethical standards established by Association of Fundraising Professionals and National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience and 8+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising and development experience with demonstrated success securing revenue from individual donors, major gifts, foundations, and grants.
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that drive revenue growth across multiple channels, including relationship-based giving, digital fundraising, and direct response campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to establish fundraising goals, develop budgets and forecasts, evaluate return on investment, and use performance data to guide strategy and resource allocation.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling cases for support and engage executive audiences, major donors, and volunteer leaders through ethical, strengths-based storytelling that honors the dignity, privacy, and agency of older adults and their families.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, steward, and retain high-value donors and funding partners while building strong, mission-driven relationships.
• Experience using donor management and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud eTapestry, or similar) to manage donor engagement, fundraising performance metrics, and revenue opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading national fundraising initiatives and building scalable donor acquisition, engagement, and retention programs, including management of fundraising budgets and evaluation of program ROI.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, collaborate across functions, and create accountability for shared fundraising and organizational goals.

Additional Requirements 

• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.