Chief Development Officer

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary – $190,000 - $210,000 DOE/Neg.

403(b) plan with 5% match + 2% after 1

100% employer-paid medical, dental, &

PTO: 3 weeks vacation, 10 sick days, 4

Job summary

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (SFSB) is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and donor engagement. Based in Santa Barbara with a hybrid work model, the CDO will partner with the CEO and Board to expand major gifts, endowment, and foundation relations, while guiding a development team and aligning communications with fundraising goals.

With 7–10 years in leadership fundraising, you will drive strategic initiatives, donor stewardship, and

Qualifications

• Seven to ten years of fundraising leadership experience.
• Experience with scholarship organizations, higher education, or youth-serving nonprofits preferred.
• Proven track record securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy across major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, and planned giving.
• Lead donor engagement plans with moves management to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships.
• Oversee grant proposals and funding applications with timely submissions.
• Collaborate with CEO and Board to strengthen fundraising capacity and donor stewardship.
• Staff the Board Development Committee and guide fundraising initiatives.
• Manage development data, reporting, and donor analytics.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Major gifts

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Donor CRM (Salesforce, DonorPerfect)

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE desirable

Tools

Salesforce

DonorPerfect

Kaleidoscope

Job description

Creating opportunity, transforming lives… one scholarship at a time.

We believe that every motivated, deserving student with the desire for higher education should have the opportunity to pursue it. Our efforts began in 1962 when a visionary group of parents and educators in Santa Barbara came together to eliminate disparities between who can and cannot access postsecondary education. Ignited by the vision of our founders, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (SFSB) exists to encourage and support Santa Barbara County students to and through college, graduate, and vocational school by providing information, advising, and scholarships.

Today, we are the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships, having cumulatively awarded more than $175 million to over 66,000 Santa Barbara County students. Funded entirely through philanthropy, we awarded 2,288 scholarships totaling $8.4 million in 2026, and each year, we provide critical financial aid advising services to some 20,000 county residents.

Beyond direct scholarship awards, we empower students to make informed, strategic financial decisions regarding their education. Our staff provides expert guidance through the complexities of federal and state financial aid forms, scholarship applications, and award letter analysis—all free of charge. Last year, through our advisory services, we helped scholarship recipients secure an additional $51.4 million in federal, state, and institutional aid. For more information, please visitwww.sbscholarship.org .

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

Our work is guided by a highly engaged and connected Board of 26 community leaders from across the region. With an annual operating budget of $11.8 million, a carefully managed endowment of $78 million, and through the annual distribution of approximately $8.5 million in scholarship awards, our team of 18 professionals delivers services through two offices covering North and South County Santa Barbara. As a founding member of Cal-SOAP (California Student Opportunity and Access Program), we partner closely with a diverse range of organizations, including schools, community-based organizations, businesses, and funders. Thanks to an exceptionally efficient use of resources, SFSB has earned the top 4-star ranking from Charity Navigator for the past 10 years, with 100% of gifts intended for scholarship funding going directly to deserving students.

SFSB’s success is rooted in an enviable, positive culture where our highly skilled team operates with mutual respect and a shared commitment to the mission. We foster a collaborative environment that values work-life balance, independence, and the trust of an approachable, transparent leadership team. This supportive atmosphere has led to remarkable continuity, with some staff members serving the organization for nearly two decades. Our work is further strengthened by the lived experience of team members who were once scholarship recipients themselves, bringing a unique and personal perspective to everything we do.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead fundraising efforts for one of the region’s most critical philanthropic organizations. Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors and SFSB staff, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will leverage the SFSB’s strong reputation and legacy of success to shape future growth and amplify its impact.

BENEFITS & FEATURES

• Salary – $190,000 - $210,000 DOE/Neg.
• 403(b) plan with a 5% match. After 1 year of service, SFSB contributes an additional 2% of the employee’s salary.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, long-term disability, life insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Employee Assistance Program
• PTO: 3 weeks paid vacation, 10 paid sick days, 14 paid holidays.

LOCATION

This is a hybrid role. SFSB’s headquarters is located in Santa Barbara with a satellite office in Santa Maria, CA.

POSITION SUMMARY

This is an incredible opportunity to lead fundraising efforts for one of the most established and well-known philanthropic organizations in the region. With over $90 million in assets under management, SFSB has a 60+ year legacy of transforming lives; in fact, many current and former civic leaders are past SFSB scholarship recipients.

As a member of the executive leadership team, and in conjunction with the CEO, the Chief Development Officer is the organization's strategic fundraising leader, focused on development strategy, high-level stakeholder engagement, stewardship of major and principal gift relationships, and identifying new philanthropic revenue opportunities.

Chief Development Officer aligns resource development with organizational goals, stewards and expands the donor base, and enhances the SFSB’s reputation and community impact. The role also collaborates closely with the Board of Directors to activate their networks, support fundraising initiatives, and advance the SFSB’s strategic objectives.

The Chief Development Officer will lead and manage one direct report, the Director of Development and Operations, as well as the Development Team, which consists of the Donor Database Coordinator, Development Coordinator, and the part-time Grant Writer/Foundation Researcher.

1st Year Priorities

• Immerse yourself in the rich history and evolution of SFSB, building meaningful relationships with the CEO, board, staff, donors, and stakeholders.
• In partnership with the CEO and Board, lead the organization’s $9 million fundraising strategy encompassing unrestricted, restricted, endowment, and bequest goals to ensure long-term organizational sustainability.
• Identify new philanthropic revenue opportunities.
• Cultivating a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes various philanthropic efforts, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, planned giving, annual giving, donor stewardship, and campaign strategy to support the SFSB’s mission and strategic goals.
• Develop and execute personalized donor engagement plans using a structured moves management approach to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with major and principal donors, foundations, and corporations, driving sustained and increased giving.
• Lead and oversee the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications, ensuring timely submissions and alignment with funder priorities.
• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to strengthen fundraising capacity and engagement. Support Board members in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Staff the Board Development Committee and provide strategic guidance on fundraising initiatives.
• Prepare fundraising reports, forecasts, and presentations for the Board and executive leadership.
• Work with the Chief Communications Officer on the marketing and communications efforts related to development, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals, consistent brand messaging, and compelling outreach that engages donors and elevates SFSB’s public profile.
• Serve as a liaison with estate planning attorneys, wealth managers, and other advisors, communicating the benefits of utilizing SFSB.
• Manage, mentor, and support direct reports with a keen focus on their professional growth, development, and performance.
• Manage and analyze development data and donor databases to track progress, inform strategy, and ensure accurate reporting.
• Represent SFSB at public events and engage with high-level external stakeholders to enhance visibility and build strategic partnerships.
• Participates in ongoing training and professional development, including staying well-informed of industry trends.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Deep commitment to SFSB’s mission of higher education for all. Understands the legacy of SFSB and brings a strong connection to North and South Santa Barbara County and the surrounding communities.
• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree and/or CFRE certification is desirable.
• Seven to ten years of fundraising experience at the leadership level, including fundraising operations and strategy development.
• Experience with scholarship organizations, higher education, or youth-serving nonprofits preferred.
• A successful track record in fundraising, stewarding, and diversifying funding sources such as individual giving, events, grants, endowments, capital giving, and other partnerships.
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory experience with a proven ability to lead, mentor, and build inclusive, high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success in building effective partnerships across geographically and socioeconomically diverse regions, with the cultural competency to engage and inspire a broad range of high-level stakeholders, including donors, board members, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and storytelling; persuasive in donor communications, marketing collateral, and grant writing; able to convey complex concepts with clarity and inspiration.
• Highly empathetic, exhibiting sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy when dealing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Skilled in donor CRM systems and fundraising analytics (e.g., Salesforce, DonorPerfect, Kaleidoscope).
• Capable of interpreting and communicating IRS regulations, charitable giving rules, and investment concepts to donors and stakeholders.
• Strong team player who thrives in cross-functional environments and works well with Boards and organizational leadership.