About Richmond Promise: Launched in 2016, Richmond Promise is a postsecondary access and success organization that is actively building a culture of degree and certificate attainment in Richmond, CA. Richmond Promise was created with the belief that all Richmond students should have the opportunity to develop their skills and reach their full potential, regardless of race, income level, or personal background. Through a college scholarship, collaborative cross-sector partnerships, and supportive programming, Richmond Promise aims to ensure all students in our city excel to and through higher education, reach their career goals, and become change-making leaders in the Richmond community. Learn more about Richmond Promise at www.richmondpromise.org.
Position Summary: Richmond Promise is looking for a full-time Director of Development to lead the organization's funding portfolio, and to build a fundraising team that will help financially sustain the organization beyond our seed funding. Our organization was founded with the support of the Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA), a local community benefits agreement that allocated $35 million in seed funding to Richmond Promise in 2015. With our seed funding scheduled to sunset in July 2024, Richmond Promise's Executive Director and Director of Development are tasked with raising approximately $3 - $5 million per year by the late 2020s to continue providing higher education access and success services to local youth.
In partnership with the Executive Director, the Director of Development will guide Richmond Promise's fundraising strategy, including, but not limited to, building our individual, foundation, and corporate base, leading fundraising programs to meet annual and multi-year revenue goals, maintaining relationships with current donors, and building new relationships with prospective donors.
The ideal fundraising professional seeking our Director of Development role is a self-starter, self-accountable, and a creative thinker and collaborator with demonstrated experience advancing fundraising operations. Our ideal candidate is also someone who is excited by the opportunity to build a high functioning fundraising team and motivated to secure diverse funding that can support our organization into perpetuity.
Key Responsibilities:
In partnership with the Executive Director, oversee fundraising, including the planning and implementation of annual and multi-year, multi-million dollar development strategies and projections
Serve as a lead in the design and implementation of a multi-year fundraising strategic plan
Develop and lead short-term and long-term giving campaigns, including, but not limited to, major gifts campaigns, capital campaigns, donor matching initiatives, and galas or other fundraising events
Serve as a lead relationship manager for all foundation, corporate, and individual donors; strengthen existing funding relationships; identify and cultivate new prospects; manage the production of grant proposals, funding asks, and reports
Proactively seek new development relationships by attending meetings, conferences, and events, and by reaching out to prospects via phone, email, and other means.
Build and supervise an effective and well-functioning development team; present a development capacity plan within the first six months of employment, including a proposal for additional development staff, consultants, and/or technology to support fundraising success
In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, oversee the development team's systems, workflows, and databases for end-to-end fundraising management, including prospecting and projecting, cultivation, proposals, gift processing and acknowledgment, and reporting and renewals
In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, ensure proper grant accounting, development team budgeting, and the development team's use of Salesforce
In collaboration with the Director of Programs and Partnerships, identify, prioritize, and align programmatic funding needs with grant proposals and other fundraising initiatives
In collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Communications, develop and share narratives that tell the story of our organization and inspire prospective donors to give to Richmond Promise
Serve as the lead staff liaison to the Richmond Promise Fundraising Committee
Support the planning and implementation of general Richmond Promise events, including, but not limited to, securing event sponsors, inviting and hosting donors and prospective donors, and organizing in-event fundraising initiatives
Desired Competencies and Qualifications:
4+ years of experience and success developing and implementing fundraising strategies focused on individual, foundation and corporation donors
Experience managing staff members or demonstrated ability to serve as a manager
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience storytelling and creating successful fundraising narratives
Competency with customer relationship management (CRM) databases
Highly organized with strong attention to details
Creative and innovative
Strategic problem solver
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, Mailchimp (preferred)
Knowledge of or passion for postsecondary access and success work (preferred)
Understanding of the philanthropic landscape in Richmond and/or the Bay Area (strongly preferred)
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
Work Environment:
This position is based at Richmond Promise's office at 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804. Our organization practices a hybrid work model that includes both remote and in-office work. Staff members work in the office on Mondays and Tuesdays with the discretion to select their work location during the remaining business days. Staff members occasionally work in person additional days of the week based on specific projects, meetings, or other duties. The Director of Development role will require in-person meetings, travel, and time in the office.
Office Accessibility:
Richmond Promise's office is located at Richmond Civic Center Plaza, a centrally located municipal campus that is home to Richmond City Hall, the Main Public Library, Richmond Memorial Auditorium, and other public amenities. Civic Center Plaza is a 12 minute walk from the Richmond Transit Center, which houses the Richmond BART station, Amtrak station, and AC Transit bus bays. Civic Center Plaza is accessible via the 72M and 74 AC Transit bus lines. Civic Center Plaza is also one mile from Interstate 80 on and off ramps and 1.5 miles from Interstate 580. Commuters from San Francisco have the option of taking the SF Bay Ferry from the Ferry Building to the Richmond Ferry Terminal. While Civic Center is 2.9 miles from the Richmond Ferry Terminal, AC Transit's 74 bus or the Richmond Moves shuttle service can provide service to the plaza.
Compensation & Benefits: Compensation is $120,000 - $140,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits are generous, including a 10% retirement benefit match after six months, three weeks of vacation annually, medical and dental coverage, and a professional development stipend.
Reports To: Executive Director
How To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and three professional references to cwhitmore@richmondpromise.org with "Director of Development - [YOUR LAST NAME]" in the subject line. We will only contact your professional references after speaking with you and if you are a finalist for the position.
Richmond Promise is an affirmative/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, ethnic background, sex, disability, or sexual orientation or other factors protected by law.