OVERVIEW

The Women’s Foundation of California has a nearly 40-year track record of supporting community-based organizations working to address the root causes of injustice and advance solutions across multiple issues. We focus on core strategies of investing in community organizations, training community leaders, convening community partners, and mobilizing significant financial resources to advance the health, safety, and economic security of women, girls, and transgender people. We support movements led by women and girls, especially women and girls of color, low-income women, immigrant women, LGBTQ+ people, transpeople, gender non-conforming individuals and formerly incarcerated people. We’re comprised of a dynamic and smart group of people who are passionate about our work and committed to making good things happen for all Californians.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Development Officer serves as the chief strategist for all of the Foundation’s fund development, and plays a leading role in achieving the Foundation’s mission of advancing gender justice in California with a focus on building women’s philanthropic leadership. 

The Chief Development Officer is responsible for designing and directing a comprehensive and results-oriented development plan that increases revenues to support the strategic direction of the Foundation. Key components of this position include setting goals, pursuing strategies, managing staff and timetables for the Foundation. The Chief Development Officer will lead a strong team in building relationships with donors and community, corporate, and foundation leaders interested in investing in social change and advancing gender justice in California. The Chief Development Officer sets the fundraising strategy for the Foundation and demonstrates a zeal and passion for donor outreach and stewardship.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Implementation of Strategic Development Plan  

• Work closely with the Foundation’s CEO and Board of Directors to develop and implement a short and long-term development plan to meet established goals and objectives. This includes:
  • major gifts
  • corporate and foundation grants
  • endowment gifts
  • special fundraising/cultivation events
  • developing new approaches to supporting traditional development initiatives
• Serve as the director of the annual fundraising program and provide direct daily management of specifically focused initiatives to secure major gifts and leadership gifts in support of the annual fund.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and follow up of special fundraising events as specified in the fund development plan to generate funds for the Foundation.
• Steward donors, sponsors, and vendor relationships.
• Working closely with the CEO to develop and gain approval for an annual income and expenditure budget for fund development; manage fund development budget and ensure cost effectiveness.
• Attend Foundation and partner events related to donor cultivation and lead donor cultivation.

40^th Anniversary Campaign Fundraising

• In celebration of the Foundation’s 40^th anniversary and in collaboration with the Board and Campaign Task Force, develop and implement a multi-year, multi-million dollar fund development campaign to increase sustainability and visibility.
• Identify and develop corporate, community, and individual prospects for the Foundation’s fundraising priorities.
• Build the planned giving program to grow the endowment fund with a focus on deferred gifts such as bequests.
• Monitor and evaluate all fundraising activities related to the Campaign to ensure that the goals are achieved. 

Board Development

• Partner with the Board of Directors in order to achieve 100% Board giving annually.
• Lead the Board and Development Committee’s donor portfolio strategy, provide training in the cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of donors, and provide stewardship to loyal donors in own portfolio.
• Routinely report to the Board of Directors and appropriate committees.
• Assist in Board recruitment, including identifying key donors that may be considered for Board or Committee roles.

Management of Development Team

• Collaborate with development team to create, update and implement efficient and effective development-related systems and procedures—both within the development department and across teams.
• Develop dashboards to track progress and benchmarks; proactively produce reports and analyses of donor data and campaigns to help inform strategies.
• Actively manage development staff including establishing annual objectives (to support overall goals established in the development plan), provide regular performance reviews and appropriate recognition, and supporting ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Personally and with the assistance of the development team, ensure the integrity and functionality of the donor information management database.
• Supervise donor and gift record-keeping and ensure timely and accurate gift processing and acknowledgements. 

Communications and Marketing

• Work collaboratively and creatively with the Communications Manager to appropriately position development opportunities and integrate messages in publications, grant submissions, reports, and collateral materials for cultivating and stewarding donors and funders.
• Clearly articulate and promote a strong case for support of the Foundation and build and sustain an organizational culture that promotes the relationship between philanthropy and the mission and goals of the Foundation.                                              

Qualifications

Skills

• At least seven years of increasing responsibility in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record of success in securing major gifts, managing campaigns, and engaging a community of motivated supporters.
• Proven ability to work with and inspire boards of directors, executive and program leadership, and volunteer leaders to actively engage in fundraising, donor solicitation, and stewardship.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to produce high quality prose quickly and under deadline.
• Ability to develop and manage fundraising budgets and prepare financial reports.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or another donor database, and mastery of MS Outlook and Office Suite (especially Word and Excel).
• Excellent organizational, communications, problem-solving, and analytical skills with outstanding attention to detail and follow through.
• Supervisory skills and ability to lead and motivate a team.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.

Qualities

• Must possess a strong commitment to the mission, policies, goals and philosophy of the Women’s Foundation of California.
• Ability to multi-task with high degree of project- and time-management capacity to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with multiple interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to create positive, long-term working relationships by demonstrating a commitment to teamwork and customer service, tact, dependability, diplomacy, and flexibility.
• Willingness and ability to travel to meetings and other Foundation events.

 Compensation and Benefits

• This is a full-time, non-exempt positon, with a salary range of $110,000-$125,000. Salary offer will be dependent on experience.
• We provide 15 days paid vacation to start which increases over time (20 days after 5 years, and 25 days after 10 years); 12 paid sick days, 11 paid holidays, and a flexible, family-friendly schedule.
• We provide paid parental leave, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, flexible spending account, fitness reimbursements, a 401 (k) retirement plan match, transportation benefits, and AD&D insurance with the Foundation covering 100% of the costs of the insurance package for employees and 90% for dependents. 

Physical demands and work environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job’s essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position for long periods while operating a computer to create documents, conducting Internet research, sending and receiving e-mail and participating in meetings; communicate on a telephone and in person; read and write; apply logic and focus attention in the presence of distractions. Occasional requirements are to move about the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, etc.

Our Values and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At the Women’s Foundation of California, we believe outstanding people are the key to our success. We value a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, transpeople, gender non-conforming individuals and formerly incarcerated people to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, we recruit and hire with the understanding of systemic oppression and of the lived reality of people with marginalized identities. We also recruit and hire without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, prior conviction, arrest history, disability, marital status, veteran status or age.

Application & Deadline

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume, combined in one document, with the subject line: Chief Development Officer to: [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. All documents need to be Microsoft Word or PDF files (PDF files are preferred).