Director of Development

Job Title: Director of Development, National Capital Region Chapter

Department: Chapter Impact

Location: Remote/Virtual, within the DC Metro area

Reports to: Chapter Executive Director

Direct Reports: None

Classification: Exempt

Position type: Full-Time Employee

Anticipated Pay Range at Commencement of Employment: $87,000 - 120,000 per year

Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families is the largest nonprofit dedicated to making military life better for families. Each year, we support over 1.5 million military- and veteran-connected family members through a national network of 300,000+ members and local chapters in communities across the country.

Our mission is simple and bold: We make military life awesome for families. 

We listen, share, partner, and act to deliver evidence-based, data-driven solutions that work for real people. We’re a lifestyle organization, a friend and neighbor, and a trusted partner. Our approach is collaborative, human-centered, and designed with the whole family in mind.

A Blue Star Family is one with an immediate family member — a spouse, parent, or child — actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Guard and Reserves. These families face unique challenges: frequent relocations, deployments, career disruption, and isolation. We respond with research-informed programs that create connection, build resilience, and foster a true sense of belonging.

We serve with urgency but build trust over time — because change happens at the speed of trust. Whether we’re driving spouse employment, supporting caregivers, or helping communities welcome military families, we strive for upstream solutions.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Bold thinkers. Fast movers. Smart collaborators. People who want to build, lead, and drive measurable change — and who care deeply about making an impact that matters.

What You’ll Do Here:

• Solve complex challenges with data, heart, and humility
• Build cross-sector partnerships that get things done
• Help military families feel at home wherever they live

If you're ready to work in a high-performance, mission-driven environment — and to make life better for those who serve — Blue Star Families is where you belong.

General Description

The Director, Development for the National Capital Region “Flagship” Chapter is responsible for assisting in  local fundraising efforts, cultivating donor relationships, and supporting the development of strategic partnerships to support the chapter’s financial sustainability and growth. This role partners closely with the Chapter Executive Director and the national Development team to align local fundraising strategies with Blue Star Families’ mission and organizational goals.

The Director will steward a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors and support grant writing and reporting in collaboration with the national team.

While this role is remote, periodic out-of-town, overnight travel is an essential function. In-person time is critical to how we work — enabling deep collaboration, team alignment, creative problem-solving, and a shared sense of purpose. Team members are expected to travel several times per year for offsites, planning sessions, and company-wide gatherings. These events are essential for contributing to team outcomes, building trust across the organization, and staying aligned in a distributed environment. Participation in these in-person gatherings is a required part of the role and integral to successful performance in our remote-first organization.

*The Director must reside in the local community the Chapter serves. Preference will be given to candidates who have resided in the designated Chapter community for a minimum of the past three years. 

Key Job Functions

• Assist the Executive Director with the local fundraising strategy to meet or exceed chapter revenue goals.
• Meet or exceed an annual fundraising goal of at least $100,000. 
• Build, qualify, and actively manage a portfolio of at least 30 new major gift prospects (distinct from existing pipelines), with responsibility for identifying, cultivating, and advancing these individuals through the full donor lifecycle toward solicitation and long-term engagement
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and national Development team to identify and pursue funding opportunities aligned with chapter programs and goals.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on donor recognition and ensure consistent, high-quality communication with funders and supporters.
• Support the development and execution of donor engagement events and activities.
• Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking in CRM (e.g., Salesforce).
• Assist with grant proposal writing and reporting.
• Partner with local program staff to align fundraising with community impact.
• Represent Blue Star Families at Chapter sponsored events, community events,  and networking opportunities to elevate the chapter’s visibility and mission.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Required Experience, Skills & Background

• 7+ years of relevant experience in fundraising for a nonprofit organization
• Demonstrated success in individual giving, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, and/or planning and executing major fundraising events. 
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with CRM software (e.g., Salesforce).
• Local travel requirements required outside of your home office will be up to 40% or less depending on business needs.
• Ability to travel out of town overnight several times per year for staff offsites, planning retreats, and company-wide events. These gatherings are essential for connection, brainstorming, and staying strategically aligned across teams. Participation is required as a core part of the role.
• May be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary to carry out key job functions.

Desired Experience, Skills & Background

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Knowledge of the military family experience
• Familiarity with membership-driven organizations
• Demonstrated community involvement through social, civic, and/or political organizations
• Knowledge of the local philanthropic landscape and funding community

More About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families empowers military and Veteran families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors — both people and organizations — to create strong communities of mutual support. We believe we're all stronger when we take care of one another.

Our groundbreaking research is raising the nation's awareness of the unique challenges of military family life. With the help of neighbors across the country, Blue Star Families is overcoming the isolation and alienation of frequent moves, deployments, and reduced support from the government. Our innovative programs are solving specific challenges for military families, including fighting economic insecurity with resources that foster spouse career development, creating family strength with rich family programming, and providing critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing.

Blue Star Families is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

EEO Policy

Blue Star Families is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Why Blue Star Families?

Virtual/remote nonprofit organization that moves with you (position specific)
Career growth opportunities
Excellent benefits (403(b) with matching, Flexible Spending, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Communications Allowance, and more)
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Leave for Active Duty Military Spouses
On-the-job professional development training
Front-line opportunity to positively impact the military experience
Competitive salaries
Workplace flexibility