Director of Donor Engagement

San Diego Youth Services

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Director of Donor Engagement

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Director of Donor Engagement in the Marketing and Development department to be based at our Admin/Point Loma office. This is a full time & exempt position reporting to the Sr. Director of Marketing and Development.

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth.  Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

SDYS has a staff of approximately 215 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $22 million.

You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

The Director of Donor Engagement will pursue funding from a variety of sources, participating in fundraising drives, and preparing grant proposals. The specific areas of responsibility include donor/funder cultivation and stewardship, corporate partnerships, monthly giving programs, grants development management, special events and community engagement, as well as reporting and analytics related to these functions

Essential functions include:

Development

• Focus on the cultivation, stewardship and solicitation of corporate engagement, private foundations and major donors. Direct fundraising will comprise of 80% of the Director’s time.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit 50 new prospective donors for major gifts of $10,000 and above, and actively manage the portfolio of donors.
• With the input of CEO and Director of Marketing and Development, assist in setting progressive annual fundraising goals.
• Under the supervision of the Director of Marketing and Development, build an annual development plan to include restricted and unrestricted funds to support organizational priorities and private fundraising growth goals to also align with SDYS’ strategic plan, take the lead on reviewing/revising this plan at least three times during the year to accompany SDYS’ budget.
• Create an annual tactical Development Action Plan in conjunction with Director of Marketing and Development that provides a roadmap for reaching all private fundraising goals to include special events, online giving campaigns, grant proposals, targeted project fundraising appeals to support program needs and strategic donor asks.
• Lead strategy and goal setting for annual special events, supervise and support planning and execution of events, and lead the solicitation of event sponsorships.
• Conduct prospect research and lead strong cultivation and stewardship of relationships with foundations, corporations and other philanthropic institutions.
• Lead the revenue development of the monthly giving program while continuously monitoring the overall health of the program.
• Ensure the timely and accurate input of donor activity in Raiser’s Edge, as well as the generation of time-sensitive donor acknowledgements.
• Lead the development and submission of specific grant proposals.
• Ensure adherence to policies and laws related to the solicitation, acknowledgment and use of charitable donations.

Communications

• Oversee and ensure a professional and timely response to all donor and external queries coming through the Marketing/Development department.
• Ensure that all external written communications are accurate, professionally written, donor-centric, and in keeping with SDYS’ brand standards.
• Ensure a response to general speaking engagement requests from the external community, including personally presenting.
• Conduct outreach, networking, and public presentations to recruit and educate potential donors, supporters and volunteers. 
• Maintain a strong, up-to-date knowledge of SDYS’ mission, strategic priorities, programmatic offerings and client base.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree required preferably in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Business Administration or a related field.
• CFRE certificate highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 years prior professional experience in development/fundraising leadership roles in a nonprofit.
• Self-motivated, goal-driven, and team-oriented.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills: the ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with grantors, volunteers, partner agencies, multi-cultural clients and colleagues on all levels.
• High Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, Outlook; CRM platforms; this includes experience in creating spreadsheets for fundraising and incoming communications tracking purposes.
• Proficiency in using and analyzing information in donor databases; Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Access to a reliable vehicle with valid driver license and auto insurance required.
• Ability to work nontraditional hours including weeknights and weekends as necessary.
• Proven experience with donor research, direct donation solicitation, monthly giving programs, special events, high-end donor relations, multi-channel campaigns and appeals.
• Consistent record of building strong donor relationships through cultivation and stewardship that aligns organizational priorities with donor interests and philanthropic goal.
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time, potentially carrying boxes and supplies up to approx. 15-20lbs

SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. 
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

Salary Range:  $80,000-$85,000 Annually

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. 

Candidates must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Commitment to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well.  SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.