Senior Development Officer

Evidence Action; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HSA/FSA options

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Retirement plans with matching

Generous leave options

Reimbursement for other employee perks

Job summary

Evidence Action, a mission-driven nonprofit, is seeking a Senior Development Officer to lead our fundraising strategy and expand major gifts revenue. The role focuses on cultivating relationships with donors, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, and building pathways to six- and seven-figure gifts.

The Growth Team emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact. You will manage donor outreach, write compelling proposals, and partner with leadership to engage key prospects, while

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years of fundraising, communications, or business development experience.
• At least 3 years in progressive fundraising and donor relationship management.
• Track record of activating donors and closing six-figure gifts.
• Experience communicating with high-value donors and prospects; strong written and verbal skills.
• Ability to manage complex projects and drive results; data-informed decision making.

Responsibilities

• Donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across five- to seven-figure gifts.
• Develop fundraising strategy and lead special donor engagement projects.
• Build a robust San Francisco Bay Area donor community; engage senior leaders with donors.
• Prepare leaders for engagement with donors and develop persuasive materials.
• Maintain accurate donor records in Salesforce; stay informed on program priorities.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relationships

Project management

Data-driven

Communications

Salesforce

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we're making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 11 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, We've saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

About the Growth Team

As a Senior Development Officer on our Growth team, you will drive our individual fundraising strategy and expand key revenue streams. This is a rare moment to join a high-impact organization at an inflection point. While much of the global health sector has retracted since 2025, Evidence Action has strengthened its position; receiving increased support in 2025, participating in a new collaborative fund structure to accelerate the growth of one of our most promising programs, and heading into 2027 anticipating tailwinds for cost-effective giving.

You will be directly responsible for identifying, cultivating, closing, and stewarding mid-level and major gifts; with a focus on building relationships in the tech community, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. You will have the opportunity to lead special projects to increase revenue, support leadership in their engagement with donors and prospects, and help shape the processes that strengthen our development efforts.

You will report to the Associate Director, Philanthropy, and may have supervisory responsibilities in the future depending on team needs. Our team is small and collaborative, with an iterative strategic approach that encourages radical ownership and big vision.

Responsibilities:

Donor cultivation and relationship management

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to Evidence Action in the five-, six- and seven-figure range by developing and executing individualized donor engagement strategies to retain and grow giving in the portfolio, achieving annual revenue goals
• Be a passionate advocate and spokesperson for Evidence Action's mission and approach
• Undertake wealth screening and research to identify high-value potential prospects and develop strategies to secure new giving
• Prepare senior leaders for engagement with donors and prospects
• Create compelling communications including proposals, impact reports, acknowledgements, presentations, and other materials
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Evidence Action's programs and fundraising priorities
• Ensure complete and accurate records of donor engagement in Salesforce

Fundraising strategy and project management

• Strategize and test new tactics to increase revenue from identified growth areas and new audiences - for example, collaborative pledges, intimate donor salons, and other special projects
• Establish a robust community for donors in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Analyze progress against fundraising targets, using results of analysis to recommend changes in engagement strategy
• Adopt and experiment with AI-powered tools and emerging technologies

• You have 6+ years' experience with fundraising, communications, or business development; including 3 years of progressive experience with direct fundraising and donor relationship management responsibilities.

• You have a track record of activating donors and closing 6-figure (minimum) gifts. We will also consider exceptional candidates with equivalent relationship-driven growth or business development experience.
• You have experience communicating with high-value donors and prospects; you hold the highest standards of excellence for your written and verbal communication.
• You excel at "getting things done" and can manage complex projects through their life cycles.
• You can iterate in real time, employ data for decision-making, and innovate and pivot to find success.
• You are willing to accommodate meetings with donors and globally located colleagues outside standard business hours.
• You have experience with CRM systems, especially Salesforce.

Position Location

This position is remote with a strong preference for the San Francisco Bay Area. Travel (beyond the SF Bay Area) is expected up to 10% of the time for relevant donor meetings, conferences, and team gatherings.

We cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of a U.S. employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for roles based in the U.S.

The expected role range for this US position is listed below. We consider multiple factors when determining the base salary for a role, including but not limited to: role scope, program budgets, internal equity, and a candidate’s qualifications and/or prior experience.

Note: Pay and benefits will be commensurate with the role specifications, local statutory requirements, and the cost of labor in the markets where we operate.

The expected pay range for this full-time role is $125,000 - $135,000 per year.

• international health care
• HSA/FSA options
• life insurance
• disability coverage
• retirement plans with a matching component
• generous and flexible leave options
• other employee perks on a reimbursement basis.

Evidence Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.