Development Director

Position Summary

The Development Director is a visionary fundraising leader who inspires stakeholders to invest in 826 Valencia’s mission and programs. As a member of the leadership team and the staff member chiefly responsible for contributed revenue (approximately 99% of our annual income of $8M), the Development Director reports to the Executive Director, works closely with the Board, and oversees all aspects of comprehensive and strategic fundraising plans that meet both short- and long-term revenue goals. The person in this role supports the Development team, spearheads an organization-wide culture of philanthropy, champions our DEI values, and builds relationships that yield new and increased donations. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled fundraising leader to join an iconic, mission-driven, and fiscally strong organization that is entering its 25th Anniversary.

Position Snapshot

• Works collaboratively with staff and board to raise $8M annually through new relationships, cultivation, and upgrades
• Effectively supports a diverse team through clear systems, strong follow-through, and professional development
• Takes initiative and innovates to leverage the 25th Anniversary for donor engagement, new gifts, and increased contributions

Reporting Relationships

The Development Director reports to the Executive Director of 826 Valencia and manages two staff members (the Director of Institutional Giving and the Manager of Individual Philanthropy) while indirectly supporting two additional staff members (the Grants and Database Manager and the Development and Annual Fund Coordinator).

Major Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Lead fundraising efforts in support of a team (including individual and corporate giving, foundation, government grants, events), raising upwards of $8M annually
• Develop and execute annual and long-term fundraising plans, employing best practices to maximize contributed revenue, scale the organization’s fundraising reach, and plan for its future sustainability
• Direct special events and fundraising opportunities for 826 Valencia’s 25th Anniversary in 2027
• Support the Executive Director, Board members, and Development Team to build and maintain long-term relationships with donors and to cultivate effective, meaningful relationships with prospects that lead to new gifts, upgrades, and multi-year investments
• Manage a personal portfolio of major individual donors, with full responsibility for all cultivation, stewardship, and progressive levels of engagement and giving
• Lead the organization’s moves management processes; identify and implement new opportunities for increased investments and cultivation that include personalized and high-quality opportunities for donor involvement and stewardship
• Evaluate and analyze the existing development program and implement effective changes, responses to a changing environment, and policies and procedures to increase overall fundraising performance
• Support the Director of Institutional Giving, who prepares high-quality, targeted grant proposals and reports that inspire deeper donor connection and investment
• With the Manager of Individual Philanthropy, oversee the creation and execution of our end-of-year appeal, Associate Board, and fundraising events, including the annual Bookeaters’ Bash gala
• With the Grants and Database Manager and the Development and Annual Fund Coordinator, optimize Salesforce donor database management and ensure the accuracy of donor records; build systems to use Salesforce effectively for fundraising projections, reporting, and moves management

Supervision and Organizational Leadership

• Supervise and support team members by providing ongoing coaching, formal evaluations, two-way feedback, and professional development plans
• Build a culture of philanthropy: guide the Board, staff, and volunteers in understanding and implementing development best practices and integrating the work into all aspects of the organization
• Serve on the 826 Valencia leadership team to support team members from diverse backgrounds and help build a collaborative, mission-driven, and effective work culture
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director and Department Heads to establish and support the strategic direction for 826 Valencia, and integrate the team’s work to support the organization’s vision and mission
• Collaborate across the 826 Network, supporting, teaching, and learning from the cohort of 826 Development Directors across the country to build the strength of the network

Other Responsibilities

• Actively participate in 826 Valencia meetings (including internal committees on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), performance appraisal systems, and other work events (such as DEI trainings, professional development workshops, and the annual 826 National conference)
• Meet all deadlines
• Support programs as needed in order to gain a broad and deep understanding of our work; all non-programs staff are expected to tutor with at least one program per week (approx. 2 hours)
• All other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Required Competencies

• Designs enduring, scalable, and codified systems for sustainable development and fundraising that plan for interdependencies, risks, and contingencies
• Leads others in creative problem solving, applying project management and fundraising best practices
• Develops and implements systems to effectively support managers in developing and demonstrating management skills; develops and implements accountability and coaching structures to support managers as they coach and develop their teams
• Develops and implements systems to take down silos within and across departments, creating formal/informal structures for cross-department collaboration that leverages differences and inspires trust among members
• Demonstrates awareness of cultural values, biases, and differences in self and others, and tailors approach based on this understanding; applies a culturally competent lens to work
• Demonstrates highly developed awareness of how one’s leadership and behaviors directly and indirectly impact others; anticipates and understands implications and communicates these across the organization
• Works with the Executive Director to confidently lead the Department through times of change and transition, working with a team to identify opportunities for innovation amidst change
• Identifies and understands stakeholder perspectives; anticipates and embraces stakeholder reactions and works to address concerns in ways that resonate
• Creates a culture of professional development, continuous feedback, and mutual support among staff within the purview and in collaboration with other Directors; provides a compelling career progression within the Department and environment for growth and development; develops and implements systems to celebrate team accomplishments

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• At least 10 years of progressive responsibility in fundraising
• At least 5 years experience managing fundraising staff
• Demonstrated ability to solicit and close major gifts, especially individuals in the six- and seven-figure range
• Experience in best-practice protocols and systems, including creating development strategies and research profiles, data gathering and interpretation, and external environmental analysis
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM system
• Proficient with computer applications—a thorough understanding of the Microsoft Office and Google suites, and the ability to learn and master other computer technology/software programs as needed
• Public relations, media, and communications experience (preferred)
• Planned giving training or experience (preferred)
• Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written

Compensation & Benefits

• $130,000–$150,000 annual salary
• Paid Time Off: 15 vacation days per year (20 days after two years), 9 wellness days per year, 14 holidays, and winter office closure
• Employer contributions to health insurance coverage for employee and dependents, Employee Assistance Program, group life insurance
• Pre-Tax Savings: 401(k) plan with 3% employer match, Flexible Spending Account for healthcare and dependent care expenses, Commuter Benefits
• Professional development funds
• Relocation support may be available for moving to California from another state or country
• 40% discount at all 826 Valencia stores