Senior Director of Development

Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos; 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 steer strategic fundraising and lead the Development team. You will cultivate major gifts, manage a personal donor portfolio, and guide the Club’s fundraising strategy to support approximately $1.6M in annual philanthropic revenue across individuals, corporations, foundations, grants, and events.

Reporting to the President & CEO and serving on the Senior Leadership Team, you will build a results-driven development

Qualifications

• 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 seven-figure annual fundraising portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead development efforts to secure $1.6M in annual philanthropic revenue across individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundations, grants and events.
• Manage a personal donor portfolio with cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Build and mentor a high-performing development team and collaborate with the President/CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Partner with the Board and committees to engage donors and expand the Club’s fundraising impact.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CFRE or related fundraising credential

Job description

Job/Title: Senior Director of Development

Department: Development

Site/Location: Jennifer Loscher Branch

Reports 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: Full-time, Exempt

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.
• 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 experience that 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 work environment, 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 while demonstrating 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.