Director of Development

Mission Connect; Sonoma (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Individual and Family Social Service Organization is seeking a Director of Development in Sonoma, CA. This executive role leads fundraising, donor engagement, and community development initiatives to advance the organization's mission and sustainability.

You will refine and expand fundraising strategy, grow revenue, and strengthen partnerships with donors and community stakeholders while guiding a high-impact development team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8–10 years of progressive leadership in philanthropy or development.
• Proven experience leading fundraising strategy with measurable revenue impact.
• Experience managing CRM systems, analytics, and donor platforms.

Responsibilities

• Serve on the senior leadership team shaping development and community strategies.
• Lead a comprehensive fundraising program incl. annual gifts and major gifts.
• Oversee donor engagement, analytics, and CRM operations.
• Develop budgets, KPIs, and reporting for fundraising outcomes.
• Supervise Development Manager and program staff.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor engagement

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Donor platforms

Job description

Job Title: Director of Development

Location: Sonoma, CA

Company: Individual and Family Social Service Organization

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary Range: $100,000-$130,000

About the Organization:

Serving the Greater Santa Rosa community for over 75 years this nonprofit is a growing organization expanding it’s resources and support to youth programs throughout the North Bay. The Director of Developmet, reports to the VP of Development and Marketing, serving a key leader in the fundraising growth and stewardship of ongoing relationships with donors.

About the Role:

The Director of Development is a dynamic and experienced leader responsible for advancing the organization’s development growth, donor engagement, and community impact. This role provides executive-level leadership across fundraising and community development, building on an established foundation to take the organization to its next level of impact and sustainability.

The organization has a strong and growing development function; this leader will refine and expand fundraising strategy while bringing strategic innovation to deepen partnerships, grow revenue, and strengthen community engagement. The Director will play a critical role in evolving and scaling fundraising efforts, strengthening systems, activating new opportunities, and driving measurable outcomes.

Serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Director will lead integrated strategies that connect donors, community, programs, and revenue. This role requires a forward-thinking professional who can enhance what is already working while building new pathways for growth, engagement, and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and performance
• Develop and implement strategies aligning development and community development with organizational goals
• Partner cross-functionally to align external engagement efforts with programmatic priorities and growth
• Contribute to long-term strategy, including revenue diversification, community impact, and sustainability

Development (including Major Gifts)

• Lead and execute a comprehensive development strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, and donor engagement across all levels
• Develop and drive a robust major gifts program, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-capacity donors
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, with clear revenue goals and relationship strategies
• Partner with the CEO and Board to support major gift cultivation and solicitation efforts
• Oversee grassroots and mid-level donor programs and campaigns to build a strong and sustainable base of support
• Lead and align donor pipeline strategy, messaging, and engagement across all giving levels
• Establish fundraising performance metrics, revenue targets, and reporting systems; monitor progress and adjust strategies
• Utilize data and analytics to inform strategy, optimize donor engagement, and increase revenue performance
• Provide direct oversight of key philanthropy functions, including the Development Manager and donor database/CRM operations

Fundraising Events

• Oversee the strategy and execution of all fundraising events as core components of the philanthropy programs
• Ensure events are fully integrated into donor strategy, pipeline development, and revenue generation

Community Development

• Build and lead a comprehensive community development function with a focus on external, community-facing programming
• Design, grow, and innovate community programs that expand engagement, visibility, and mission alignment
• Oversee and evolve existing programming, including camp and seasonal offerings, with a focus on growth
• Develop and expand strategic partnerships with community organizations, stakeholders, and local leaders
• Collaborate with Residential leadership to support internal community programming, while maintaining primary responsibility for outward-facing initiatives

Development Operations & Analytics

• Oversee donor systems and CRM strategy to support fundraising execution and long-term growth
• Direct fundraising analytics, reporting, and performance dashboards
• Ensure data integrity and effective use of insights to drive decision-making
• Build operational systems that support donor pipeline development and campaign effectiveness

Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Develop and manage budgets across development and community programming functions
• Establish annual goals, KPIs, and performance metrics aligned with organizational priorities
• Monitor performance and adjust strategies to ensure measurable outcomes
• Supervise staff, consultants, and external partners

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of Development Manager and donor database/CRM functions
• Direct supervision of community development and programming personnel
• Oversight of staff and/or contractors supporting fundraising, events, and programming

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in philanthropy, development, or related fields
• Proven experience leading fundraising strategy with measurable revenue impact, including major gifts
• Experience managing CRM systems, analytics, and donor platforms
• Experience overseeing teams and cross-functional initiatives
• Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations preferred