What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development Director position at Communities for a Better Environment?
General Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director (DD) shapes and guides strategies to meet organizational fundraising goals. The DD leads a Development Team of 5 full-time staff including: Grants Manager, Northern California Development Associate, Southern CA Development Associate, Contracts Coordinator, and a Grassroots Fundraising Organizer (GFO) - to be phased out and replaced by a Donor Relations Manager. The DD works closely with the Executive Director and a statewide Funder Team on funder and donor relations, and with the Finance Director on organizational income projections and financial reporting to funders. The DD meets with and reports each quarter to the Board of Directors.
CBE’s Transformative Organizing Model has reoriented the organization with the goal of building more power - including fundraising power - in the communities where we organize. The DD fosters a culture of fundraising across the organization as a means of building community power within and beyond the limitations of CBE itself. Toward these ends, the DD shares fundraising knowledge and helps to shape strategy, including supporting the Development Team in engaging CBE’s Directors, Board of Directors and others in strategic organizational fundraising, and working to ensure the integration of development across all departments and community teams.
CBE receives the majority of our revenue from foundations, government agencies and individual donors. Our fundraising appeals include foundation and government grant requests, as well as direct mail, email, social media, phone banking, and occasional fundraising events. We are looking for candidates with significant experience relevant to the above plans, as well as a proven track record in successfully securing six figure grants.
CBE’s Development Team operates out of our 4 community team offices, in either East Oakland, Richmond, Southeast LA, or Wilmington
Essential Functions
Direct Fundraising: 50%
Preference will be given to applicants with professional or personal experience related to the environmental movement, social justice, public interest, civil rights, community organizing, scientific training, and/or a personal history with communities highly impacted by pollution.
Benefits And Compensation
This is a full-time, overtime-exempt position, with an annual salary of $111,813 and an average expected work week of around 40 hours. The Associate Director will receive CBE’s comprehensive benefits package, including a generous vacation and leave policy (26 days of paid leave in the first year, including holidays); fully-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance; an additional mental health benefit; a 401(k) retirement plan; and a flexible spending plan. CBE pays full premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee, spouse or domestic partner, and any dependents.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director (DD) shapes and guides strategies to meet organizational fundraising goals. The DD leads a Development Team of 5 full-time staff including: Grants Manager, Northern California Development Associate, Southern CA Development Associate, Contracts Coordinator, and a Grassroots Fundraising Organizer (GFO) - to be phased out and replaced by a Donor Relations Manager. The DD works closely with the Executive Director and a statewide Funder Team on funder and donor relations, and with the Finance Director on organizational income projections and financial reporting to funders. The DD meets with and reports each quarter to the Board of Directors.
CBE’s Transformative Organizing Model has reoriented the organization with the goal of building more power - including fundraising power - in the communities where we organize. The DD fosters a culture of fundraising across the organization as a means of building community power within and beyond the limitations of CBE itself. Toward these ends, the DD shares fundraising knowledge and helps to shape strategy, including supporting the Development Team in engaging CBE’s Directors, Board of Directors and others in strategic organizational fundraising, and working to ensure the integration of development across all departments and community teams.
CBE receives the majority of our revenue from foundations, government agencies and individual donors. Our fundraising appeals include foundation and government grant requests, as well as direct mail, email, social media, phone banking, and occasional fundraising events. We are looking for candidates with significant experience relevant to the above plans, as well as a proven track record in successfully securing six figure grants.
CBE’s Development Team operates out of our 4 community team offices, in either East Oakland, Richmond, Southeast LA, or Wilmington
Essential Functions
Direct Fundraising: 50%
- Lead and actively participate in the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of foundations aligned with CBE’s mission.
- Directly prepare letters of inquiry, proposals and reports, and supervise other staff members’ work to do the same.
- Guide the Executive Director and other staff in building relationships with all individual donors and funders, particularly major donors and program officers.
- Oversee individual donor engagement work with Donor Relations staff.
- Assist with development of program budgets and financial reports, in coordination with the Director of Finance and Operations and other staff.
- Develop Strategic Plan to raise $2.5 million in new revenue by 2026/27.
- Monitor, adapt, and evaluate fundraising strategies, as needed.
- Guide decisions on where to focus fundraising time and resources.
- Guide the Development Teams participation and strategic partnerships in CBE’s four (4) Community Teams, Policy/Research Team. Legal Team. and Civic Engagement Team.
- Support Development staff in integrating development messaging within CBE’s communications stream.
- Guide the Development Teams planning and implementation of key fundraising events which may include Funder Tours, House Parties, and Phone-Banking events.
- Ensure adequate tracking of all grants, donors, and funders; in addition to streamlining Devlopment Team processes and practices to ensure efficiency across teams and accurate tracking of information.
- Coach and supervise Development staff, guide evolution of work plans, and organize annual 360 performance reviews.
- Guide and oversee the development of content for development communications materials, including brochures, annual reports, etc.
- Oversee individual donor engagement work.
- Serve on CBE’s interdepartmental Admin Team.
- Stay updated on CBE’s various interdepartmental needs which include assessing the needs of CBE’s four (4) community teams, local, regional, and statewide campaigns, as well as legal, research/policy, communications, climate adaptation & resiliency, and civic engagement department needs.
- Participate in and help guide CBE’s statewide Resource Mobilization team.
- Five or more years of fundraising experience, preferably at an environmental justice or social justice organization
- Experience supervising multiple staff members and fostering leadership development within a team
- Proven Success in strategic planning and implementation to achieve fundraising goals.
- Demonstrated experience with foundations, including a track record of securing $100k-plus grants.
- Proven achievement in prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual donors.
- Event coordination experience.
- Excellent communication, computer, and donor database skills.
- Ability to stay organized in the face of shifting deadlines, tasks, and time-sensitive organizational needs.
- Strong people skills: be community-friendly and can engage a broad spectrum of people representing various social, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
- Experience working with low-income communities of color, environmental justice, and/or social justice organizations
- Lived experience and a deep commitment to working with communities impacted by environmental justice issues.
Preference will be given to applicants with professional or personal experience related to the environmental movement, social justice, public interest, civil rights, community organizing, scientific training, and/or a personal history with communities highly impacted by pollution.
Benefits And Compensation
This is a full-time, overtime-exempt position, with an annual salary of $111,813 and an average expected work week of around 40 hours. The Associate Director will receive CBE’s comprehensive benefits package, including a generous vacation and leave policy (26 days of paid leave in the first year, including holidays); fully-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance; an additional mental health benefit; a 401(k) retirement plan; and a flexible spending plan. CBE pays full premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee, spouse or domestic partner, and any dependents.
Salary : $111,813
