Director of Development, West Coast Region

Catholic Extension

Director of Development, West Coast Region

San Francisco Bay Area, California (other locations will be selectively considered)

Catholic Extension works in solidarity with people in America’s poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities. With the generosity of individual donors and local and national foundations, Catholic Extension raises funds to help these poor, forgotten, and often isolated communities to flourish.

* Catholic Extension invests in buildings by supporting the construction and renovation of churches and church facilities.

* Catholic Extension invests in leaders for the Church by providing education, training and support to seminarians, priests, sisters, deacons, and lay leaders.

* Catholic Extension invests in ministries by supporting pastoral, youth, young adult, campus and outreach ministries, Catholic schools, and religious education.

Established in 1905, Catholic Extension is a papal society that is answering Pope Francis’ call to go out to America’s “peripheries.” Since its founding, Catholic Extension has distributed more than $1.3 billion in today’s dollars to dioceses that cannot support themselves.

Catholic Extension has a full-time staff of 50 employees based at its headquarters in Chicago or in one of its regional offices in the following locations: Boston; Dallas; Monterey; Naples, Florida; Nashville; New York City; and San Diego. Its staff comprises talented and experienced professionals working in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment and team-focused culture.

Catholic Extension seeks candidates for the newly created role of Director of Development for the West Coast Region. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Development, the Director of Development will join a 20-person Development Department, which includes eight gift officers who focus on major and planned giving and are each responsible for a geographic region of the country. Ideally, the Director of Development for the West Coast Region will be based in a new regional office for Catholic Extension in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, Catholic Extension is interested in identifying the best candidate and will selectively consider other  California and Pacific Northwest locations for the Director of Development’s base of operations.

The Director of Development will work in collaboration with the Assistant Vice President of Development and Vice President of Development, as well as with other colleagues in senior administration and in the Development Department, to advance Catholic Extension’s major gifts presence in the West Coast Region. The establishment of a fundraising program encompassing the West Coast fulfills a long-held plan of Catholic Extension, to respond to its growing philanthropic support in the region and untapped opportunities to expand the donor base, and complements the efforts of an existing major gifts officer based in San Diego. Catholic Extension presently enjoys a deep prospect pool in San Diego and significant base of support in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as rich connections in the Silicon Valley and prospects throughout the extended region that require attention in what will be an entrepreneurial initiative. The Director of Development will be responsible for developing a robust portfolio, with particular focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. They will share management of Catholic Extension’s prospect pool in San Diego, coordinating with a peer colleague assigned to the area.

Required qualifications and experience

- Commitment to and passion for the mission of Catholic Extension; ability to communicate and generate excitement about mission, history, vision, programs, and fundamental strengths. A commitment to and understanding of the mission and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

- A highly creative, tenacious, and resilient orientation. Must thrive on developing new methods of engagement and connectivity in the current and post-COVID world.

- Flexible, yet driven, self-motivated and self-directed, with a demonstrated ability to work independently with little supervision or as a member of a team. Excellent organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail, as well as a process and results orientation; the ability to manage multiple priorities, embracing a philosophy of teamwork and hands-on implementation. A self-starter with a sense of urgency, a clear set of priorities, a strong work ethic, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in a highly collaborative environment. Appreciation for customer service and outstanding follow through.

- Bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree and fundraising certification is preferred.

- A minimum of eight years of post-college work experience and at least five years of frontline major gifts fundraising experience, with proficiency in five-figure and above gifts (or equivalent combinations) from both defined and undefined constituencies, including cultivation through closing and stewardship.

- Must have demonstrated ability to think strategically about moving individuals across the spectrum of prospect development, culminating in significant solicitations appropriate to the donor as well as organizational priorities.

- Significant knowledge of the players, strategies, and trends in giving within the major philanthropic communities throughout the West Coast Region, especially Northern California and the Pacific Northwest; significant, demonstrated fundraising success within Catholic philanthropy and strong existing connections therein.

- Must have the ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process. A working knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including database information systems, data modeling, and analysis is preferred.

- Experience identifying, nurturing, and motivating volunteers, and an appreciation for their role in building an effective fundraising network.

- Ability to travel up to 25 percent of the time.

Catholic Extension has retained the Diversified Search Group to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Managing Director

Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy

Diversified Search Group

The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10174

gerard.cattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587