Head of Development (Remote)

Title: Development Director
Position Status: Full-time, exempt
Palo Alto Humane has spent more than a century championing the human-animal bond — and we're at an inflection point. Our programs are growing, our community presence is deepening, and we're ready to build the fundraising infrastructure to match our ambition.
You won't be inheriting a rigid system or managing a large team — you'll be the architect of our development function, with direct access to leadership, a board that's engaged and ready to open doors, and a mission that resonates deeply with donors in one of the most philanthropically active regions in the country.
If you're energized by the idea of building something that lasts — a donor community, a major gifts pipeline, a culture of philanthropy — and you want your work to have a direct, visible impact on animals and the people who love them, we'd love to meet you.
Palo Alto Humane’s mission is to inspire our community to connect humanely with animals. We believe in the transformative bond between humans and animals and aim to support both. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable, volunteer-supported organization, and one of the few humane societies nationwide with no animal shelter.
Our programs and services ensure pets remain in homes with their families, support spay/neuter efforts across Santa Clara County and provide experiences for people to connect with friendly pets when they may not have a pet of their own. For more than a century PAH’s focus has been to alleviate the suffering of animals, increase public sensitivity to animal issues and elevate the status of animals in our society.
As our dedicated Development Director, you'll lead all fundraising strategy and execution — from major gifts and donor stewardship to solicitations and the Charity Checkout program. You'll report directly to the CEO and work closely with our board and small team to build PAH's development function from the ground up.
Design and lead PAH's comprehensive fundraising strategy — spanning major gifts, annual campaigns, recurring donors, donor advised funds, planned giving, giving platforms, and written solicitations.
Set annual and multi-year fundraising goals and budgets in partnership with the CEO.
Oversee donor stewardship and recognition – ensuring acknowledgements, tax receipts, and creative recognition ideas reflect fundraising best practices.
Maintain the donor database, ensuring accurate records and meaningful donor engagement.
Develop engagement plans for stock giving and donor advised fund giving.
Build and grow the “Charity Checkout” program, our point-of-sale giving initiative with local veterinary practices and businesses.
Partner with the Director of Community Engagement (and Marketing Consultant) to create stories and content across social media, email solicitations and communications, newsletters annual reports, and press releases that bring PAH’s mission and impact to life.
Help grow PAH’s digital presence, including our website and social channels.
Set key performance indicators (KPIs) for fundraising and marketing efforts, using real-time data to refine strategy. Help build a culture of philanthropy across PAH - coaching staff, board members, and volunteers on fundraising.
Engage in ongoing professional development and goal-setting with the CEO.
In your first 90 days, you'll get to know PAH from the inside out — meeting with the CEO, board, and staff, auditing our current donor database and fundraising materials, and building relationships with our key supporters. By the end of this period, you'll have a clear picture of where we stand and draft a roadmap for the year ahead.
By the end of year one, you'll have launched at least one new fundraising initiative or strengthened an existing program (such as a robust DAF program, a major gifts pipeline, or an extensive Charity Checkout program). In addition, you will have established KPIs that give leadership and the board real visibility into fundraising performance, and built the early foundation of a donor stewardship system that will support PAH's growth for years to come.
Minimum of five years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, and a college degree or extensive experience in relationship management roles (private foundations, sales, financial advising, etc.).
Self-starter with the ability to drive projects to completion with minimal supervision.
Strong problem-solver and critical thinker, ability to synthesize data and make evidence-based decisions.
Proficiency in DonorPerfect (or similar donor software platforms such as Blackbaud or Salesforce), Constant Contact, Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, Canva, VistaPrint, and digital marketing tools.
Salary of $85-90k + bonuses based on meeting mutually agreed upon fundraising revenue and donor targets.

Annual $1000 pet care benefit - because we mean it when we say animals are family
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
Partial remote/hybrid flexibility.
Flexible work-week scheduling.
Eight paid holidays.
Professional development or training opportunities with Board approval.
Role requires prolonged periods of sitting and extensive use of a computer, including typing and screen time.
Must be able to communicate effectively via email, video calls, and other digital communication tools.
Must have flexibility to work occasional weekends and evenings.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local laws. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to employment opportunities.