Director of Advancement

Title: Director of Advancement

Salary Range: $70K - $88K, negotiable based on experience

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Advancement (DA) is the sole steward of Unrestricted Fundraising, responsible for driving FoLAR's revenue growth, fostering meaningful donor relationships, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. This experienced and dynamic leader will oversee major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events, working closely with executive leadership to align efforts with the organization's mission to restore the Los Angeles River. The DA is a strategic, hands-on, and results-driven role, accountable for meeting and exceeding budgeted unrestricted revenue targets. Success depends on confidently cultivating sustained external funder relationships, demonstrating impact, and possessing expertise in fundraising practices, project management, integrity, and persistence. The position reports to the Chief Development Officer.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Generation

• Secure and surpass an annual minimum of $500K in independently won unrestricted funding, with an expectation of this target increasing yearly.
• Lead the strategic development and multi-year implementation of unrestricted fundraising plans for individuals and organizations, focusing on strengthening and diversifying all revenue streams.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to accurately project, set, and exceed annual revenue targets and stretch goals, strategically prioritizing funding opportunities for maximum ROI.
• Maintain an entrepreneurial approach and strong command of both traditional fundraising best practices and out-of-the-box opportunistic approaches.

Major Gifts and Funder Stewardship

• Lead a robust major gifts program by actively identifying, cultivating, and closing relationships with high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders to secure five- and six-figure contributions and multi-year commitments.
• Design and execute the full sponsorship lifecycle—from prospect research, profile creation, and initial pitch to benefits fulfillment and comprehensive post-event/donation follow-up—to drive revenue growth for events and programs.
• Ensure consistent and personalized stewardship for all major donors and funders through regular updates, written requests (including those to Council Districts and Neighborhood Councils), executive pitch support, and timely quarterly reports to the Board.

Campaigns, Events, and Membership Programs

• Oversee all membership programs, developing and executing integrated, multi-platform campaigns (e.g., social media appeals, cold calls, direct mail) to acquire, upgrade, and renew supporters.
• Design and adapt comprehensive membership programs, defining funding parameters, curating diverse benefits (e.g., employee engagement, educational presentations, event presence), and managing all benefit fulfillment and associated collateral.
• With support from the Director of Community Engagement (DCE), plan and execute on-site fundraising strategies for all signature FoLAR events (Earth Day, RiverFest, and CleanUp).
• Manage and execute corporate fee-for-service programs (e.g. cleanups, habitat restorations, presentations, workshops), while developing or adapting new programs to increase paid program revenue.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson to create and disseminate compelling event messaging, donor stewardship materials, and promotional campaigns in collaboration with the Director of Strategic Communications.

Financial Management and Operational Compliance

• Manage the entire gift cycle, including developing and sending timely, accurate, and personalized thank-you letters, processing all gifts, and ensuring the integrity of all funder and giving information in the CRM database through optimization for tagging and reporting.
• Develop and manage development budgets, including regularly reconciling financial information in FoLAR databases with the Sr. Director of Operations & Finance.
• Collect, maintain, and report on key impact performance data (including ESG metrics, participation, and ROI) to support both relational and fiscal reporting and organizational learning.
• Identify and execute the creation of key collateral and other tools needed for successful fundraising and annual campaigns.

Leadership, Team Collaboration, and Strategic Direction

• Actively participate in senior leadership meetings, contributing to overall organizational strategy, long-term sustainability efforts, and financial planning.
• Collaborate with department leads (including the DCE and Director of Strategic Communications) to provide strategic insights on donor cultivation and fundraising approaches for key programs and events.
• Work closely with the Board’s Development Committee to support their fundraising efforts (e.g., guidance on donor engagement, personal giving, and leveraging networks) and supervise Development Interns as needed.
• Lead with integrity, inclusivity, a strong internal locus of control, and emotional intelligence within a team-first culture.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required

• 5+ years of fundraising experience, including 2+ years in leadership, with a proven track record of securing 5- and 6-figure gifts and mastery of industry best practices.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape of Los Angeles and ability to confidently and competently move in those circles.
• Proven leadership in managing complex, cross-departmental projects and diverse teams from planning to execution.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder relationship-building skills, with a commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Experience managing budgets, tracking performance metrics, and building organizational capacity in others.
• Proficient in proposal writing, report creation, and event planning / coordination.
• Skilled in Airtable, Google Suite, and CRM platforms (Nationbuilder and GoFundMe Pro preferred).
• Willingness to travel regionally and attend evening or weekend events as needed.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters professionally.
• Ability to multi-task and manage many projects simultaneously with scrupulous attention to detail.

Highly Valued & Preferred

• Fluent / business level Spanish speaking.
• Experience in graphic design, particularly in Canva and/or Adobe Illustrator.
• Familiarity with environmental education, advocacy, or nonprofit management.
• Familiarity and experience with LA’s philanthropic circles and right-fit funders.

Key Attributes

• Visionary Leadership: Ability to inspire teams and stakeholders toward a shared mission.
• Strategic Thinker: Capable of aligning day-to-day activities with long-term goals.
• Collaborative Spirit: Skilled in working across teams and fostering inclusive partnerships.
• Results-Oriented: Focused on achieving measurable outcomes through innovative solutions.

Application Process

If you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, don’t let that stop you! If you think you offer what it takes to excel in this role and a passion for the environment and climate action - please apply!

To apply for this position, please email your cover letter, resume, list of professional references, AND one writing and one funder pitch sample to View email address on click.appcast.io with “ [NAME] - Director of Advancement” in the subject line. Format is important; please send the cover letter in the body of the email as text and any documents (resume, etc.) as easily accessible attachments. No calls or walk-ins.

Equity at FoLAR

The LA River traverses through diverse communities of people, plants, and geographies. It provides an opportunity to reshape our environment in a way that is more inclusive, equitable, and just. We are committed to building a team, leadership, and a River Movement that is as diverse as the communities the River touches. We believe in working with nature and alongside communities to achieve climate resilience, park equity, and environmental health for all.

Friends of the Los Angeles River is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ community members are strongly encouraged to apply.