Director, Development

Organization Overview

As a statewide network and hub, Youth Organize! California expands and grows the strategic, professional, and socio-emotional power and political analysis of young people and youth organizers across the state. We cultivate transformative youth organizing to generate long-term transformation in our communities. We strengthen the youth organizing ecosystem and grow the capacities of organizations to build power in deep alignment towards a shared vision of liberation, healing, and justice. We invest in sustainable leadership pathways that center the voices and experiences of the most impacted young people, nurturing a bold, multi-issue movement.

About the Position

Yo! Cali's Director, Development is a full-time, exempt salaried position (40 hours per week), remote across California, reporting directly to the Associate Director, Strategy & Partnerships.

The Director, Development is the key strategist responsible for advancing YO! Cali's fundraising strategy and donor relationships in service of the organization's mission and long-term sustainability. This role leads the design and execution of annual and multi-year development plans, manages a portfolio of major donors, oversees grant strategy and reporting, and guides external communications that support fundraising and storytelling.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Director, Development advances YO! Cali's mission by building and sustaining the organization's fundraising capacity and funder relationships. This role emphasizes strategic donor engagement, cross-team collaboration, and clear, values-aligned external communication. Core areas of responsibility include:

Board Engagement

• Work with the Board to initiate and implement fundraising strategies and support donor cultivation and solicitation, including forming and working with a Development Committee.

Fundraising

• Develop and implement YO! Cali's annual and multi-year development and fundraising plans
• Execute, manage, and track fundraising strategies across corporate, foundation, and public grants
• Execute, manage, and track fundraising events to meet annual and long-term fundraising goals, starting with YO! Cali's 10-year anniversary
• Regularly conduct prospect research, identifying new funding opportunities.
• Oversee grant strategy, proposals, and reporting in partnership with the Associate Director of Strategy and Partnerships
• Collaborate with the Program Team to streamline information sharing and deliver prompt and accurate content for funders and other external audiences
• Oversee the development calendar, including measuring the organization's progress against its annual development plan and strategic plan

Communication (External Comms to Support Development)

• Develop and implement external communications strategies focused on fundraising to drive interest and awareness of Yo! Cali's mission and impact among donors and funders
• Facilitate the creation of external communications materials in support of the fundraising plan, consistent with Yo! Cali's branding, messaging, and voice across all platforms (e.g. website, Annual Report, external materials, social media)
• Ensure ethical and strength-based storytelling practices are upheld across development communications

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Foster strong collaboration between senior leadership, Finance, Development, and Program teams to support storytelling and reporting
• Work in close partnership with the Youth Power Fund team to strengthen funder relationships and provide coordination support for major fundraising efforts and strategies

Data Tracking/Reporting

• Coordinate with the Program Team to understand metrics and the collection of data for funder reporting and other communications
• Provide regular fundraising reports for the Board, Development Committee, and Executive Director
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting across grants and communications

Key Qualifications

• Experience developing fundraising strategy for small to medium sized nonprofits
• Experience translating fundraising strategy into annual and multiyear development plans
• Experience prospecting and securing new foundation and government grants
• Experience successfully writing grant proposals and reports
• Nice to Haves:
  • Prior experience fundraising for organizing and advocacy groups (direct experience with youth organizations is a plus)
  • Communications experience
  • Fundraising event planning

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• A deep commitment to social justice, racial equity, Black Liberation, and the principles of transformative youth organizing
• Passion for supporting and growing the capacity of individuals, organizations, and regional networks to collaborate, strategize, and build sustainable movements.
• Strong problem-solving skills, a resourceful approach to challenges, excellent organizational habits, and reliable follow-through
• A strategic understanding of movement ecosystems, including how grassroots efforts, coalitions, and advocacy work intersect and influence change
• A commitment to modeling and fostering self and collective care practices within organizing spaces, recognizing them as essential to long-term movement sustainability
• A demonstrated willingness to engage in principled struggle, offer and receive feedback with humility, and actively build trust within a team committed to accountability, growth, and shared leadership

Physical Demands:

The Director, Development role includes the following physical demands:

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods
• Ability to read and process information on a screen
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard and standard office equipment
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively by phone, video call, and in person
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment weighing up to 10 pounds (e.g., event supplies, printed materials).

Additional Position Details:

• Position Type: Full-time, exempt
• Location: Remote across California
• Compensation: Annual salary of $118,320
• This position includes the following benefits:
  • Comprehensive health coverage for employees and dependents fully covered by YO! Cali, including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance (based on full-time equivalent/FTE status)
  • Life insurance
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and organizational rest periods

Youth Organize! California is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/gender nonconforming people, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Benefits include medical, vision, and dental, and generous vacation time, sick time, and holidays. YO! California also covers employee portion of health insurance premiums. Each staff member receives a wellness stipend and company wellness weeks where the organization is closed are observed twice a year. Work is fully remote, each staff receives a work computer, and funds are provided for home office set up.