Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Summary

Epicenter delivers high-impact resources to entrepreneurs using innovation to solve challenges in Memphis and the Delta Region. We help founders launch, grow, and scale high-growth, high-impact companies while strengthening the region's startup ecosystem through strategic partnerships and investment.

The Senior Director of Development will lead Epicenter's efforts to expand corporate and foundation relationships, diversify revenue, and develop new regional and national funding opportunities. Working directly with the CEO and alongside the Board, this role will build relationships, cultivate and steward funders, develop compelling funding opportunities, and connect Epicenter's impact with the priorities of corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate & Foundation Relationships

• Build and manage a portfolio of current and prospective corporate and foundation funders.
• Deepen existing partnerships while identifying and developing new relationships in Memphis and beyond.
• Identify corporations, foundations, and partners that may not currently know Epicenter but align with its mission and impact.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships through the full development cycle, from identification and relationship building through solicitation and ongoing stewardship.
• Develop proposals and funding opportunities that clearly connect Epicenter's impact with funder priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with corporate executives, foundation leaders, philanthropic partners, and community stakeholders.

Revenue Growth & Diversification

• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy that broadens who invests in Epicenter and where those relationships come from.
• Expand development efforts beyond Epicenter's traditional funding relationships and geographic footprint, including regional and national opportunities.
• Strengthen individual giving as part of a more diversified development strategy.
• Research and identify corporations, foundations, individuals, and other prospective partners with strong potential for alignment.
• Use research, market intelligence, relationships, and organizational priorities to determine where Epicenter should focus its fundraising efforts.
• Identify untapped opportunities and move promising prospects from initial conversations toward meaningful investment.

Storytelling, Proposals & Solicitation

• Clearly communicate Epicenter's work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and economic opportunity.
• Understand the priorities and interests of different funders and connect Epicenter's impact to what matters most to each audience.
• Develop compelling proposals, funding requests, presentations, and other development materials.
• Listen for alignment, recognize opportunities, and strategically move relationships toward solicitation.
• Conduct direct asks and funding conversations with prospective and existing supporters.
• Work across Epicenter teams to understand programs, outcomes, and impact and translate that work into compelling opportunities for investment.

CEO & Board Engagement

• Work directly with the CEO and alongside the Board to strengthen their participation in Epicenter's development efforts.
• Identify opportunities where CEO and Board relationships, networks, and credibility can help advance prospective funding relationships.
• Prepare the CEO and Board members for important funder conversations, meetings, and asks.
• Create clear opportunities for leadership to participate in cultivation and stewardship.
• Provide the context and information needed for leadership to engage effectively with prospective and existing funders.
• Independently own relationships and move development opportunities forward while strategically engaging leadership when appropriate.

Relationship & Opportunity Management

• Manage multiple funder relationships and development opportunities while maintaining strong organization and consistent follow-through.
• Build relationships in spaces where Epicenter already has credibility while creating new relationships where connections do not yet exist.
• Track prospects and opportunities throughout the development cycle and maintain clear next steps for moving relationships forward.
• Bring a strategic and independent approach to identifying, evaluating, and pursuing funding opportunities.
• Remain accountable for development activity, relationship progress, and fundraising results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Significant experience in fundraising, development, corporate or foundation relations, strategic partnerships, or related work.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing meaningful corporate and/or foundation support.
• Proven ability to create new funding relationships, not only steward existing ones.
• Experience moving prospects through the full development cycle, from identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and direct solicitation.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the judgment and presence to work effectively with CEOs, Board members, corporate executives, foundation leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Strong organization, independence, strategic thinking, and follow-through.
• High integrity and the ability to build trust internally and externally.
• Experience in nonprofit development is valuable.
• Familiarity with entrepreneurship, technology, economic development, or philanthropy is a plus.

What Epicenter Offers

This is an opportunity to help shape the next stage of Epicenter's development strategy rather than simply manage an established fundraising program. The Senior Director of Development will work directly with Epicenter's CEO, engage corporate and philanthropic leaders, identify untapped opportunities, and build relationships beyond the organization's existing network.

This role offers the opportunity to influence how Epicenter tells its story to the people and institutions positioned to invest in its mission while helping strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic opportunity across Memphis and the Delta Region.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $105,000–$115,000, based on experience and qualifications. Staff members receive a generous benefits package including health insurance, flexible scheduling, paid vacation time, and sick time.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to careers@epicentermemphis.org. Epicenter is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. It is our preference that your cover letter reflects your own voice and not be generated by AI tools like ChatGPT.

Join us in expanding the relationships and investments that help drive entrepreneurship and innovation across Memphis and the Delta Region.

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