Development Director

Spirit League; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HomeAid Orange County | Los Angeles is seeking a Development Director to lead the organization's fundraising efforts across grants, major gifts, and donor relations. The role requires strategic insight, analytical ability, and strong leadership to advance revenue goals and diversify funding across Orange County and Los Angeles counties.

The Development Director will oversee grants and contracts, cultivate major gifts ($10,000+), coordinate with executives and board, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Experience in fundraising and donor relations.
• Ability to manage grants and contracts lifecycle.
• Strong written and verbal communication; stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute fundraising strategies across grants, major gifts, and contracts.
• Manage grant applications, negotiations, reporting, renewal, and closeout.
• Build and manage relationships with public and private funders; report results to leadership and board.
• Collaborate with operations, program, and finance teams; ensure compliance and audit readiness.
• Lead cross-functional support including marketing, events, and donor communications.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic leadership

Fundraising experience

Donor relations

Job description

About HomeAid Orange County | Los Angeles

HomeAid Orange County | Los Angeles believes that housing is a human right. We are the founding affiliate of HomeAid that was formed by members of the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California in 1989. Since that time, HomeAid has addressed the ongoing housing crisis through a collaborative, construction-focused approach. Our mission is to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.

Position Summary

The Development Director is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing HomeAid OCLA’s fundraising strategies, providing strategic leadership in corporate, foundation and individual donor relationships and grant initiatives. The Development Director is accountable for achieving revenue goals, diversifying funding streams across Orange and Los Angeles Counties, strengthening major donor relationships, managing donor communications and positioning HomeAid as a trusted and visible leader in the effort to address homelessness.

The ideal candidate demonstrates strong analytical, strategic, and leadership capabilities; the ability to independently plan and implement initiatives; excellent written and verbal communication skills; and the capacity to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

In 2027, the primary focus for the Development Director is to implement and augment an existing Grants & Contracts Strategy, and to build upon the early stages of a Major Gifts Program & Strategy across Orange County and select cities in Los Angeles County.

There is room for growth - for the Development Director and the Development Team in 2027/2028!

Grants & Contracts Strategy & Management

• Implement and augment existing grants and contracts strategy that matches funding sources to the organization's mission and growth goals.
• Manage the full life of each award, from application and negotiation through reporting, renewal and closeout, including California state, county and city contracts.
• In collaboration with the Operations Manager, track deadlines, deliverables and compliance requirements, and keep records audit-ready.
• Work with program and finance teams on budgets, spending, invoicing, and timely reporting to funders.
• Build strong relationships with public and private funders and report on results and funding trends to Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors.

Major Gifts Program Strategy & Management

• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive major gifts program (donors capable of $10,000 - $100,000+ annually) aligned with the organization’s mission, strategic plan, and annual revenue goals.
• Develop annual /multi-year major gifts revenue projections and individualized strategies.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align donor investment opportunities with organizational needs, including current and future housing projects, capital needs, and operating priorities.
• The Development Director will be responsible for the following:

1. Donor Identification, Qualification, Cultivation & Relationship Management
2. Stewardship & Donor Retention
3. Collaboration with Executive Leadership & Board of Directors

Cross-Functional & Team Support

• Collaborate with marketing and communications staff to align donor messaging, impact storytelling, and recognition efforts.
• Coordinate with events staff to integrate major donor engagement into fundraising events and project milestones.
• Manage input into grant proposals and sponsorship strategies where major donors overlap with institutional funders.
• Support a culture of philanthropy across the organization by sharing donor insights and impact stories with staff.

Professional Development & Best Practices

• Stay current on major gifts fundraising trends, particularly related to housing, homelessness, capital fundraising, and construction-related philanthropy.
• Participate in professional development opportunities, trainings, and networking relevant to major gifts and nonprofit development.
• Uphold ethical fundraising standards and best practices in donor engagement and confidentiality.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Management reserves the right to modify, supplement, rescind, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time to meet the overall needs of HomeAid Orange County| Los Angeles except as to any language that the employment relationship is at the will of either the staff member or HomeAid Orange County | Los Angeles.