San Diego Foundation (SDF) is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Director of Development, San Diego North County to join our Development & Stewardship team. This frontline fundraising leadership role is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow donor engagement and major gifts fundraising in San Diego North County communities, with a primary focus on fund advisors and donor prospects capable of making principal gifts of $1 million or more.
The Director leads San Diego North County development efforts by building deep, trusted relationships with donors, professional advisors, and community partners; launching engagement and event strategies that foster connected philanthropy communities; and promoting SDF’s charitable giving vehicles to advance organizational fundraising and community impact goals.
Working closely with the Senior Director, Philanthropic Strategy; Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy; and Vice President of Development & Stewardship, the Director plays a key role in expanding SDF’s philanthropic reach across the region. This position requires a relationship-driven, strategic fundraiser with strong judgment and demonstrated success in innovative fundraising strategies.
This is a hybrid role with regular onsite presence required at SDF offices in Liberty Station and Encinitas, along with frequent community engagement throughout San Diego North County.
Essential Responsibilities:
Donor Engagement & Relationship Management
- Develop and implement a strategy to grow donor engagement and major gifts fundraising in San Diego North County communities.
- Manage a portfolio of 60+ fund advisors and high-potential donor prospects.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward principal gifts ($1,000,000+).
- Launch event and engagement strategies to build connected philanthropy communities in San Diego North County.
- Build and steward long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, family offices, and aligned donors.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with professional advisors (e.g., attorneys, wealth managers, financial planners) to advance philanthropic partnerships and giving opportunities.
- Maintain a broad understanding of the San Diego community - including regional needs, opportunities, issues and use this knowledge to advance SDF’s donor engagement goals and community impact.
- Represent San Diego Foundation as a trusted philanthropic leader at community, nonprofit, and donor-facing events, with a strong emphasis on relationship-building in San Diego North County.
Coordination & Collaboration
- Collaborate with division leadership on donor engagement and solicitation strategies, including portfolio planning and principal gift activity.
- Collaborate effectively with divisional and organization-wide teams, including Communications, Finance, Investments, Programs, Donor Services, and Gifts, to elevate SDF objectives and outcomes.
- Provide thoughtful briefings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding major donor relationships and solicitations.
- Work with team members to implement creative donor solicitation and stewardship strategies, with an emphasis on San Diego North County communities.
- Partner with Communications to support donor marketing, storytelling, and retention initiatives.
- Work closely with Finance and Investment teams to enhance donor support, including charitable gift planning.
Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor and coach members of the Development & Stewardship team to strengthen fundraising knowledge, skills, and effectiveness.
- Lead by example, modeling best practices in donor engagement, stewardship, and philanthropic relationship management.
- Support a culture of collaboration, learning, accountability, and excellence across the division.
Donor Stewardship & Campaign Support
- Actively participate in the solicitation of gifts for SDF’s 50th Anniversary campaign and other San Diego Foundation initiatives.
- Design and execute impactful donor stewardship strategies that deepen engagement and inspire increased giving.
- Maintain awareness of SDF programs, initiatives, and strategic priorities to inform donor conversations and philanthropic planning.
Reporting, Data Management & Operations
- Document all donor interactions, moves management activity, and solicitations in the CRM system.
- Track proposals, gifts, and pipeline progress to ensure timely follow-up and accurate reporting.
- Collaborate with Donor Services and Gifts teams to monitor gift receipts and acknowledgments for accuracy and timeliness.
- Support organizational systems, workflows, and donor engagement processes that promote operational excellence.
- Align fundraising activities with SDF’s broader strategic plan and organizational goals.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies, industry best practices, and donor confidentiality standards.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director, Philanthropic Strategy.
Requirements
- 7–10 years of nonprofit fundraising experience working with high-net-worth individuals; community foundation experience preferred.
- Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major and principal gifts of $1 million or more.
- Proven ability to convert prospects into long-term, strategic philanthropic partnerships.
- Experience engaging high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, family offices, and professional advisors.
- Strong critical thinker with demonstrated success developing and executing innovative fundraising strategies.
- Ability to independently manage a donor portfolio and consistently move relationships toward defined goals.
- Strong cross-team collaboration skills with a commitment to transparent communication.
- Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- High emotional intelligence and ability to build trust with diverse constituents.
- Highly self-motivated, accountable, and able to operate independently.
- Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite and/or Google Workspace, and online research tools.
- Ability to travel locally and nationally; willingness to work evenings or weekends as needed.
- Knowledge of prospect research, metrics, and philanthropic data tools is beneficial.
- Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Hybrid work environment based in San Diego, with regular onsite presence in Liberty Station and Encinitas.
- Fast-paced setting with multiple priorities and frequent interruptions.
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, or drive for periods of time, with or without accommodation.
- Ability to view and use a computer screen for extended periods.
- Ability to enter and retrieve information using a computer keyboard or similar tools.
- Ability to communicate by phone or other methods, with or without accommodation.
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds or request assistance as needed.
Benefits
- Salaried, Exempt $140,000.00 - $160,000.00 (San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications, skills and experience, internal equity, alignment with market data, among other relevant factors)
- Supportive, inclusive company culture; awarded Top Workplace by the San Diego Union Tribune 5 years in a row
- Flexibility to choose a 9/80 schedule, giving you every other Friday off
- Hybrid work environment with support for at home office setup
- 100% Employer paid medical, vision, dental, life, AD&D and long-term disability premiums: 75% Employer-paid premiums for all dependents on your benefits
- 403B Retirement plan match up to 4% + Annual discretionary contribution
- Earned Incentive Program
- 3 weeks of paid time off + 1 additional week off with pay in July for all staff
- 4-week sabbatical for every 5 years of service
- 13 paid holidays + 2 paid volunteer days off each year
- Extended Health Care Time accruing at 2.77 hours per pay period to a cap of 480 hours: use for sick time, family care, and parental leave baby bonding
- $100 monthly cell and internet reimbursement
- $75 quarterly gym reimbursement
- Donor Advised Fund contribution with no minimum and $600 annual match from the Foundation to a nonprofit of your choice
- Annual service award $100 donation to nonprofit of your choice
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
