Senior Development Officer (CCF)

California Community Foundation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Community Foundation (CCF) in Los Angeles seeks a Senior Development Officer to build and manage relationships with professional advisors, CPAs, estate planners, and financial institutions to secure charitable gifts.

Reporting to the VP of Development and Donor Relations, you will lead outreach, advisor training, and the coordination of gifts of complex assets, while ensuring excellent donor and fund relations across Los Angeles.

Qualifications

• Experience in securing gifts from professional advisors, CPAs, estate planners, and wealth management networks.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to secure referrals and manage donor pipelines.
• Familiarity with charitable giving structures, trusts, and complex assets is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate and solicit gifts via professional advisor channels to meet fundraising goals.
• Develop and deliver advisor trainings and write articles for newsletters and websites.
• Maintain excellent donor and fund relations, advising on current and planned gifts and complex assets.
• Stay informed on legal, accounting, and investment issues related to charitable giving.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Advisor outreach

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Law degree preferred

CFP/CTFA/CFA desirable

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database software

Job description

The California Community Foundation (CCF) is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that administers almost 1,600 individual charitable funds to meet existing and emerging needs in the Greater Los Angeles area. CCF is one of the largest and fastest growing community foundations in the United States. With assets of more than $1.6 billion, CCF has awarded more than $1.6 billion in grants and received more than $1.8 billion in contributions over the past ten years. Since 1915, CCF has been helping individuals, families, corporations and nonprofits establish and develop their philanthropic visions.

We envision a future where all Angelenos thrive – a future where the productive capabilities of Angelenos contribute to the health and well-being of our communities. The fate and future of every resident is interwoven, and our success as a community will be defined by how we improve the quality of life of all residents, especially our most vulnerable. We also envision a future in which more donors impact the challenges of Los Angeles and beyond, fulfilling their passions and creating a diverse spectrum of opportunities and philanthropic legacies.

For 100 years, the passion of our living and legacy donors has defined and built the California Community Foundation. Their generosity and dreams for a better tomorrow make our drive for meaningful social change possible. We partner with individuals and families to not only pursue their own personal passions but to collaborate with us, along with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, in transforming Los Angeles County.

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Donor Relations, the Senior Development Officer works within the department to establish relationships with professional advisors to secure charitable gifts for the California Community Foundation (CCF). Responsibilities include identifying, developing, and managing relationships with professional advisors (financial advisors, CPAs, estate planning attorneys) to promote CCF services and products; facilitating gifts of complex assets, working closely with others in the department to ensure advisor coverage across Los Angeles, and providing strategic leadership for the advisor channel.

Major Responsibilities

• Fundraising: Responsible for a component of the overall fundraising goal for the foundation. Through identification, cultivation and solicitation activities, raises current and deferred gifts via a multitude of vehicles and complex funding assets. Joins a team of 12 that has collectively raised over $200 million annually through shared responsibilities and teamwork.


• Outreach: Responsible primarily for foundation outreach to the financial advisor market, but also to CPAs, business managers and selected attorneys. Participates in outreach to professional groups, which may include attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, bank trust officers, insurance professionals, planned giving professionals and other intermediaries and agents of wealth. Works with others to develop innovative strategies to reach professional advisors. Participates in meetings of and, as appropriate, assumes leadership roles in professional networking organizations focused on estate and wealth planning. Assists in fostering and maintaining CCF’s development relationships with financial institutions. Responsible for outcomes of outreach, including building awareness of CCF products and services, relationship building and the ability to secure referrals.


• Advisor Training: Identifies and secures opportunities for trainings and events for professional advisors. Designs and leads trainings. Writes articles for CCF’s advisor newsletter, website and as needed for other training or outreach opportunities.


• Donor and Fund Relations: Maintains excellent relationships with officers in CCF who manage donor relationships, the Legacy Society and planned giving. Responds to inquiries regarding current and planned gifts from officers and professional advisors. Provides information and technical assistance regarding bequests and life income gifts (trusts and annuities) and current gifts of complex assets such as stock and real estate.


• Education: Develops an expertise on and remains informed on legal, accounting and investment issues regarding charitable giving, charitable trusts, deferred gifts, tax exempt organizations, private foundations, donor advised funds and supporting organizations.


• General: As appropriate, assists other departments and works as a member of interdepartmental teams to ensure the effective and efficient operations of CCF. At all times, demonstrates cooperative behavior with supervisors and coworkers. Other duties as assigned, dependent on organizational needs and employee skills.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years related experience, preferably in legal services, development, financial services, business management or foundation environment. Experience in tax or estate planning matters in a law firm setting or equivalent experience in a professional or financial services firm (accounting, family office, trust company or investment firm) is preferred.


• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred. Law degree preferred. Other relevant certification desirable (LL.M., M.T., CTFA, CFP, CSPG, CPA or CFA).


• Communication and Relationship Skills: Superior interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with excellent telephone and customer service skills. Ability to secure confidence of Los Angeles’ top professional advisors to facilitate referrals of premiere clients to CCF. Understanding of how to initiate and grow business relationships to generate new and additional gifts.


• Technology Skills: Internet competency and computer proficiency, including mastery of the Microsoft Office software suite and a familiarity with database software. Working knowledge of development software preferred, with a willingness and ability to learn appropriate programs. This position is supported by a shared assistant.


• Project Management Skills: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to plan and implement multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize work and adjust to multiple demands.


• Team Work & General Skills: Ability to work well independently and as team member. Ability to take initiative, and follow tasks through to completion. Ability to be a strong team player, leveraging each team member's skill set while focusing on the client.

Working Conditions

• Requires the ability to travel and attend meetings, presentations and events outside the office, which will require use of a motor vehicle for transportation to other locations. Due to the nature of external appointments and/or responsibilities requiring travel to locations not easily accessible by public transportation, driving is an essential job responsibility for this position.


• This position is required to be available to speak with clients and/or others while away from the office and/or with clients and/or others outside CCF business hours.


• Requires the ability to sit and work at a desk for several hours at a time.


• Work may require weekends and/or extended work day.


• Punctuality and satisfactory attendance are essential functions of the job.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. A generous benefit package is provided to all full-time staff, including medical, dental, vision, LTD, life, FSAs and retirement benefits.