Director of Development

SEARCH LEADERSHIP and PARTNERSHIP

ACELA Solutions has been retained as the exclusive executive search partner for Mercy Education Project in the recruitment of its next Director of Development. This search represents an exciting opportunity to partner with a respected, mission-driven organization rooted in Gospel values and long-standing service to the Detroit community. ACELA is honored to support Mercy Education Project’s Board and leadership team in identifying a senior advancement leader whose vocation, experience, and relational approach align with the organization’s mission, culture, and future vision.

ABOUT THE MERCY EDUCATION PROJECT

Founded in 1992 as a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Mercy Education Project (MEP) is a mission-driven nonprofit serving women and girls from low-income families in Southwest Detroit. Rooted in the Mercy values of compassion, justice, service, and community, MEP exists to expand access to education, life skills, and economic opportunity for those most often excluded from traditional systems.

In partnership with its Board of Directors and executive leadership team, Mercy Education Project has engaged ACELA Solutions to lead this important executive search as the organization seeks its next Director of Development.

For more than three decades, Mercy Education Project has been a trusted and respected presence in the Detroit community. The organization walks alongside women and girls as they pursue academic achievement, workforce readiness, and long-term stability. Today, MEP operates with approximately $1.5 million in annual revenue and is supported by a committed Board of Directors, dedicated staff, and an engaged network of philanthropic partners.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Board Development Committee, the Director of Development provides strategic and operational leadership across all areas of advancement, including individual giving, major gifts, foundations, government funding, special events, and development communications.

The Director of Development is a key member of MEP's leadership team and leads a small development staff in a collaborative, mission-centered environment. This leader plays a central role in articulating MEP's impact, cultivating donor relationships, and ensuring that the organization's story is communicated with clarity, authenticity, and purpose.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Education Project seeks a Director of Development to join its senior leadership team at an important moment in the organization's continued growth and sustainability.

This role offers a meaningful opportunity for an experienced, mission-aligned advancement leader to steward and strengthen the philanthropic foundation that makes MEP's work possible. The Director of Development serves as the organization's chief advancement leader, guiding all contributed revenue in support of programs, operations, and long-term vitality.

This is not simply a fundraising position. It is a senior leadership role for someone who understands development as a relational, values-driven vocation.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Mercy Education Project is seeking a seasoned development professional who brings both strategic perspective and hands-on experience and who is deeply motivated by mission-driven work.

The Board and leadership are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to educational equity and social justice, the ability to build authentic and trust-based relationships with donors and partners, comfort collaborating closely with executive leadership and board members, a leadership style grounded in humility and integrity, and a passion for connecting philanthropy to meaningful impact.

Candidates from nonprofit, education, foundation, or related mission-driven sectors are encouraged to explore this opportunity.

THE VISION

MEP's mission is clear, its programs are strong, and its community relationships are deep. The next Director of Development will play a critical role in ensuring that this important work continues to grow and thrive, helping secure the resources necessary to serve women and girls across Southwest Detroit for years to come.

APPLICATION PROCESS & NEXT STEPS

Mercy Education Project has partnered with ACELA Solutions to conduct this search on behalf of its Board of Directors and executive leadership team.

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials for consideration:

• Letter of Interest – Rather than a traditional cover letter, candidates are asked to submit a thoughtful letter describing what draws them to Mercy Education Project, how their professional experiences have prepared them for senior philanthropic leadership, and why this Director of Development opportunity is compelling at this moment in their career and vocational journey.
• Resume or curriculum vitae, with all relevant positions and dates clearly included
• Five references representing a balance of personal, professional, and mission-aligned perspectives

References will be used as part of a holistic discernment process. No references will be contacted without the candidate’s prior knowledge and explicit permission, and confidentiality will be safeguarded with the utmost care throughout the search.

This search is being conducted on an expedited timeline. All inquiries and applications will be handled with discretion, professionalism, and respect.