Director of Development

Job Title: Director of Development

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The mission of Oakland Promise is to engage the Oakland community to advance equity and

economic mobility through cradle-to-career educational opportunities. Founded in 2016, Oakland

Promise is a citywide movement with over 50 implementation partners working towards our

common vision. Oakland Promise supports children and families from birth through college and

career to ensure that postsecondary success is a reality for all Oaklanders. Oakland Promise

includes four programs: Brilliant Baby, Kindergarten to College (K2C), College Access, and

College Scholarships and Completion, provide a cradle to career continuum of

college-focused supports for students. Our goal is to dramatically increase the number of college

graduates from Oakland and ensure that all students hold a college-bound identity. We seek a

hard-working, strategic, highly detail-oriented individual to join our community in undertaking this

important work.

Job Purpose

Oakland Promise seeks a detail-oriented and passionate Director of Development with strong

organizational, strategic, relationship-building, and fundraising skills. The Director of

Development will lead an innovative development team tasked with raising the annual budget of

around $12-14 million as well as other ongoing fundraising campaigns. The team works across the

organization to ensure that the organization is sustainable in the short- and long-term.

Duties & Responsibilities

▪ Lead the overall development function for the Oakland Promise, including setting and

meeting quarterly and annual fundraising goals for a portfolio of individual, institutional,

corporate and public prospects

▪ Identify and qualify major gift prospects ($100k+), help develop appropriate cultivation

and solicitation strategies, and execute individualized action plans

▪ Manage OP’s relationship with institutional funders, including an array of foundations,

public entities and corporations

▪ Work with development team to produce yearly fundraising/marketing collateral, including

direct mail campaigns and annual report

▪ Work with the Board of Directors to set giving goals and help board members achieve the

goals they set

▪ Work with the development team to plan and execute donor stewardship events

▪ Lead the execution of a successful annual fundraising gala

▪ Manage comprehensive donor recognition, retention, and stewardship plan for portfolio

and prospects

▪ Lead with anti-racist fundraising principles, including dual accountability with internal and

external stakeholders

▪ Cultivate and maintain strong relationships internally and externally with a wide range of

diverse stakeholders

▪ Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

● At least 10 years of fundraising experience, demonstrating progressively higher levels of

responsibilities and accomplishments

● A track record of successfully meeting fundraising goals

● Experience managing a complex portfolio of fundraising prospects, with a mixture of grant

deadlines, direct appeals, events, and personal solicitations

● Experience with communications and organizational external relations

● Passion for the OP’s mission

● Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

● Flexibility and adaptability in work schedule

● Comfort with ambiguity and entrepreneurship

● Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups

Preferred Qualifications

● Experience in the fields of education or college access

● Knowledge of and connections to Oakland communities

Compensation:

● Full-time non-exempt position

● The Oakland Promise offers medical, dental, and vision benefits, vacation, and sick-time.

● Some evening and weekend hours may be required