Director of Development Job Description

CommonWealth Kitchen

Located in Dorchester, Massachusetts, CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK) is an entrepreneurial, systems-driven organization expanding economic opportunity for historically marginalized food entrepreneurs. We connect founders to the kitchens, capital, coaching, markets, and industry networks they need to build and scale successful food businesses. Beyond shared kitchen access, CWK provides business workshops, one-on-one coaching, coordinated pathways to markets and funding, and manufacturing support. Our co-manufacturing facility helps emerging brands scale efficiently while creating stable, full-time jobs by consolidating part-time and seasonal food production work. We also provide fee-for-service processing for farms, restaurants, and food companies, and produce our own line of products for institutional food service. More than 75% of the entrepreneurs we support are women, immigrants, and people of color.

CWK is at a pivotal growth moment, with three bold priorities:

1. 1. Support and Advance K-12 Food Access and Healthy Options: Transform our co-manufacturing facility into a revenue-generating engine that advances healthy school food, strengthens local agriculture, and drives statewide economic impact.

1. 1. Scale High-Growth Local Food Businesses: Expand and elevate our shared kitchen program to help ready-to-scale companies increase production, distribution, and emerging market reach.

1. 1. Expansion as a Food Innovation Hub: Deepen and expand on educational, technical, and advocacy partnerships to advance food procurement innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship.

This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven organization at an inflection point — shaping a more equitable, resilient, and locally rooted food economy.

The Director of Development Role

In partnership with the Chief Impact Officer, the Development Director will play a key leadership role in supporting CWK’s fundraising work, to ensure all efforts are coordinated, effective and responsive to support and raise $3M in philanthropic revenue in 2026.

The Development Director will have the opportunity to build their own vision and team, utilizing recently a newly implemented CRM (DonorPerfect/Donor Search), supporting strong foundation relations with 1:1 outreach, launch a new corporate giving/sponsorship program, and guide ongoing philanthropic initiatives such as in-kind donation appeals, soliciting support for the CommonTable Fund and promoting/selling sponsorships for PARK’D, CWK’s new summer Food Truck event series. 

The Development Director will also work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to craft compelling fundraising materials that convey CWK’s unique and effective model. With the help of an (remote) administrative assistant, the DOD also supports the work of the CIO/ED with major gifts, stewardship, events and prospect research.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm and a commitment to growing a culture of philanthropy within an entrepreneurial and earned revenue environment, while sharing CWK’s unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion. Creating helpful internal processes, a comfort and willingness to train others on tools and technology should be second nature, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills, a love of data and attention to detail, project management (Asana) and enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, social enterprise.

Responsibilities

Fundraising

• • With the support and guidance of the Chief Impact Officer (CIO) implement annual fundraising work plans, including maintaining institutional support; prospect research (using Donor Search and other tools), proposal and deadline management, helping cultivate and solicit a portfolio of individual/select institutional donors; exploring, recommending new or expanded strategies for individual and institutional giving in alignment with current giving trends.

• • Supervise a database administrator and part-time grantwriter, overseeing gift and pledge entry and reconciliation, create and update constituent records, work alongside the CIO to build reports and donor lists as needed.

• • Work with the CIO to draft agendas for monthly reconciliation with the Finance Team, ensure that all gifts and pledges are correctly entered in DonorPerfect, upload relevant attachments to support annual audit. Create and track metrics and reports on Development activity and results          

• • Working with the Marketing and Communications Manager, ensure that CWK’s written materials, whether traditional or digital, support fund development and inspire new investment.

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• • Participate as a member of CWK’s Management Team, working alongside the CIO, to meet organizational goals as they relate to fundraising strategy, policies and procedures.

• • Collaborate with the CIO and Marketing/Communications Manager to devise annual giving campaigns, draft creative and compelling supporting materials (appeals, foundation proposals, corporate pitch decks and other preparatory materials) for individuals who are being cultivated for philanthropic support by the Executive Director and Board.

• • Support a new, dynamic Board of Directors by participating in committee meetings organizational functions, partner/member events to help further fundraising goals and advance board development/volunteer recruitment.

• • Schedule and create agendas for cross-team development meetings, prepare background materials for Executive leadership review on key grant or funding opportunities, circulate deadlines for team reporting, proposals and other initiatives.

Qualifications:

• • Deep commitment to CWK’s mission, vision and values embracing CWK’s focus on racial, social, and economic justice.

• • Previous experience in creating the systems and building the infrastructure to leverage fundraising success and reach new donors and foundations.

• • Demonstrated experience with effective written and verbal communications, excellent attention to detail and competency around managing monthly donor correspondence (acknowledgement letters, annual appeals, other donor stewardship activities such as invitations/correspondence).

• • Fearless and joyful experience as a member of a diverse, fast-paced nonprofit team, working across functions and outside the fundraising silo, and thinking creatively and entrepreneurially.

• • A record of measurable results in organizing and implementing such activities as: foundation relations, state and federal giving, corporate support (philanthropy and volunteer coordination), individual donor cultivation, and special event support.

• • Demonstrated cultural competency and a high “EQ” to work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of diverse constituencies, including board and staff, donors, diverse entrepreneurs, industry partners, foundation and civic leaders.

Salary for this position is $110K (annually). 5-7 years in a nonprofit (fundraising) leadership role preferred. Competitive benefits package. This opportunity has a flexible (hybrid) work schedule. 

To be considered, please send a resume and cover letter to crbranigan@commonwealthkitchen.org.