Shared Development Director: Independent Contractor

Shared Development Director: Independent Contractor

• RefugeeConnect & Immigrant and Refuge Law Center
• Greater Cincinnati • Hybrid/Remote
• Contract Amount: $55,000
• Contract Term: 12 months; may be renewed based on available funding and the continued needs of both organizations

A Unique Shared Development Opportunity

RefugeeConnect and the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) are seeking an experienced development professional to serve as our Shared Development Director, an independent contractor providing strategic fundraising and development support across both organizations.

This is not a traditional Development Director role. It is a unique opportunity to work alongside two established Greater Cincinnati nonprofits serving refugee and immigrant communities while helping us explore what becomes possible when mission-aligned organizations intentionally share expertise, resources, relationships, and fundraising strategy.

The Shared Development Director will support the distinct development priorities of RefugeeConnect and IRLC while also identifying opportunities for collaboration, including shared funding opportunities, donor and corporate engagement, joint fundraising initiatives, and long-range planning connected to a future regional welcoming center.

The ideal contractor will be comfortable navigating multiple organizational priorities, building relationships, developing systems, and moving between strategy and implementation. We are looking for someone who sees collaboration not as an added responsibility, but as an opportunity to build stronger and more sustainable organizations.

RefugeeConnect and IRLC are two independent organizations with complementary roles in supporting refugees and immigrants throughout Greater Cincinnati.

RefugeeConnect walks alongside refugees and their families, connecting them to resources, relationships, guidance, and opportunities to enhance their lives and thrive in our shared community.

The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) provides accessible legal services to immigrant and refugee families in the Greater Cincinnati community.

Through an ongoing organizational partnership, RefugeeConnect and IRLC are investing in shared capacity that strengthens each organization individually while creating opportunities to collaborate around funding, community partnerships, and a longer-term vision for stronger regional welcoming infrastructure.

The Shared Development Director will provide development expertise across three interconnected areas:

• Supporting the individual fundraising and development priorities of RefugeeConnect; Supporting the
• individual fundraising and development priorities of IRLC; and
• Identifying and advancing collaborative opportunities that benefit both organizations and their shared long-term goals.

The contractor will work collaboratively with organizational leadership while maintaining the ability to independently organize and carry out the services and deliverables outlined in the contract.

Research and identify foundation, private, corporate, sponsorship, and other funding opportunities aligned with the missions and strategic priorities of both organizations.

Develop and maintain funding pipelines and prospect tracking systems, identify opportunities appropriate for collaborative applications, and provide leadership with regular funding research, recommendations, and timelines.

Strengthen donor management and stewardship practices for both organizations, including donor tracking, segmentation, engagement planning, retention analysis, and cultivation strategies.

Conduct prospect research to identify potential individual donors, philanthropic partners, corporate supporters, sponsors, and other strategic relationships.

Support the planning and implementation of annual fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives for both organizations.

Assist with fundraising events, sponsorship development, donor engagement strategies, and collaborative fundraising activities, including at least one joint fundraising initiative during the contract period.

Support both organizations in developing diversified, sustainable long-term funding strategies.

Research institutional funding, corporate partnerships, major donor opportunities, sponsorships, earned revenue strategies, and potential future capital support.

Provide strategic research and recommendations to strengthen organizational readiness for future growth and fundraising opportunities.

Support RefugeeConnect and IRLC's exploration of a future regional welcoming center by researching successful models and sustainable funding strategies and helping identify potential philanthropic, corporate, technical, and community partners.

The contractor will contribute to collaborative visioning, relationship development, strategic planning, and early capital campaign and feasibility research associated with this longer-term initiative.

Shared positions require a different kind of development professional.

The Shared Development Director will have the opportunity to strengthen fundraising capacity within two independent organizations while helping us build a thoughtful model for collaboration between them.

Success in this role requires someone who can understand the unique mission, priorities, culture, donors, and funding needs of each organization while recognizing opportunities where working together can create greater impact.

For someone who enjoys building systems, cultivating relationships, identifying opportunities, and helping organizations think strategically about what's next, this contract offers the opportunity to help shape something genuinely different.

The contractor will have significant flexibility to complete research, writing, planning, prospect development, and administrative work remotely. The role also requires availability to participate in in-person donor meetings, organizational meetings, fundraising events, collaborative planning sessions, community meetings, and other relationship-building activities throughout Greater Cincinnati as appropriate to the work.

Because relationship-building is an important component of the engagement, applicants should be based in or able to regularly work in the Greater Cincinnati region.

We are interested in hearing from experienced development professionals and consultants who bring a combination of strategic thinking, relationship-building skills, and hands-on fundraising experience.

Competitive candidates may demonstrate experience in areas such as:

• Nonprofit fundraising and fund development;
• Foundation, corporate, and institutional fundraising;
• Grant prospect research and funding pipeline development;
• Individual donor cultivation and stewardship;
• Major donor and prospect research;
• Fundraising campaigns and events;
• Corporate sponsorships and partnerships;
• Donor database or CRM strategy;
• Development planning and revenue diversification;
• Capital campaign or feasibility research;
• Working across multiple organizations, partnerships, coalitions, or collaborative initiatives; and
• Building development systems and strategies within growing organizations.

We especially welcome candidates who are comfortable working independently, managing multiple priorities, building relationships across organizations, and helping translate ambitious ideas into practical fundraising strategies.

Experience working with organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities is valued but not required.

• Contract Amount: $55,000
• Payment: Twelve equal monthly installments of $4,583.33 upon submission of an invoice and brief progress summary.
• Contract Term: The contract is 12 months may be renewed based on available funding and the continued needs of both organizations
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid remote, with in-person engagement throughout Greater Cincinnati as appropriate to the scope of services.

This opportunity is structured as an independent contractor engagement rather than an employee position. The contractor will be responsible for their own taxes, insurance, equipment, and other obligations associated with independent contractor status as outlined in the final agreement.

Interested candidates should submit:

• A resume, CV, or statement of qualifications;
• A brief letter of interest describing relevant experience and what interests you about this unique shared development model; and
• Examples or a brief description of experience developing fundraising strategies, cultivating donors or funders, and/or building development systems for nonprofit organizations.

Please submit application materials to Kristin Burgoyne at kristin@refugeeconnect.org by September 18, 2026.

Selected candidates will be invited to meet with representatives from both RefugeeConnect and the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center to discuss their experience, approach to development work, and interest in working within a shared organizational model.

RefugeeConnect and the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center welcome applicants with a wide range of professional and lived experiences. We encourage qualified candidates who are excited about the opportunity to strengthen organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities, and about building new approaches to collaboration, to apply.