Director of Development

Description

Reports To: Executive Director

Employment Status: Full-time

Department: School

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Summary

The Director of Development is responsible for advancing the mission of AchieveKids through communication, branding, community awareness, fundraising, and program enhancement. This is an essential member of the AchieveKids leadership team and is responsible for all activities related to public awareness, fundraising, and increased presence within our communities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement annual and multiyear development plans aligned with AchieveKids’ strategic priorities, with realistic revenue goals, expense budgets, timelines, and assigned responsibilities.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board to identify funding priorities, develop the case for support, and advance donor relationships. Prepare and support Board members in introductions, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Monitor fundraising progress, revenue forecasts, donor retention, prospect pipeline activity, and campaign results; report to leadership and relevant Board committees and adjust strategies as needed.
• Build and manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors through research, qualification, cultivation, personal solicitation, and stewardship; document engagement plans and next steps.
• Lead integrated annual giving, including direct mail and digital appeals, recurring giving, donor renewal, acquisition, and reengagement of lapsed donors.
• Develop proposals, donor communications, recognition, and impact updates that connect donor interests with AchieveKids’ priorities and strengthen long‑term support.
• Develop relationships with foundations, corporations, and community partners to secure grants, sponsorships, matching gifts, and appropriate in‑kind support.
• Oversee the donor management system, prospect records, gift documentation, pledge tracking, acknowledgments, donor preferences, data quality, and appropriate access controls.
• Oversee grant research, calendars, proposals, renewals, and reporting. Coordinate with program and finance staff to ensure proposed activities are feasible, budgets are accurate, and commitments are fulfilled.
• Lead external communications, branding, and fundraising messaging in coordination with the Executive Director and relevant staff. Oversee the website, digital channels, newsletters, appeals, impact reports, and other development materials.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Policy, Community Relations/Organization or related field preferred.
• Minimum 6 years progressively responsible experience working in development.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and major donors and to manage a documented prospect pipeline.
• Experience developing grant proposals and donor communications, managing fundraising budgets, and using data to assess results and guide decisions.

Skills & Abilities

• Leadership and excellent presentation skills.
• Flexibility and excellent interpersonal and team skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with executive leadership, Board members, program staff, Finance, donors, and community partners.
• Strong writing, presentation, relationship-building, negotiation, project management, and organizational skills; ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with donor management databases, spreadsheets, reporting tools, and digital fundraising and communications platforms.
• Strong negotiation and public relations skills as well as conflict resolution skills\.
• Capable of multi-tasking, decision‑making, influencing, and problem solving.
• Plan, prioritize, meet deadlines and manage time effectively.
• Vision and planning.
• Computer proficiency.

Other Requirements

• A valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record.
• Criminal record clearance or formal exemption.
• Tuberculosis risk assessment clearance within 60 days before hire and every four years thereafter.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position may require remote work on a temporary or permanent basis, depending on business needs. Remote work does not change the terms and conditions of employment. Remote employees must follow all AchieveKids policies, including adhering to all meal and rest break and attendance schedules. Remote employees are expected to dedicate their full attention to their job duties during working hours.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• remain in a stationary position 50% of the time
• occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer
• constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinets by stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• communicate information and ideas so others will understand and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer), distance, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• move boxes/items weighing up to 20 pounds across office for various needs

Work Environment

This position regularly works in indoor conditions, and may occasionally be exposed to outdoor weather and wet (humid) conditions. Noise levels in the work environment are usually moderate and can sometimes be noisy.

There may be potential exposure to blood, urine, and feces; thereby, potentially at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens.