Vice President of Development, Individual Giving

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users worldwide and 1.4 million educators every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.

Job Overview:

The VP of Development, Individual Giving, serves as a frontline fundraiser, strategist, and manager of Common Sense's individual and event fundraising and development operations.

Location: San Francisco, California

Reports To: Chief Development Officer

Salary: $160,000–$190,000

Type: Full-time, exempt

What You'll Do:

• Develop a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategy and plans to expand donor base and grow annual individual and event revenue from $5M to $10M+ over the next five years.
• Direct all individual-giving fundraising efforts, including leadership and major gifts, annual giving, events, donor advisory councils, and campaigns.
• Effectively cultivate and manage a portfolio of approximately 125 to 150 active campaign prospects, focusing primarily on gifts in the $100K to $1M+ range.
• Serve as lead strategist with CDO, CEO, and board volunteers on cultivating and soliciting principal/leadership gifts ($100K and above).
• Monitor all donor information; provide and present fundraising reports and statistical analysis to CDO, executive leadership, and board.
• Oversee Development events (friendraisers and fundraisers) across regions, including the signature national event, the Common Sense Awards.
• Refine and manage a stewardship and donor communications program aimed at cultivating deeper ties with donors.
• Establish clear, realistic, and transparent fundraising success metrics; provide timely and accurate reports to the CDO, executive leadership, and development committee on all individual-giving fundraising activities.
• Oversee all development operations for the department; ensure that all systems and processes, from data capture to gift acceptances and processing, follow sound accountability practices.
• Recruit, develop, and mentor the individual giving and development operations team.

What We're Looking For:

• Demonstrated experience in formulating visionary strategies, stewarding gifts of $1M or more, and effectively presenting materials that inspire individual donors at all giving levels.
• Experience managing an integrated individual giving program: major giving, events, annual appeal.
• Proven track record and experience helping to lead major gifts or capital campaigns.
• Depth of knowledge of individual fund development and fundraising operations, along with a demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and successfully complete comprehensive campaigns.
• Proven success in leading a team of five or more while creating a goal-oriented environment that empowers and inspires.
• High level of comfort and effectiveness working with high net-worth individuals and corporate business leaders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; adeptness in creating and communicating compelling stories of impact.
• Collaborates well with others; high level of intra- and interdepartmental coordination required.
• Personal flexibility to travel and work evenings if required.
• Passion for Common Sense's mission.
• Bachelor's degree in related field required; master's degree preferred.

Our Benefits:

• The chance to work with talented, passionate professionals.
• A great health and welfare benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, a matching 401(k), and other key benefits.
• An organization that offers work/life balance.
• The opportunity to really make a difference in the lives of kids and families!

Common Sense Media provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Common Sense Media will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. However, job offers are made on the condition that the applicant subsequently passes a criminal background check. If the background check indicates a prior criminal conviction, we will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction should result in denial of employment. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.