Development Director: Hybrid, Lead Major Gifts & Events

Abilityfirst; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

AbilityFirst in Pasadena seeks a Development Director (Full-Time) to partner with the Chief Development Officer, owning the signature events and sponsorship program, advancing corporate partnerships, annual giving, and donor data management. This senior role leads a small team, collaborates across Marketing and Grants, and uses donor insights to shape strategy.

The position requires in-person office presence with hybrid/remote flexibility and regular travel to centers, event venues, and donor

Responsibilities

• Lead AbilityFirst's signature fundraising events, setting strategy, revenue goals, and success metrics for each, and build the annual events calendar with the CDO.
• Own sponsorship strategy and revenue across all events, personally cultivating and securing lead sponsors while guiding staff on exhibitor, corporate, and in-kind partnerships.
• Lead event steering committees, setting agendas, driving decisions, and keeping volunteers engaged and accountable.
• Manage event budgets and vendor contracts in coordination with Finance.
• Partner with the Grant Writer to build a proactive corporate engagement strategy that brings together sponsorships, grants, employee volunteering, and other partnership opportunities.
• Identify and cultivate new corporate partners and develop coordinated outreach and stewardship plans that grow multi-year relationships.
• Work with the Senior Volunteer Coordinator to create corporate volunteer opportunities that support both engagement and revenue goals.
• Partner with the CDO on major gifts: prepare donor briefings and moves‑management plans, identify and qualify prospects surfaced through data and events, and represent the department at cultivation and stewardship meetings.
• Support the CDO in building a planned giving pipeline from existing donors.
• Oversee the annual giving and direct mail program in partnership with Marketing, from segmentation and messaging through results analysis.
• Review donor‑facing communications, including e‑blasts, event promotion, and campaign materials, for accuracy, tone, and alignment with development strategy.
• Ensure timely acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship for donors at every level.
• Use Salesforce reporting and donor data to identify trends, segments, and gaps across the giving pipeline, and turn findings into recommendations for the CDO and team.
• Oversee gift processing, acknowledgments, reporting, and database

Job description

AbilityFirst in Pasadena seeks a Development Director (Full-Time) to partner with the Chief Development Officer, owning the signature events and sponsorship program, advancing corporate partnerships, annual giving, and donor data management. This senior role leads a small team, collaborates across Marketing and Grants, and uses donor insights to shape strategy.

The position requires in-person office presence with hybrid/remote flexibility and regular travel to centers, event venues, and donor