Fundraising and Development Director
Job Description
Job Description
Job Description
Fundraising and Development Director
Primary Support Person
Executive Director
General Position Information
Full-Time
This position is classified as Exempt
Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000 annually (depending on experience)
Location
This position is eligible for hybrid work (partial onsite & partial remote work in California)
Benefits package includes dental, vision, medical, and life insurance; with the option of enrolling in a retirement plan. 14 paid holidays annually in addition to accruable vacation and sick paid time off.
The initial review date for this job is: 9/22/2025
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, public relations, or related field
• Three years of experience in fundraising and/or donor relations
• Three years of supervisory experience or volunteer management
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse staff/volunteers
• Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office Suite
Summary of Primary Job Functions
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center (Walnut Avenue) is a nonprofit organization in the
City of Santa Cruz (http://www.wafwc.org/ ). The Fundraising Director is a vital member of the
Resource Development Department and sits on the agency’s Leadership Team. Under the
supervision of the Executive Director, the Development Director is responsible for spearheading
major fundraising, communications, and development efforts that support the work and mission of the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising/Development Strategy
• Work with the Leadership Team, Board, and staff to identify funds needed, preferred funding targets, and approaches.
• In coordination with the Board Development Committee, develop and execute the agency’s annual fundraising strategic plan
• Coordinate agency campaigns including the annual gift giving campaign, Turkey Drive, and Back-to-School which may include traveling to/between event locations
• Creating and executing a strategy for a large, sustained base of annual individual donors.
• Developing and tracking proposals and reports for foundations and corporate fundraising.
• Analyze & report donation metrics; and maintain/improve the quality of data from which they are drawn
• Achieve the metrics identified in the agency’s Strategic Plan
• Strategic relationship building and networking with community partners and leaders
Donor Engagement & Management
• Develop and maintain key long-term relationships with donors and prospects individually or by bringing people together through meaningful and engaging experiences which support our mission
• Actively solicit and engage past, current, and potential donors
• Increase number of monthly donors
• Cultivate and secure financial support from individuals, foundations and corporations
• Grow a major gifts program ($5,000 and above) including identification, cultivation and solicitation of major donors
• Create and distribute a quarterly newsletter to raise awareness among donors and partners
• Maintain timely gift recognition programs including personalized thanks (calls/cards/letters)
• Input all cash and in-kind donations into DonorPerfect (donor database) in a timely manner and work with the Fiscal Manager to ensure proper tracking of donations, and accurate reconciliation of monthly giving reports
• Engage and maintain volunteer infrastructure as it relates to communications and development, including:
o Recruit, on-board, supervise and support the community members who volunteer to support fundraising and development efforts for the organization
o Maintain safety and risk management standards related to the volunteers according to laws and agency policy & procedures
o Maintain volunteer records and track volunteer hours for development volunteers
Events
• In coordination with the Development Committee, design and coordinate special events including risk and safety measures at events
• Lead She.Is.Beautiful 5k/10k race fundraising efforts
• Direct other major or minor fundraising drives as needed
• Make public appearances/accept speaking engagements to share information about Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center with the community
• Implementation of annual agency donor/fundraising event
Communications
• Oversee creation of publications to support fundraising activities including donor newsletter and development-related marketing materials
• Regularly attend the Board Development Committee meetings to ensure necessary communication with the Board of Directors in line with strategic development objectives
• Regularly attend Leadership Meetings and Staff meetings to generate a general knowledge and appreciation for agency financial development among staff. When appropriate, engage staff in development efforts.
• Contribute to effective communication of the Development volunteers by ensuring knowledge of our programs and that activities are being accurately represented
• Support agency-wide Social Media efforts
• Updating the website as needed, with careful attention to branding & agency values
• Utilize the DonorPerfect data management system to engage with Donors
• Attending occasional Tabling events which support Fundraising goals
Ongoing Professional Development
• Constant learning about the organization’s areas of expertise and opportunities
• Staying abreast of philanthropic issues & trends
• Seek technological and system upgrades that make donor giving easy & efficient for donors and staff
General
• Collaborate closely with Executive Director, staff, and Board of Directors
• Supervise and collaborate with other fundraising staff and/or volunteers
• Demonstrate professional conduct at all times
• Perform other related duties as requested.
• Meet fundraising goals determined with Executive Director and agency Board
Job Specific Knowledge, Skill & Abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Comfortable and skilled in public speaking and/or presenting
• Must have a current class C driver’s license and be comfortable with driving agency vehicles regularly. Presentation of current driver’s license and proof of insurance is required upon hire and throughout employment; or reliable transportation to travel between office and event locations
• Demonstrable or transferable skills in gift processing, and donor database management
• Ability to apply the strength-based model to support co-workers and volunteers
• Ability to manage volunteers, including recruiting, on-boarding, setting clear expectations, having healthy boundaries, and addressing performance issues
• Proven success in financial development for a nonprofit organization. Experience demonstrating skills necessary to run capital campaigns and successful fundraising from multiple donor channels
• Experience in planning, leading, and managing development projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to senior managers/board of directors
• Takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and to forge new ones
• Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising
• Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials. Experience and credibility when presenting materials to external audience
• Effective at working with others in teams to reach common goals and objectives
• Skilled at establishing and cultivating donor relations
• Strong relationships with peers, across different levels of the organization and externally.
• Grant writing experience preferred
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center complies with ADA including providing reasonable accommodations.
It is the policy of Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center to provide equal employment, volunteer opportunities and services (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), family medical leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), marital status including Domestic Partnership, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, veteran and/or military status, national origin, citizenship, race (including traits associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, domestic violence victim status and any other status protected by federal, state or local law.
Company DescriptionWalnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center (Walnut Avenue) is a 501 (c) 3 public benefit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for women, children, and families in Santa Cruz County for 90 years and is a strength-based family center. Our service providing programs include Early Education Center, Services for Children & Youth, Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Family Support Services.
Company Description
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center (Walnut Avenue) is a 501 (c) 3 public benefit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for women, children, and families in Santa Cruz County for 90 years and is a strength-based family center. Our service providing programs include Early Education Center, Services for Children & Youth, Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Family Support Services.