Associate Director, Donor Relations

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, Donor Relations will report to the Director of Development and be responsible for leading fundraising efforts for individual donors of all levels, including fundraising events, and a small number of corporate donors. This position will develop the overall donor relations strategy for small to major donors, oversee the implementation of that strategy, coordinate the efforts of senior leadership and volunteer fundraisers, and supervise relevant staff and vendors. The Associate Director will also help shape organizational communications and event programs for maximum relevance to individual donors. Creativity, collegiality, and commitment to building relationships are essential to this position, as are an understanding of racial and social justice issues and the ability to speak and write about those issues. We encourage all candidates to consider how this position can expand your career as a fundraising and racial equity professional. This opportunity is designed for a candidate dedicated to the development profession and eager to become a leader within that profession.

Overview:

Ensure that the donor relations efforts for Catalyst California are strategic, effective, and help to expand the racial justice movement.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Donor Relations: Develop and implement strategies for identifying, cultivation, soliciting, and stewarding four groups of donors – major, mid-level, Building Democracy Fund/smaller, and corporate – through organizational communications, targeted fundraising events, and building personal relationships.
2. Fundraising Events: Oversee the fundraising/sponsorship solicitation for the annual fundraising “gala”; develop and manage other donor events; for both types of events, contribute to the program.
3. Organizational Communications:Understand, speak, and write clearly and persuasively about the work of the organization, in a way that is accessible to donors and that is customized for different groups.
4. Organizational Support: Participate in organization-wide activities, with the goal of creating and maintaining a culture of philanthropy among all staff members.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position is primarily assigned to work with donors in Southern California, with the hope of expanding the donor base to other geographies. Candidates for this position must reside in or within commuting distance of the Greater Los Angeles area.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or 10-plus years of experience
• Demonstrated successful major gifts experience of at least five years
• Demonstrated successful experience managing donor events
• Experience supervising fundraising staff and/or volunteers
• Demonstrated experience working with fundraising database(s), ideally with EveryAction, to track donations and donors
• Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft 365, Asana, and Slack
• Demonstrated commitment to fundraising as a career/profession with desire to advance in the field
• Possess intermediate to advanced knowledge of fundraising principles and practices
• Excellent interpersonal/written/verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with donors, boardmembers and other volunteers, and staff of all levels
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity
• Discretion, commitment to confidentiality, and excellent judgment in handling sensitive individual and organizational information
• Excellent organization and planning skills with an ability to prioritize multiple tasks and a variety of demands
• Initiative and independence in carrying out responsibilities
• Able to work in an effective and busy organization with constant demands and interruptions
• Demonstrated ability to work accurately and effectively with computerized data systems, specifically Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel
• Demonstrated ability to work in a professional manner with people of diverse backgrounds and promote a positive working environment and spirit of cooperation
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for eligible employees and their spouses and/or dependents, including registered Domestic Partners
• 403B retirement plan with employer matching benefits after 90 days
• Flexible Spending Account for eligible employees to allocate pre-tax money throughout the year.
• Fifteen (15) vacation days, three (3) personal days, eight (8) sick days, along with national and office holidays
• Organizational and team Wellness Days to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Opportunity to work in a flexible work culture that is sensitive to employee wellbeing and encourages work-life balance
• Additional benefits provided during the pandemic, including scheduling flexibility for parents and caregivers and telework stipend
• Opportunity to see the meaning and impact of your work at an organization actively building more equitable communities and systems across California
• Opportunity to work in an organization dedicated to pay equity and diverse work culture
• Yearly professional development allowance and support of personalized professional development goals

Candidate Profile, Skills, and Abilities

Physical Requirements

Salary

In the spirit of pay transparency, the base salary range for this position is $97,500 – $120,000. When hired by Catalyst California, the selected candidate’s final salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for eligible employees and their spouses and/or dependents, including registered Domestic Partners
• 403B retirement plan with employer matching benefits after 90 days
• Flexible Spending Account for eligible employees to allocate pre-tax money throughout the year.
• Fifteen (15) vacation days, three (3) personal days, eight (8) sick days, along with national and office holidays
• Organizational and team Wellness Days to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Opportunity to work in a flexible work culture that is sensitive to employee wellbeing and encourages work-life balance
• Additional benefits provided during the pandemic, including scheduling flexibility for parents and caregivers and telework stipend
• Opportunity to see the meaning and impact of your work at an organization actively building more equitable communities and systems across California
• Opportunity to work in an organization dedicated to pay equity and diverse work culture
• Yearly professional development allowance and support of personalized professional development goals