Development Director

About This Role

Lead, develop, and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies for GRIP Training Institute, focusing on major gifts, foundations, and events, to support their mission of trauma healing and transformation for formerly incarcerated individuals. This role involves building and managing a development team, cultivating donor relationships, and ensuring financial sustainability and growth for the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year fund development strategies to ensure annual fundraising targets are met for sustainability and growth ($2.6M+ in 2026)
• Build and lead the Development team, effectively deploying existing resources and securing additional staff/contract resources as needed
• Oversee management and development of systems to improve efficiency, analysis, reporting, and communications for fundraising
• Embody and model a culture of gratitude and generosity, ensuring fundraising practices align with core values of human compassion and transformation
• Sustain and grow individual and major donor programs, leading donor cultivation and stewardship efforts
• Plan and oversee the execution of fundraising events to cultivate new major donors and deepen investment of existing donors
• Develop and implement strategies for sustaining and growing Foundation and Government Grants, supporting key relationships and overseeing grant writing
• Build and execute a comprehensive communication strategy with multiple touch points for various donor groups
• Create and manage the domain's expense budget and maintain fundraising projections for leadership and the Board
• Serve as the primary point of contact to the Board of Directors regarding fundraising activities and support the onboarding of a new fund development committee
• Develop key messaging to catalyze and inform donor giving, leveraging online and offline vehicles
• Represent GRIP at key events and meetings to expand strategic relationships and promote criminal justice reform

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in work experience
• 10+ years of fundraising experience (ideally at organizations with budgets of $3m+)
• 5+ years of experience at a director-level capacity
• Demonstrated experience in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts from individual donors
• Adept at building strong prospect lists and developing lasting relationships with donors
• In-depth understanding of philanthropic networks in Bay Area and other parts of California
• Experience managing communications, marketing, and social media strategies
• Proven track record of leading a development team through growth periods
• Exceptional people management skills
• Capacity to get cleared to enter California state prisons
• Valid CA driver’s license and liability insurance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in work experience
• 10+ years of fundraising experience (ideally at organizations with budgets of $3m and above), and 5+ years of experience at a director-level capacity

Nice to Have

• Willingness to explore process improvements, potentially by leveraging AI and learning new systems and technologies
• Practice emotional intelligence and self-awareness; handle conflict skillfully
• Strong understanding of the impact of systems of oppression on communities of color
• Lived experience connected to incarceration and violence
• Experience with restorative justice practices

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits