REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer
STATUS: Exempt, Full-time, Regular
COMPENSATION: DOE $130-150,000 annually
BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance; Employee Assistance Program; and 403(b) retirement plan; Paid Holidays, Sick, and Vacation
LOCATION: Sacramento, CA
TO APPLY:
Please submit application materials through our career portal at saccenter.org/careers. No phone calls please. Posting will remain up until position is filled.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Chief Development & External Affairs Officer serves as senior level strategic and visionary development leader for our rapidly growing agency. They are responsible for developing the agency’s development and external communication strategy and overseeing all of the private fundraising and external community engagement functions of the agency including annual giving and corporate giving, foundation grants, special events, communications and marketing, volunteer management, and planned giving. The Center’s Development Division is responsible for fundraising nearly $2 million to support the Center’s many programs and services that are not financially supported by government grants. This position has direct responsibility for donor relationship management, major gifts, stewardship of capital campaign donors, and leadership of a growing staff and volunteer team.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Design and Lead Development Strategy
1) Develop and implement fundraising plans for the organization in conjunction with the CEO, Board of Directors, and development team.
2) Manage donor stewardship, pledge collection, and communications regarding the Center’s Welcome Home capital campaign and planned renovation project.
3) Collaborate with the CFO in creating a Development Division budget with realistic assessments of projected revenue and expenses in alignment with the organization’s budget and programmatic needs.
4) Establish performance measures to monitor results and evaluate effectiveness of fundraising efforts and track general trends in philanthropic giving, reporting regularly on progress toward fundraising goals to the CEO and board fundraising committee.
5) Lead the Development Division staff and manage interdepartmental/cross-functional coordination and communication between Development, Finance, and Program teams.
6) Identify and implement strategies that support program and administrative staff members’ role in donor engagement and stewardship.
7) Support the Board of Directors’ fundraising committee and provide leadership to committees in pursuit of private gifts.
8) Participate as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in the planning and strategic decision-making process for the agency; lead departmental staff meetings.
Relationship Management and Donor Stewardship
1) Work in close partnership with the CEO, members of the Board of Directors, and volunteers to identify and cultivate prospective donors to the organization.
2) Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of new major gift donors, defined as those giving $1200 or more annually.
3) Prepare written development—and/or oversee the development of—materials, including briefing memos to support the CEO’s engagement with donors, appeal letters, and other donor communications; and select funding proposals/applications and reports.
4) Conduct monthly engagement actions with donors and prospects, including in-person visits and tours, events, calls, direct ask meetings.
5) Supervise the Annual and Corporate Giving Manager, working in partnership to develop and implement a strategy to attract and engage new donors of new and varying profiles using a community-centered fundraising approach.
6) Increase the overall giving of existing donors, with heavy emphasis on steward current donors into greater affinity and higher levels of support.
7) Oversee stewardship efforts to ensure that donors are well-informed, acknowledged, and appreciated in meaningful and timely ways.
8) Strengthen the planned giving program including prospect identification, cultivation events, and recognition activities.
Effective Development Team Leadership and Operations
1) Build and provide inspirational leadership for a best-in-class performing development team with a high level of trust, professionalism, and dedication.
2) Develop and manage Development Division budgets to achieve and exceed annual fundraising targets, ensuring the highest return on fundraising cost investments.
3) Select, evaluate, and support the continuous learning and professional development of Development Division staff; manage consultants as needed.
4) Increase the effectiveness and productivity of the team by serving as a coach and mentor, promote diversity and inclusion, and motivate team members with energy and passion.
5) Ensure clear expectations with the team while establishing efficient and best practice systems, processes, and structures.
6) Oversee management of all Development Division activities including major gifts, annual individual and corporate giving, foundation and philanthropic grants, special events including Sacramento Pride, marketing and communications, legacy giving and endowment building.
7) Oversee reconciliation of development records in collaboration with the financial management team.
8) Oversee data integrity, maintaining meticulous records in the donor database in compliance with legal requirements, organizational policy, and departmental standards.
Special Events Oversight
1) Lead event strategy and supervise the Events Director, who is responsible for planning and execution of all fundraising events and management of event committees.
2) Provide oversight and support to Events Director in managing and empowering the Pride Committee to produce Sacramento Pride.
3) Supervise and support the Annual and Corporate Giving Director in developing and maintaining long-term corporate sponsor relationships.
4) Review and execute sponsorship and vendor contracts.
5) Review and approve event marketing materials to ensure alignment with Center mission and values, brand standards, and sponsorship recognition commitments.
6) Oversee management of event budgets to maximize impact and return on investment.
7) Pursue opportunities for 3rd party fundraising and passive income generation.
Communications and Public Affairs
1) Oversee the Center’s communications strategy and supervise the Communications and Marketing Manager who manages the following functions.
2) Oversee constituent-focused external communications, ensuring the CEO, donors, volunteers, clients, community partners, and staff are informed on timely topics to assure a consistent and engaging message to the public on behalf of the Center.
3) Ensure Communications team coordination and integration with Center programs and services to successfully achieve organizational goals.
4) Participate internal and external philanthropic and community events as a representative of the Center; give presentations on behalf of the Center.
5) Serve as a secondary media spokesperson, when necessary, at the direction of the CEO.
6) Work closely in partnership with the Director of Advocacy & Training to support the Center’s advocacy for public policy that affirms the civil and human rights of the LGBTQ community, the advancement of racial justice, and strong relationships with government agencies and elected representatives.
Community Engagement and Volunteer Management
1) Supervise the Community Engagement Manager who manages volunteer services and the following functions.
2) Oversee continued development of a high-level volunteer program, which supports all Center operations, creating ongoing sources of volunteer leadership and community involvement.
3) Ensure Volunteer program growth and coordination with Center programs and services to fulfill organizational need and achieve strategic goals.
4) Oversee continued growth and improved structure of a competitive internship program designed to provide robust educational and work experience opportunities, developing future LGBTQ+ leaders.
5) Oversee a robust volunteer stewardship program that improves retention and encourages progressively deeper involvement with the organization.
6) Ensure continued development of a diverse volunteer team, including committee leadership, that embodies the mission and values of the Center.
REQUIREMENTS:
1) Passion for the Center’s mission and work to create a region where LGBTQ people thrive and a commitment to follow all policies and procedures of the organization.
2) Education: Bachelor’s degree is required*; Advanced degree and/or Certificate in in Fundraising Management a plus. *Any combination of experience education, and training that would provide the equivalent knowledge and abilities may be considered as a substitute for formal education.
3) Experience: A minimum of 5 years of senior level development experience and progressively responsible team leadership in a 501(c)3 nonprofit as Chief Development Officer, Development Director, Marketing Director, Major Gifts Officer, or Capital Campaign Director with a nonprofit organization is highly desirable.
4) Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Must have superior proficiency working with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams. Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar donor management and database software is strongly preferred.
5) Language Skills: Fluency in English is required. Ability to speak/read/write/translate in one or more languages other than English is helpful.
6) Work Schedule: This position is primarily in-person at the Center’s Lavender Heights location. Flexibility is required to participate in regular evening and weekend events, meetings, and travel as necessary.
7) Access to reliable automobile transportation with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required. This position will require travel throughout the Sacramento region and occasionally throughout California.
8) Physical Demands: The person in this position may be required to sit or stand for extended periods, move objects up to 25 pounds, ascend/descend stairs, operate office equipment, open and close filing cabinets and boxes, observe visitors, and communicate messages and tone by telephone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
9) Offer of employment may be contingent on satisfactory results of a criminal history background check.
10) Employees must be legally permitted to work in the United States.
11) The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is a drug free workplace; employees may be subject to a drug test.
12) Vaccination Requirement: All employees are required to complete their COVID-19 primary vaccination series and are encouraged to stay up to date annually or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption. Documentation will be required prior to your first day of work.
QUALIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE
1) Extensive fundraising experience with a measurable track record of success in generating and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy and growing an organization’s development capacity.
2) Demonstrated expertise in a range of fundraising channels with particular focus on major gifts, individuals, special events, corporate and foundation giving, and data-driven digital fundraising.
3) Demonstrated success prospecting and soliciting major gifts of $25,000 or more.
4) Proven attention to detail, organization, and timely follow-through.
5) Experience developing and managing budgets with a high level of precision.
6) Working knowledge of regional corporate and foundation and LGBTQ+ individual philanthropic communities; preexisting connection to Sacramento is strongly preferred.
7) Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation communication skills; Demonstrated ability to write and edit persuasive materials including successful proposals, stewardship materials, and other collateral.
8) Ability to professionally interact with a variety of constituencies including donors, board members, volunteers, staff, visitors, government officials, stakeholders, and the general public; diplomatically managing competing priorities and constituencies.
9) Experience effectively coaching and mentoring junior staff, empowering volunteers in leadership roles, and working independently and as part of a highly collaborative team.
10) Experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ people including a demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in an intersectional environment.
11) Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is a plus.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center works to create a region where LGBTQ people thrive. We support the health and wellness of the most marginalized, advocate for equality and justice, and work to build a culturally rich LGBTQ+ community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All individuals, including those of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex are encouraged to apply. The Center maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to employees, volunteers, interns, and applicants. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any matter by actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical/mental condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by statute; nor as to any individuals associating with an individual of any legally protected class.
