Posted: Nov 3, 2026

Director of Development

Full-time
Salary: $120,000.00 - $180,000.00 Annually
Application Deadline: N/A
Research

Silent Spring Institute seeks a Director of Development to lead fundraising for a $5 million organization dedicated to researching the environmental causes of cancer. The Director of Development will be responsible for implementing organizational strategy related to resource mobilization. They will have a portfolio of major individual donors and will also engage with private foundation supporters. The Director of Development will oversee a small team and will report to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities:

Donors

  • Steward a portfolio of individual donors, ensuring their continued support of Silent Spring
  • Lead foundation outreach, connecting with foundations on the prospect list and maintaining relationships with existing foundation donors
  • Draft letters, proposals, reports, and other donor communications
  • Organize donor meetings for the Executive Director

 

Events

  • Oversee annual fundraising gala and other major fundraising events
  • Strategize around fundraising appeals
  • Create a calendar of events for Silent Spring

 

Revenue projections and systems

  • Exercise responsibility for meeting Silent Spring’s annual fundraising goal
  • Maintain oversight of current and future revenue
  • Liaise with Finance on budgetary updates and Board reports
  • Ensure data integrity of donor database

Management

  • Supervise Assistant Director of Development in donor relations and event coordination
  • Liaise closely with Director of Communications and foundation officer/writer in developing strategy and materials for individual and institutional donors
  • Manage temporary event coordinator for annual gala

 

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • 8-10 years of increasingly senior Development experience
  • Previous lead responsibility for bringing in organizational revenue
  • Ability to steward major individual donors with superb relational skills
  • Stellar communicator, both verbally and in writing
  • Experience with mentoring and managing more junior staff
  • Both big-picture strategic thinking and an eye for detail
  • Comfort and familiarity with donor database systems
  • Location in Boston, or in the U.S. Northeast
  • Ability to travel domestically
  • Interest in medicine, health, and science a plus
  • Salary range: $120K-$180K per year

 

Benefits: 

Silent Spring offers generous benefits including health and dental insurance, four weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, two personal days and 12 holidays per year, and professional development support. We offer free on-site parking or reimbursement for MBTA pass

 

To Apply: Please send your resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter describing your experience and your particular interest in this position to [email protected] with “Director of Development” in the subject line.

 

Silent Spring Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

How To Apply:

To Apply: Please send your resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter describing your experience and your particular interest in this position to [email protected] with “Director of Development” in the subject line.