Director of Development

Wags & Walks; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit dog rescue organization in Los Angeles seeks a Director of Development to lead fundraising initiatives and build a high-performing team. The role involves creating a robust revenue strategy and fostering relationships with donors to enhance support. Ideal candidates should have 5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, CRM proficiency, and exceptional communication skills. The position offers an annual salary of $90,000 – $110,000.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for events.
• Organized and detail-oriented with strong execution skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Build and manage the annual development plan.
• Steward relationships while expanding the donor base.

Skills

Nonprofit fundraising experience

Strong written and verbal communication

CRM systems proficiency

Proficiency with Google Workspace

Tools

Salesforce

Kindful

Job description

About Wags & Walks

Wags & Walks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dog rescue with locations in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. Since 2011, we have rescued over 16,000 dogs and promote shelter dogs as the best dogs through advocacy of our unique family‑friendly foster and adoption programs.

Job Summary

The Director of Development is a senior leader responsible for designing and driving Wags & Walks’ overall fundraising strategy to ensure sustainable, mission‑advancing revenue growth across all locations. This role leads individual giving, major donor development, foundation and grant strategy, and corporate sponsorships, while building and managing a high‑performing development team.

The Director of Development owns the annual revenue plan and works collaboratively with the Founder, Executive Director, Head of Partnerships, and Head of Marketing to cultivate meaningful donor experiences that fuel lifesaving rescue work. This leader will steward existing relationships, expand our donor base, and build the infrastructure needed to support a rapidly growing organization.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship‑driven fundraiser who is passionate about rescue dogs and energized by building something impactful during a critical growth phase.

Candidates are asked to submit a cover letter describing why they are inspired by this role and our mission.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that achieves annual revenue goals across individual, major, corporate, and foundation giving.
• Build and manage the annual development plan and revenue forecast.
• Identify new revenue streams and opportunities for long‑term sustainability.
• Serve as a senior voice in organizational planning and strategic decision making.

Major Donor & Individual Giving

• Maintain and grow a portfolio of mid‑to‑major‑level donors, cultivating long‑term, values‑aligned relationships.
• Identify, qualify, and steward new major donor prospects.
• Create thoughtful cultivation and stewardship plans, ensuring personalized engagement and impact reporting.

Legacy and Foundation Giving

• Define the roadmap for the organization’s first formal legacy giving program and roll it out within the first six months of hire.
• Build a strategy for growth around increased foundation outreach and stewardship and oversee the execution of the program.

Development Operations & CRM Management

• Learn and understand the adoption of a new CRM platform.
• Develop processes for donor pipelines, touchpoints, and reporting across all departments.
• Use data to drive strategy, track progress, and improve donor retention and acquisition.

Campaigns, Events & Corporate Giving

• Partner closely with Marketing and Events teams to plan, promote, and evaluate fundraising campaigns.
• Support cross‑market fundraising efforts in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York.

Grants & Monthly Giving

• Expand foundation and grant submissions in partnership with leadership.
• Grow Pup Club (monthly giving program) through targeted recruitment and stewardship strategies.
• Recruit, train, manage, and inspire development staff and key volunteers.
• Communicate fundraising goals and equip staff and volunteers to support development efforts.

Reporting & Budget Management

• Oversee the development budget and revenue tracking.
• Provide monthly reporting, insights, and recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure financial categorization and fundraising data are accurate and up to date.

Success In This Role Looks Like

• Year‑over‑year revenue growth.
• Increased major donor engagement and retention.
• Growth in monthly giving membership.Successful CRM adoption and improved fundraising efficiency.
• Clear stewardship and donor experience touchpoints.
• A motivated and cohesive development team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce, Kindful, etc.).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work evenings/weekends for events as needed.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and fundraising software.

Qualities & Compensation

• Must be a dog lover!
• Strategic thinker with strong execution ability.
• Inspiring and supportive team leader.
• Exceptional relationship builder and communicator.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions‑oriented.
• Highly organized and detail‑driven.
• Positive, collaborative, and mission‑focused.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced and evolving environment.
• Exceptional donor stewardship and customer service mindset.
• Annual salary: $90,000 – $110,000 (based on experience).

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full‑time

Location

Los Angeles, Nashville & New York (Three locations)