Our Careers

Job Title: Director of Advancement, ElevateDD

Supervisor: President & CEO

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Compensation: $75,000-90,000

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

ElevateDD is a platform dedicated to statewide advocacy work created to represent the entire scope of services and programming offered through each of our communities: the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO), Adult Literacy Ohio, and Learning Aid Ohio. The ElevateDD name represents what drives our advocacy, education, and innovation: elevating the voices of people with developmental disabilities, elevating the needs of families, and elevating advocacy issues to leaders and decision makers.

Our roots began at DSACO, which was created to support families, promote community involvement, and encourage opportunities for people with Down syndrome. As we continued to innovate and identify additional needs of those who we serve, we expanded programming to offer statewide developmental disability services. This growth resulted in the formation of two additional communities: Learning Aid Ohio and Adult Literacy Ohio. ElevateDD, through its various communities, now serves people with developmental disabilities and their families throughout every county in Ohio.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Advancement will lead ElevateDD’s advancement efforts, overseeing the comprehensive annual budget and managing the development team. This role will drive fundraising, marketing, and donor engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with ElevateDD’s mission and strategic priorities. The Director will cultivate relationships with donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders while providing vision and leadership for all advancement activities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising & Development

• Develop and execute a comprehensive development strategy to achieve and exceed annual fundraising goals.

• Manage and cultivate relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations to grow major gifts, planned giving, and corporate sponsorships.

• Lead annual giving initiatives, including appeals, campaigns, and events.

• Oversee grant management for DSACO, Learning Aid Ohio, Adult Literacy Ohio, including identifying opportunities, monitoring applications, and ensuring timely reporting.

Team Leadership & Oversight

• Provide oversight and direction for the development team, including the Event Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Marketing Intern, and Grant Writer.

• Set qualitative and quantitative goals for team members, monitoring and reporting progress regularly.

• Foster professional growth within the team through guidance, training, and evaluation.

Marketing & Communications

• Lead ElevateDD’s marketing efforts, including cross-brand strategies to increase visibility and donor engagement.

• Oversee social media, digital campaigns, and other communication platforms to enhance awareness and support for ElevateDD’s mission.

• Manage production of the annual calendar, including photographer procurement and scheduling.

Volunteer & Community Engagement

• Provide direction for the Volunteer Coordinator, ensuring alignment between volunteer efforts and donor cultivation strategies.

• Cultivate relationships with event committees and other community stakeholders to advance DSACO’s initiatives.

• Oversee third-party fundraising events, offering support to organizers and ensuring effective execution.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Strategically cultivate donor relationships by recognizing and leveraging cross-brand connections.

• Create and implement strategies to grow and retain the donor base, including major gifts and planned giving programs.

• Develop and manage dashboards and reporting metrics to evaluate progress and inform decision-making.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for the mission and vision of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio/ElevateDD

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with staff, community partners, vendors, and donors

• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as required for programs and events

• Familiarity with the down syndrome community and/or broader developmental disability community, its resources, and values

• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality with personal information

BENEFITS

• 16 Days PTO + 9 Observed Holidays + time off from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day

• Health, dental, & vision plans with immediate coverage

• Hybrid work schedule (2 days in office, 3 days work from home)

• 403(b) with 3% employer match after 6 months

OTHER DETAILS

• Smart casual dress code

• Flexible work environment

• 9:00AM-5:00PM work schedule

HOW TO APPLY

Don’t meet every qualification? Studies have shown that women, communities of color, and other historically underrepresented talent are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. ElevateDD is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe in the value of different experiences, skills, and voices in strengthening our work and achieving our mission. We also strive to have our team reflect the rich ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity of our state. So, if you’re excited about this role and our mission, we strongly encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

If you are interested in this position, please send your resume and cover letter to Serra Marshall, HR Manager, at smarshall@elevatedd.org   We look forward to hearing from you!