Development Director

Palo Alto Humane; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual pet care benefit

Medical, dental, vision, and life ins.

PTO and holidays

Job summary

Palo Alto Humane is seeking a Development Director to own the fundraising function, reporting to the CEO and collaborating with a small team and an engaged board. You’ll architect the development strategy, build a major gifts pipeline, and create a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

In this critical leadership role, you’ll design donor programs, steward partners, and drive growth while maintaining a hands-on approach and close ties to leadership, donors, and the community.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector.
• College degree or extensive experience in relationship management roles (private foundations, sales, financial advising, etc.).
• Proven success developing and executing fundraising initiatives.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual donors.
• Exposure to major gifts work or program, or experience managing a donor portfolio desired.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead PAH's comprehensive fundraising strategy — spanning major gifts, annual campaigns, recurring donors, donor-advised funds, planned giving, giving platforms, and written solicitations.
• Set annual and multi-year fundraising goals and budgets in partnership with the CEO.
• Identify, cultivate and steward major donors, corporate partners, and legacy sponsors alongside the CEO.
• Develop engagement plans for stock giving and donor-advised fund giving.
• Oversee donor stewardship and recognition – ensuring acknowledgements, tax receipts, and creative recognition ideas reflect fundraising best practices.
• Maintain the donor database, ensuring accurate records and meaningful donor engagement.
• In partnership with the Director of Community Engagement, build and grow the “Charity Checkout” program, our point-of-sale giving initiative with local veterinary practices and businesses.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Portfolio management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

DonorPerfect

Blackbaud

Salesforce

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Canva

VistaPrint

Constant Contact

Job description

Title: Development Director

Position Status: Full-time, exempt

Reports to: CEO

OPPORTUNITY

Palo Alto Humane has spent more than a century championing the human-animal bond — and we're at an inflection point. Our programs are growing, our community presence is deepening, and we're ready to build the fundraising infrastructure to match our ambition.

This is a rare opportunity for a fundraiser who wants to own something. You won't be inheriting a rigid system or managing a large team — you'll be the architect of our development function, with direct access to leadership, a board that's engaged and ready to open doors, and a mission that resonates deeply with donors in one of the most philanthropically active regions in the country.

If you're energized by the idea of building something that lasts — a donor community, a major gifts pipeline, a culture of philanthropy — and you want your work to have a direct, visible impact on animals and the people who love them, we'd love to meet you.

ORGANIZATION

Palo Alto Humane’s mission is to inspire our community to connect humanely with animals. We believe in the transformative bond between humans and animals and aim to support both. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable, volunteer-supported organization, and one of the few humane societies nationwide with no animal shelter.

Our programs and services ensure pets remain in homes with their families, support spay/neuter efforts across Santa Clara County and provide experiences for people to connect with friendly pets when they may not have a pet of their own. For more than a century PAH’s focus has been to alleviate the suffering of animals, increase public sensitivity to animal issues and elevate the status of animals in our society.

POSITION DETAILS

As our dedicated Development Director, you'll lead all fundraising strategy and execution — from major gifts and donor stewardship to solicitations and donor-advised fund (DAF) giving platforms. You'll report directly to the CEO and work closely with our board and small team to build PAH's development function from the ground up.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy & Donor Relations

• Design and lead PAH's comprehensive fundraising strategy — spanning major gifts, annual campaigns, recurring donors, donor-advised funds, planned giving, giving platforms, and written solicitations.
• Set annual and multi-year fundraising goals and budgets in partnership with the CEO.
• Identify, cultivate and steward major donors, corporate partners, and legacy sponsors alongside the CEO.
• Develop engagement plans for stock giving and donor-advised fund giving.
• Oversee donor stewardship and recognition – ensuring acknowledgements, tax receipts, and creative recognition ideas reflect fundraising best practices.
• Maintain the donor database, ensuring accurate records and meaningful donor engagement.
• In partnership with the Director of Community Engagement, build and grow the “Charity Checkout” program, our point-of-sale giving initiative with local veterinary practices and businesses.

Communications & Marketing

• Partner with the Director of Community Engagement (and Marketing Consultant) to create stories and content across social media, email solicitations and communications, newsletters, annual reports, and press releases that bring PAH’s mission and impact to life.
• Help grow PAH’s digital presence, including our website and social channels.

Organizational Leadership & Reporting

• Provide regular fundraising updates to the Board and leadership team.
• Set key performance indicators (KPIs) for fundraising and marketing efforts, using real-time data to refine strategy.
• Help build a culture of philanthropy across PAH - coaching staff, board members, and volunteers on fundraising.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and goal-setting with the CEO.

As a small team, we all wear multiple hats — we're looking for someone who sees that as an opportunity, not a constraint.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In your first 90 days, you'll get to know PAH from the inside out — meeting with the CEO, Board, and staff, auditing our current donor database and fundraising materials, and building relationships with our key supporters. By the end of this period, you'll have a clear picture of where we stand and draft a roadmap for the year ahead.

By the end of year one, you'll have launched at least one new fundraising initiative or strengthened an existing program (such as a robust DAF program, a major gifts pipeline, an expanded giving circle, or an extensive Charity Checkout program).

In addition, you will have established KPIs that give leadership and the Board real visibility into fundraising performance and built the early foundation of a donor stewardship system that will support PAH's growth for years to come.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for PAH’s mission, vision and core values.
• Minimum of five years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, and a college degree or extensive experience in relationship management roles (private foundations, sales, financial advising, etc.).
• Proven success developing and executing fundraising initiatives.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual donors.
• Exposure to major gifts work or program, or experience managing a donor portfolio desired.
• Demonstrated ability to increase revenue and ensure long-term strategic growth.
• Self-starter with the ability to drive projects to completion with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solver and critical thinker, ability to synthesize data and make evidence-based decisions.
• Persuasive and clear communicator with excellent organizational, written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in DonorPerfect (or similar donor software platforms such as Blackbaud or Salesforce), Constant Contact, Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, Canva, VistaPrint, and digital marketing tools.

SALARY/COMPENSATION

Salary of $90k-$110k + bonus based on meeting mutually agreed upon fundraising revenue and donor targets.

BENEFITS

• Annual $1000 pet care benefit - because we mean it when we say animals are family.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Accrual-based PTO (up to 10 days in first year of employment with annual increases based on years of service).
• Partial remote/hybrid flexibility.
• Flexible work-week scheduling.
• Three paid sick days annually.
• Eight paid holidays.
• Professional development or training opportunities with Board approval.

ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS

• Role requires prolonged periods of sitting and extensive use of a computer, including typing and screen time.
• Must be able to communicate effectively via email, video calls, and other digital communication tools.
• Must have flexibility to work occasional weekends and evenings.
• * Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PAH is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local laws. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to employment opportunities.

* Also included in Job Description section *