Overview
Director of Development Jobs in San Diego, CA at Words Alive
Title: Director of Development
Company: Words Alive
Location: San Diego, CA
WORDS ALIVE JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Director of Development
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
STATUS: Full time, Exempt
PAY RANGE: $75,000-$85,000
LOCATION: San Diego, CA (Hybrid Role, in Office 3 Days per Week)
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Development is a strategic and collaborative fundraising leader responsible for advancing and sustaining Words Alive’s philanthropic revenue and donor engagement efforts. This role leads the organization’s development strategy with a primary focus on strengthening and growing individual giving, expanding donor acquisition efforts, deepening donor engagement, and improving digital engagement practices.
The Director of Development oversees a collaborative development team and works cross-functionally with program staff, volunteers, leadership, and board members to build long-term philanthropic support for Words Alive’s mission. While the Director maintains primary ownership of individual giving strategy and donor relationships, they also provide leadership and oversight for institutional funding, campaigns, and community-based fundraising efforts.
This position is ideal for a relationship-driven fundraiser who thrives in a mission-focused, entrepreneurial environment and is excited to build sustainable fundraising systems, strengthen donor pipelines, and support long-term organizational growth.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fundraising Strategy & Team Leadership (30%)
- Partner with the Executive Director to establish annual fundraising goals, pipeline strategies, and revenue projections across individual giving, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, campaigns, and events.
- Lead the execution and ongoing refinement of a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy supporting the organization’s contributed revenue.
- Analyze fundraising performance metrics and donor trends to inform decision-making and long-term growth strategies, including development budgeting, forecasting, and fundraising reporting processes.
- Support any needed updates to Words Alive’s fundraising systems and digital fundraising efforts, including donor communications, online campaigns, and engagement strategies.
- Supervise and mentor development staff, including a Grants Manager and Development Coordinator, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
- Oversee development operations and partner with the development team to maintain accurate donor records, gift processing, timely acknowledgements, reporting, and data integrity.
Individual Giving & Donor Engagement (45%)
- Oversee and guide the organization’s individual giving strategy across annual, recurring, mid-level, and major donor engagement efforts, with particular focus on donor acquisition, donor retention, recurring giving, and donor engagement pathways.
- Personally manage a portfolio of key donor relationships while supporting broader donor engagement strategies across the organization to strengthen donor stewardship systems, donor journeys, and engagement opportunities.
- Ensure donors receive timely, meaningful stewardship, reporting, and engagement communications.
- Partner with program staff to develop compelling impact stories, proposals, donor materials, and stewardship communications.
Institutional Giving, Partnerships & Events (20%)
- Serve as a visible ambassador for Words Alive throughout the community.
- Support stewardship and fundraising events designed to engage current supporters and introduce new audiences to Words Alive’s mission, including the organization’s annual author event supported by a special Board committee.
- Partner with the Volunteer Engagement Manager to support community-based engagement strategies and strengthen pathways from general awareness to volunteerism to philanthropy.
- Support the continued growth and diversification of institutional and corporate funding in partnership with the Executive Director and the Grants Manager.
- Collaborate with cross-departmental stakeholders on grant-related activities including proposal support, tracking deadlines and deliverables, and identifying opportunities to incrementally expand the institutional funding pipeline.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Experience & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in related field.
- 5+ years of progressive fundraising, business development, nonprofit development, or related experience with demonstrated success managing donor relationships and revenue goals.
- Proven experience in donor cultivation, stewardship, engagement, and fundraising strategy.
- Experience supporting or growing individual giving and donor acquisition efforts.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills with diverse stakeholders including donors, volunteers, staff, community leaders, and partners.
- Experience managing multiple priorities and balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze fundraising performance and support data-informed decision-making.
- Experience supervising staff or cross-functional teams in collaborative environments.
- Highly organized with strong project management and operational skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a small or mid-sized nonprofit organization with broad fundraising exposure.
- Familiarity with grants management, corporate partnerships, fundraising campaigns, and donor events.
- Experience with digital fundraising, donor communications, or engagement strategies.
- Familiarity with donor database systems; DonorView experience strongly preferred.
- Experience in literacy, education, youth development, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES
• Ability to work on a computer and phone for at least 50% of the day.
• Typing and other repetitive activities for extended periods of time
• Ability to attend meetings, activities, and events throughout Words Alive’s service area. Overnight travel is a rare possibility.
• Use of personal cell phone, as necessary, during remote and site-based work.
• Available early mornings, evenings, and weekends to engage with key stakeholders as required.
• Staff are often asked to help lift loads of 30+ lbs. regularly. Reasonable accommodations can be made as necessary.
• Access to a reliable vehicle or public transportation.
• Ability to pass a federal background check.
WORDS ALIVE CULTURE & VALUES
At Words Alive, our programs and impact made in the community are driven by our core values, which represent the motivation, dedication, and focus of our Words Alive staff and volunteers. Our values include:
· Commitment: by pledging to make reading matter for everyone
· Equitability: by working to level the playing field
· Empowerment: by investing in lifelong learners
· Responsiveness: by listening to community needs and developing innovative solutions
· Collaboration: by partnering with the community
- · Connectedness: by creating a familial environment that includes all Words Alive participants and supporters.
