Director of Development

Director of Development

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

(Hybrid role with 1–2 days per week in person to support team collaboration, relationship-building, and organizational culture. Regular travel to San Francisco and San Jose required.)

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Start Date: May 2026

Starting Salary: $145,000

About Minds Matter Bay Area

Minds Matter is a national nonprofit organization that connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world. Since 1991, every Minds Matter student across the country has been accepted to a four-year college — helping to address the widespread issue of college undermatching. Their success is rooted in holistic programming and a unique, volunteer-powered model that fosters deep, long-standing relationships between students and mentors.

Founded in 2010, Minds Matter Bay Area (MMBay) is one of 14 chapters in the national network. To date, MMBay has graduated more than 250 students — 100% have been accepted to four-year colleges, and 75% attend some of the most selective institutions in the country.

Our free weekly programming is delivered by a powerful network of volunteers who mentor, teach, and walk alongside students on their journey to — and through — college. We are driven by equity, relationships, and a deep belief in the brilliance and potential of our students.

Learn more at www.mindsmatterbay.org.

Position Overview

The Director of Development is a senior, hands-on fundraising leader with a proven track record, responsible for owning and executing Minds Matter Bay Area’s fundraising strategy and results. This role leads a comprehensive fundraising program supporting an annual goal of approximately $1.3M and plays a key role in advancing the organization toward its next stage of growth as part of a $2M+ organization, in alignment with MMBay’s strategic plan.

Operating within a lean, highly collaborative organization, the Director of Development holds significant ownership and influence, leading and mobilizing volunteer fundraising teams and partnering closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Associate Board to drive results. While fundraising success is a shared organizational responsibility, the Director of Development is the primary owner of fundraising planning, coordination, tracking, and progress toward revenue goals.

The Director of Development provides leadership and direction to MMBay’s Associate Board, a highly engaged team of 50+ professionals who play a critical role in fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. The Associate Board serves as a core fundraising engine and collaborative partner, providing significant capacity and momentum behind MMBay’s development efforts.

Another key component of this role is leading the strategy and execution of School Night, MMBay’s annual fundraising gala and largest single fundraising initiative. The Director of Development serves as the primary staff lead for School Night, collaborating closely with the Executive Director, Board, and Associate Board to ensure strong results, shared ownership, and an excellent donor and volunteer experience.

As a member of MMBay’s senior leadership team, the Director of Development serves as a key thought partner to the Executive Director, bringing fundraising and donor expertise into strategic planning and helping translate organizational priorities into actionable fundraising, donor, and partnership strategies. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both leading and doing, values strong systems and follow-through, and thrives in a highly collaborative, relationship-centered environment.

Fundraising Accountability and Scope

The Director of Development is accountable for leading and achieving Minds Matter Bay Area’s annual fundraising goals, currently totaling approximately $1.3M, while playing a central role in advancing the organization toward its next stage of growth. A core priority of this role is helping to scale MMBay’s fundraising over time, with the aspiration of building toward a $2M+ organization in alignment with MMBay’s strategic plan and organizational capacity.

Success in this role will be measured by progress toward fundraising goals, strength of donor and volunteer engagement, quality of systems and execution, and effective partnership with staff and board leadership.

Core Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• This role has authority to design and execute fundraising strategies and initiatives, in alignment with organizational priorities and in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Develop, manage, and adjust the annual fundraising plan, calendar, and revenue targets across major gifts, corporate partnerships, events, grants, and appeals.
• Monitor progress against goals, analyze performance, and recommend strategic course corrections.
• Serve as the primary owner of fundraising outcomes and accountability.

Donor and Corporate Partnerships

• Lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and corporate donors, with an emphasis on building long-term, values-aligned relationships.
• Design and deliver high-quality donor engagement experiences that deepen connection to MMBay’s mission, including site visits, student and volunteer interactions, and tailored engagement opportunities.
• Cultivate and steward net-new individual and corporate donor relationships to expand MMBay’s fundraising base.
• Partner with the Executive Director on top-tier donor and corporate relationships, including preparation, joint meetings, and strategic follow-up.
• Lead in-person donor and corporate engagement across the Bay Area, including meetings, presentations, site visits, and partnership-building opportunities.

Board and Associate Board Engagement

• Lead fundraising efforts for the Associate Board, including goal-setting, planning, accountability, and follow-through.
• Partner with Associate Board leadership to build a positive, inclusive team experience that motivates sustained involvement and results.
• Equip Board and Associate Board members with tools, messaging, and coaching for effective fundraising.
• Track and follow up on Board and Associate Board fundraising commitments and activity.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board leadership on fundraising-related board engagement, including participation in relevant board or committee meetings as appropriate.

Learn more about MMBay’s Associate Board here: https://www.mindsmatterbay.org/joinab

Events, Campaigns, and Grants

• Partner with the Executive Director, board members, Associate Board, and volunteers to maximize fundraising outcomes and ensure a high-quality, mission-aligned event experience.
• Lead strategy, design, and execution for MMBay’s fundraising events and campaigns, with particular responsibility for School Night, the organization’s annual fundraising gala.
• Own revenue strategy, timelines, volunteer coordination, run of show, donor experience, and post-event follow-up for School Night, a flagship fundraising event that anchors MMBay’s fundraising efforts over the course of the year.
• Evaluate event performance and return on investment, and recommend improvements year over year.
• Own the grants pipeline, including prospecting, writing, submission, and reporting.

Fundraising Systems & Donor Experience

The Director of Development owns the full fundraising lifecycle and is accountable for the quality, accuracy, and effectiveness of MMBay’s fundraising systems and donor experience. In a lean organization, this includes direct involvement in core fundraising operations to ensure timely stewardship, reliable data, and strong execution.

This role ensures that gift processing, donor records, acknowledgments, reporting, and fundraising communications are managed accurately and consistently, and that systems support both current fundraising goals and future growth.

External Communications (Fundraising Lens)

• Own donor-facing communications, including fundraising appeals, donor newsletters, and the annual report.
• Collaborate with the Director of Programs to integrate program impact and storytelling into donor communications.
• Partner with the Director of Programs to manage the organizational social media calendar, ensuring alignment with fundraising priorities.
• Execute social media posting and fundraising-related website content updates.
• Partner with the Executive Director on high-stakes or organization-wide messaging as needed.

Collaboration and Culture

• Bring polish, sound judgment, and strong relationship management to all donor, corporate, and external-facing interactions.
• Strengthen donor, volunteer, and board trust through consistent communication, reliable follow-through, and thoughtful stewardship.
• Work closely with the Director of Programs and Program Manager to surface compelling stories and outcomes.
• Participate as a peer leader on a small senior team that values collaboration, clarity, and accountability.
• Contribute to building strong internal systems and a culture of communication, follow-through, and continuous improvement.

Minds Matter Bay Area’s work is grounded in core values that include showing up for one another, doing the hard work, prioritizing communication, and practicing emotional courage. The Director of Development is expected to model these values internally and externally.

To learn more about our core values, please visit: mindsmatterbay.org/our-core-values

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience across multiple revenue streams.
• Experience with major gifts and corporate partnerships.
• Experience owning and executing fundraising strategy.
• Comfort with hands-on fundraising operations and administrative work.
• Strong written communication skills, including donor-facing writing.
• Experience working with boards or volunteer fundraising leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a small, evolving organization.
• Given the nature of our program, a Bachelor’s degree is required.

Preferred

• Experience in a growing or scaling nonprofit.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and fundraising analytics.
• Experience in education or youth-serving organizations.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting Salary: $145,000

To promote internal equity and transparency, Minds Matter Bay Area offers a clearly defined salary for this role and does not negotiate compensation. We aim to be upfront so candidates can make informed decisions from the start.

Benefits include flexible paid time off, a health insurance stipend, and a 3% monthly 401(k) contribution.

Apply

Applications must be submitted directly through our career portal. Applications submitted through any other medium will not be considered. The search process will encompass three rounds of interviews and a thought exercise with members of the Minds Matter Bay Area team.

Equal Opportunity

Minds Matter Bay Area is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and volunteers. Individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and first-generation college graduates, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits include flexible paid time off, a health insurance stipend, and a 3% monthly 401(k) contribution.