Senior Director of Development

Boys-; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and program leadership from the President & CEO level. You will manage a high-performing development team and personally steward top donors to advance annual philanthropic revenue.

The role emphasizes strategic oversight of grants, corporate partnerships, foundations, and events, with an annual target of $1.6M and a focus on community impact for local youth.

Job description

Job Title: Senior Director of Development

Department: Development

Site/Location: Jennifer Loscher Branch

Report To: President & CEO

Direct Reports: Director of Grants & Stewardship; Director of Events & Sponsorships; Volunteer Community Outreach Coordinator (new role); collaborative support from the Senior Membership Specialist (which reports to Director of Operations)

Salary: $90,000 to $120,000 annually

FLSA Status: (X) Full-time ( ) Part-time (X) Exempt ( ) Non-exempt

Primary Function

The Senior Director of Development is a strategic, hands‑on fundraising leader responsible for cultivating and growing philanthropic support for the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos. The role provides both strategic leadership and day‑to‑day fundraising direction, developing a high‑performing development team while maintaining a personal portfolio of individual donors. Reporting to the President & CEO and serving on the Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Director of Development leads the Club’s efforts to secure $1.6 million in annual philanthropic revenue through individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundations and grants, and special events. At its heart, this role connects people who want to make a difference with the young people who need opportunity. Every dollar raised helps keep a great future within reach for the kids who walk through our doors.

Strategic Priorities for the Senior Director of Development include:

• Building and leading a high-performing development team across grants, events, stewardship, volunteer engagement, gift processing, and community outreach.


• Growing the Club's base of individual and major donors through a personal donor portfolio.


• Delivering $1.6M in annual philanthropic revenue across individual giving, corporate giving, foundations, grants, and special events.


• Strengthening the Club's three signature fundraising events and two program-facing events.


• Growing entry-level donor acquisition and engagement events as a pipeline for new and emerging donors.


• Leading the Club's three annual appeal campaigns to increase donor participation and revenue year over year.

Development Strategy & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of four: the Director of Grants & Stewardship, the Director of Events & Sponsorships, and a new Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator, with additional collaborative support from the Senior Membership Specialist (a split role reporting to Operations).


• Set clear goals, provide regular feedback and professional development, and build a team culture grounded in our core values of safety, inclusiveness, fun, trust, care, and inspiration.


• Partner with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on organization-wide strategy, budgeting, and board engagement related to development.


• Hold overall accountability for $1.6M in annual philanthropic revenue; build and manage the development team's annual revenue plan and budget, tracking progress against goals and adjusting strategy as needed.


• Ensure strong donor data practices, gift processing, and acknowledgment systems in partnership with the Director of Grants & Stewardship

Donor Development & Engagement

• Manage a personal portfolio of individual donors and major gift prospects, handling cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship directly.


• Identify, research, and build new relationships with prospective individual donors to grow the Club's donor pipeline.


• Partner with the CEO on cultivation and solicitation of the Club's top donors and prospects.


• Through research and contact with donors, develop a deeply informed sense of their interests, capacity, and viewpoint.

Board & Committee Engagement

• Serve as a trusted partner to the Board of Directors, communicating regularly on development initiatives, goals, and outcomes.


• Attend and present at bimonthly Board meetings, keeping directors informed and engaged in the Club's fundraising progress and strategy.


• Lead the Development Committee, a five-member board and volunteer committee, to advance the Club's philanthropic goals and deepen board-level donor engagement.


• Partner with board members on their own cultivation and solicitation efforts, equipping them to be confident, effective ambassadors for the Club.

Signature Events & Appeal Campaigns

• Provide strategic oversight (in partnership with the Director of Events & Sponsorships) for the Club's three signature fundraising events: the Jeff Ritchie Memorial Golf Classic (April/May), Flapjacks for Backpacks (August), and the Annual Auction (September/October).


• Support two program-facing events central to our mission: Adopt a Family (December) and Youth of the Year (January).


• Guide the continued growth of entry-level donor acquisition and engagement events, such as Plant Bingo, which currently nets $2,000–$5,000 per event, as a pipeline for new and emerging donors.


• Oversee the Club's three annual appeal campaigns: the Summer Programs appeal (April/May), San Diego Gives (September), and year-end Giving Day (November/December), continuously refining messaging, segmentation, and channel strategy.

Attributes & Work Style

• Passionate: Driven by the Club's mission, which is to provide a world‑class Club experiencethat ensures success is within reach of every young person who comes through our doors.


• Team Player: A servant‑leader who fosters a respectful, transparent, and collaborative workenvironment, grounded in our values of safety, inclusiveness, fun, trust, care, and inspiration.


• Growth Mindset: Views challenges as learning opportunities.


• Community-minded: Skilled at connecting with people across the community whiledemonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence.


• Sociable: Charismatic, warm and welcoming; a true \"people-person.\"


• Reflective: Skilled at receiving and giving feedback and performance critiques.


• Meticulous: Superior attention to detail and problem‑solving skills.


• Communicative: Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.


• Self‑Starter: Demonstrates strong personal initiative and sound decision‑making skills.


• Resourceful: Willingness to jump in and assist colleagues with a variety of tasks across the organization.


• Collaborative: Ability to motivate and collaborate successfully with a dedicated Board of local leaders and business professionals.

Required Skills, Experience & Education

• A passion for moving young people forward.


• Bachelor's Degree required; CFRE or related fundraising credential preferred.


• 5+ years of progressive development/fundraising experience, including demonstrated success in individual major gifts fundraising.


• 3+ years of experience directly managing and developing a team of fundraising professionals.


• Track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals in a comparable-sized shop (seven‑figure annual fundraising portfolio preferred).


• Experience overseeing special events and appeal/annual campaigns; grants and corporate giving experience a plus.


• Strong leadership skills to mentor and motivate development staff to reach development goals.


• A history of working directly with Board directors in support of fundraising efforts.


• Excellent communication skills: using both written and oral skills to influence and engage constituents.


• Ability to work some evenings and weekends as required for events and donor meetings.

Physical Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age and have valid identification.


• Maintain a high energy level.


• Be comfortable performing multi‑faceted projects in conjunction with day‑to‑day activities.


• Ability to sit for extended periods of time; stoop, bend, climb, and walk frequently; lift, carry, pull or otherwise move objects between 10–20 pounds.


• No tuberculosis – pre‑employment screening required by the State of California.


• Background check – pre‑employment screening required.


• Negative drug test – pre‑employment screening required.

Compensation

BGCSM's salary and benefit standards are competitive and will depend on qualifications and experience. The benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) with match after one year of employment.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The workspace is in an office environment within our flagship Clubhouse, the Jennifer Loscher Branch. Noise levels vary and can be moderate to high during programming times.

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications or objectives required of employees assigned to this job. Employer or employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without cause.