Development Director

Booker T Washington Community Service Center; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plan with company match

Wellness program

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (BTWCSC) seeks a Development Director to lead fundraising operations, diversify revenue, and oversee development and communications.

The role reports to the Executive Director and sits on the executive team; responsible for major gifts, corporate sponsorships, annual fund renewals, and grant support. Will manage grant writers and development staff as BTWCSC expands in San Francisco.

Qualifications

• Minimum BA/BS; 7–10 years fundraising experience in nonprofit setting.
• Proven track record in major gifts, donor cultivation, and board management.
• Fluency with donor CRM systems and databases (DonorPerfect, Airtable).
• Experience leading development teams and coordinating with program/finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate a portfolio of major gift prospects (>$2,500) and manage donor relationships.
• Lead development and communications functions; oversee grant materials and donor recognition.
• Strategize, plan, and execute annual fundraising goals and events.
• Support Executive Director in securing new and renewed gifts and manage contracts/budgets.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Major gifts

Leadership

Budget management

CRM proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

BA/BS required

7–10 years fundraising experience

Tools

DonorPerfect

Airtable

Pebble

Excel

Google Apps

Job description

Position Title

Development Director

Schedule and FLSA

Exempt | Full-Time | 40 hours/week

Compensation Range

$140,000-$150,000 based on experience.

Location

San Francisco, CA; 100% in-person at least four (4) days a week.

Start Date

December 2026

Mission

Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (BTWCSC) is one of the Bay Area’s oldest Black-led, Black-serving nonprofit organizations. A beacon of Black joy and self-determination, we have nurtured over five generations of Black San Franciscans. We stand embedded as an anchor institution, fostering intergenerational bonds and working in solidarity with allied communities to reform and reimagine a more inclusive San Francisco. We prioritize serving the Black community, and we welcome all from ages 0–99 who walk through our door. We are one of the few urban spaces where anyone in the community can access comprehensive services, from a hot meal to childcare to academic support to senior services.

Position Summary

BTWCSC seeks a proven, collaborative, organized leader with a demonstrated commitment to growing and building Development operations and experience with revenue diversification. The Development Director will report to the Executive Director and serve as a member of BTWCSC’s Executive Team.

The Development Director is responsible for managing BTWCSC’s philanthropic fundraising efforts, evolving BTWCSC’s creative approach to increasing philanthropic revenue and in-kind support to fulfill the organization’s mission, and growing individual-giving revenue through a combination of major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. This role will also support renewals of key public contracts as needed. The Development Director will manage grant-writing contractors and oversee BTWCSC’s Development and Communications department.

This opportunity comes at an important moment for BTWCSC as we expand our programs, capacities, and physical footprint in San Francisco. The successful candidate will bring strategic acumen, exceptional judgment, and a deep commitment to providing comprehensive, inclusive services to Black San Franciscans and allied communities. The position will work alongside a high-achieving team consisting of the Program and Finance teams, while being supported by grant development consultants.

Essential Duties

Individual Giving

• Cultivate a personal portfolio of major gift prospects (defined as those giving a gift of $2,500+), as well as donors and prospects who have the capacity to give at the major level or higher.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for this portfolio of prospects, developing and implementing written donor strategies and maintaining records of all interactions.
• Communicate with portfolio donors through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings, and written strategies; ensure that each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop solicitation strategies for donors and prospects in support of the organization's annual fund, planned giving, and growth campaigns; ensure strategies are compatible and maximize opportunities with other existing campaigns and appeals.
• Support the fundraising efforts of the Executive Director in securing new and renewed gifts.
• Work with the Finance team to create and manage the organizational budget; track and report on progress toward goals to appropriate team members, including contracts, gifts, and pledges.
• Screen and prepare profiles of current and prospective donors; establish and refine benchmarks for department research processes.
• Ensure proper donor recognition in all publications and oversee accurate donor lists for those publications.
• Manage the design and implementation of donor recognition.
• Project-manage both spring and end-of-year appeals, ensuring deadlines and fundraising goals are met.
• Work with the Associate Director of Communications and Outreach Events to produce fundraising content for various outlets, including newsletters, year-end appeals, and social media.

Events

• Work with team members to strategize and help execute cultivation events for donors and prospects.
• Refine the organization’s event strategy to maximize revenue and impact.
• Serve as the lead for fundraising and cultivation events.

Corporate Liaison

• Serve as a primary point of contact for corporate social responsibility leads at partner corporations and connect them to meaningful volunteer opportunities.
• Maintain and cultivate relationships with BTWCSC’s existing corporate partners.
• Create a feedback and improvement loop with all volunteer groups with a goal of ensuring a positive experience, continued engagement, and moves management of volunteers toward making a financial commitment to BTWCSC.
• Identify new opportunities to engage mission-aligned corporate partners.

Planned Giving

• Work with BTWCSC Leadership to develop a strategy for outreach to and stewardship of planned-giving prospects and donors.
• Develop and track proposals, reports, budgets, and other grant materials for all foundation and corporate fundraising, including sponsorships, for a portfolio of grant relationships.

Institutional Giving

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, program teams, and grant consultants to develop new proposals, submit renewals and reports, and maintain funder relationships and deadlines.

Leadership

• Contribute to the development and execution of BTWCSC's annual fundraising plan and annual report.
• Collaborate with the Operations team to support revenue-driving strategies and fee-for-service.
• Support the Executive Director and Leadership Team in representing BTWCSC to external constituencies, including funders, coalition partners, and community leaders.
• Support BTWCSC Leadership and Finance Team with the development of budgets and reporting related to public (city/local and state) grant contracts.

Development Operations

• Work with the Finance team to manage revenue projections and expense budgets, as well as pledges and pledge fulfillments.
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of development systems and processes that leverage the strengths of the organization and result in greater efficiency and transparency.
• Support the development, maintenance, and administration of team information systems, including but not limited to DonorPerfect and fund development aspects of BTWCSC’s CRM, such as Airtable and Pebble.
• Support the development and implementation of BTWCSC’s major and individual donor program and strategy.
• Support the visioning, planning, logistics, contract management, and coordination of major fundraising events (e.g., Booker T. Bloom Ball and donor cultivation events).
• Perform additional duties as needed, including but not limited to events on nights and weekends.

Education/Experience

• BA/BS required.
• At least 7–10 years of experience in fundraising, including individual giving, especially major gifts, board management, and funder and donor cultivation, in a nonprofit setting.
• Understanding of racial advocacy issues and commitment to championing causes that serve low-income communities and communities of color.
• Fluency with donor and CRM systems and databases, ideally DonorPerfect and Airtable.
• Proficiency in Google Apps and Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.

Professional Skills Required

• Ground-level experience as a fundraiser and/or in sales with a proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts.
• A strategic thinker with a relentless focus on improving systems, coordinating efforts, using data to drive decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to reaching goals.
• A proven track record of success in team leadership and developing people.
• Successful leadership in achieving fundraising goals in an executive role in a nonprofit organization. An exemplary reputation with stature and credibility.
• Proven ability to bring together different departments within an organization to work together toward a shared vision and goals.
• Ability to secure funding from diverse sources, including major donors, public funders, private foundations, and corporations.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage government support.
• Success in designing and managing comprehensive campaigns to secure both operating and capital funding.
• A commitment to diversity, specifically, the ability to interact professionally with dedicated board and staff members who have diverse backgrounds, professional skills, and perspectives.
• Flexibility and a proven ability to innovate and find creative solutions to challenges.
• A working knowledge of the Bay Area’s private philanthropic community, as well as national funders.

Certification, Licensure, and Training

Applicants must complete all job requirements as directed by the Executive Leadership. Professional development opportunities are available after 90 days of employment.

Knowledge/Competency

• Meet program goals as outlined in the BTWCSC Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Maintain confidence, loyalty, and professionalism.
• Be reliable and dependable.
• Work a flexible schedule to meet Center needs.
• Exercise mature judgment and sound decision-making.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Learn, follow, and enforce BTWCSC guidelines related to internal policies.
• Experience working with teams cross-functionally when communicating organizational impact is highly desired.

Professional Expectations

• Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs for vulnerable populations.
• Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Builds rapport and relates well to others.
• Makes sound judgments and transfers learning from one situation to another.
• Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience.
• Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for clients.
• Pursues self-development that enhances job performance.
• Demonstrates an openness to change and seeks opportunities in the change process.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to effectively review documents. Must be able to adequately communicate to respond to members and interact with the public. Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift. Physical requirements are also typical of those needed in an office environment.

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with occasional night or weekend hours as needed. Additional hours may be required for development activities, including but not limited to BTWCSC evening events, staff development, and/or staff meetings. A calendar will be provided in advance.

Benefits & Compensation

BTWCSC offers a competitive compensation package with paid time off and holidays, generous health and retirement benefits, and a salary commensurate with experience. This position is full-time and exempt, with an annual salary range of $140,000-$150,000, plus a full benefits package, including:

• 100% employer-covered excellent health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Paid time off, including 15 days paid vacation, plus holidays and Center seasonal breaks/closures.
• Workers' compensation.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Monthly wellness benefit after 90 days.
• Access to daily hot meals and snacks.
• Commuter benefits after 90 days.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 401(k) match plan (4% company contribution, 1% employee contribution required).
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences, seminars, webinars, and trainings.

BTWCSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion, or any other classification protected by law. According to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Applicants must pass a full background check and LiveScan.