Director, Regional Development Strategy - West

Playworks; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 116,400 - 122,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer match

Life insurance

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Playworks seeks a Director, Regional Development Strategy to lead multi-regional fundraising efforts across California, the Pacific Northwest, and Utah. This revenue-generating role focuses on securing corporate and foundation gifts, aligning regional plans with HQ strategy, and accelerating growth to meet annual targets.

The role reports to the Chief Development Officer and can be California-based or from the Pacific Northwest/Utah, with a strong preference for California candidates.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience with six-figure gifts or multi-year funding.
• Experience leading multi-regional or national fundraising efforts.
• Ability to translate strategy into regional plans and execute.
• Proven track record in donor cultivation with corporations and foundations.
• Strong written and verbal communication for proposals and reports.
• Analytical, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-regional fundraising strategy aligned to national goals.
• Achieve new revenue targets of $500k–$600k annually across regions.
• Build regional plans and coach development staff for execution.
• Maintain 3x pipeline coverage and optimize win rates.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Multi-regional leadership

Corporate & foundation partnerships

Pipeline development

Forecasting & performance

Proposal writing & presentations

CRM experience (Salesforce)

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Nonprofit fundraising degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION

In the role of the Director, Regional Development Strategy, you will have both external and internal-facing responsibilities, primarily focused on leading the creation and execution of a comprehensive, multi-regional development strategy to ensure the required fund development targets are met annually. This revenue-generating leadership role is critical to advancing Playworks’ 2028 strategic goals and to identifying, cultivating, and securing high-potential funding sources for efficient fundraising growth, emphasizing an increase in individual donors.

This role reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will drive new revenue growth from institutional funders, primarily corporations and foundations, across a multi-region portfolio in California, the Pacific Northwest and Utah. The Development Director will work closely with regional Executive Directors and regional development staff in each of these regions, translating and aligning national development strategy into executable regional plans and serving as the connective tissue between HQ strategy, organizational vision, and regional execution. This role will work to build consistent, scalable fundraising practices across these regions.

This full-time, exempt position can be based out of California, the Pacific Northwest or Utah with a strong preference for California-based candidates.

Specifically, This Role Will Have The Following Responsibilities

Strategic Alignment and Impact

• Advance Playworks’ 2028 strategic priorities by aligning multi-regional fundraising efforts to organizational goals, including significant growth in new corporate and foundation partnerships, expansion of regional funding, diversification of institutional revenue, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Support the clear articulation of Playworks’ impact – both nationally and regionally – strengthening organizational value proposition to institutional funding partners.
• Build regional annual plans alongside regional leaders designed to attain revenue goals.

Revenue Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of a multi-regional fundraising strategy that supports national revenue goals, with direct accountability for achieving new revenue targets of $500,000–$600,000 annually from corporate and foundation sources across the assigned regions.
• Ensure each region meets or exceeds its fundraising targets, holding full accountability for the dollars raised, maintaining 3X pipeline coverage of the goal, and achieving organization-standard win and conversion rates.

Collaboration Efforts Regionally and Nationally

• Align, customize, and advance regional fundraising plans, funder engagement strategies, and priorities that complement Playworks’ national development strategy.
• Partner with regional Executive Directors and national leaders to identify, pursue, and secure new funding opportunities, including multi-regional or national prospects.
• Collaborate with and guide regional program and development teams in adopting fundraising models, providing strategic oversight, coaching, and support to regional development staff to ensure consistent execution and results.

Performance Management

• Ensure fundraising practices are cohesive, consistent, coordinated, and data-informed across regions, contributing to organizational-wide visibility and confidence in revenue planning and risk mitigation.
• Use data to inform decision-making, identify trends, and recommend strategic shifts to maximize return of effort and achieve efficiencies.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7-10+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with demonstrated success in securing and managing six-figure gifts, partnerships, or multi-year funding with a strong background in multi-regional, national, or complex organizational development structures.
• Proven track record of developing and executing fundraising strategies across multiple regions, including aligning local efforts with national priorities.
• Strong experience translating organizational vision or strategy into clear, actionable regional fundraising plans.
• Experience collaborating across departments and coaching or supporting regional fundraising staff.
• Strong background in pipeline development, forecasting, and performance monitoring across diverse geographic areas.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create persuasive proposals, strategic plans, and presentations.
• Highly organized, analytical, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Experience working within CRM systems (Salesforce highly preferred) and managing complex fundraising data.
• Demonstrated ability to lead collaboratively, foster alignment, and contribute to a strengths-based, mission-driven organizational culture.

Compensation & Benefits

• This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Chief Development Officer.
• At Playworks, our starting salary takes into consideration internal pay equity, geographic pay differential, and robust external market data. We highly value transparency and equity within compensation and, therefore, are committed to adhering to established compensation pay points. The hiring salary for this position is $122,600 (CA Bay area or NYC) and $116,400 in all other areas.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) plans with employer match, life insurance, employee-funded pre-tax health, and child care spending accounts.
• Generous Flexible PTO policy with paid sick and holiday leave.

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, faith, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities, or board service on a merit basis.