Director of Development

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting SAG-AFTRA members through financial assistance, educational programming, and public outreach initiatives, including our Emmy award-winning children's literacy program. As we celebrate 40 years of impact, we are focused on significantly expanding our philanthropic portfolio.

The Foundation is looking for a Director of Development, a newly created position to lead our fundraising efforts, driving revenue growth by an additional $3-5 million annually through individual giving, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding. This senior-level position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that ensures financial sustainability and supports the Foundation’s expanding programs.

The Director of Development reports to the Chief Executive Officer and will help build out the team of internal staff and external contractors. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader, results-driven fundraiser, and experienced relationship-builder with a deep understanding of nonprofit development and donor engagement within the entertainment industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a multi-faceted fundraising plan, increasing revenue streams across individual, corporate, and foundation giving.
• Drive donor acquisition, cultivation, and retention strategies to ensure long-term philanthropic growth.
• Lead and mentor the Development Team, setting clear goals and ensuring high performance.

Individual Giving & Major Gifts

• Design and execute campaigns for small-dollar individual giving.
• Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to cultivate high-net-worth individuals and secure transformative gifts.
• Develop compelling fundraising materials, including impact reports, proposals, and donor correspondence.
• Utilize Salesforce CRM and Fundraise Up to manage donor data, track engagement, and optimize fundraising efforts.
• Manage and enhance online giving platforms, leveraging new technologies to drive digital donations.

Institutional Giving (Foundations & Grants)

• Oversee the Institutional Giving Manager in identifying and pursuing grant opportunities.
• Craft and submit grant proposals and oversee reporting requirements.
• Cultivate relationships with foundation funders to secure multi-year support.

Corporate Partnerships

• Supervise and support the Director of Corporate Giving in developing and expanding corporate sponsorships and partnerships.
• Identify opportunities for event sponsorships and programmatic support, including individual programs and Storyline Online.

Special Events

• Support the CEO in the planning and execution of existing and developing new fundraising events.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• 8+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven ability to develop and implement successful fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrated track record of securing major gifts, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.
• Strong experience in individual giving, donor cultivation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ability to build relationships with individuals who support the entertainment industry, corporate partners, and institutional funders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising materials.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience managing Salesforce CRM and fundraising platforms.
• Background in working with high net worth individuals, business managers, event fundraising, planned giving, and online donor engagement.

Who You Are:

You are a strategic, innovative, and highly organized development professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You have a proven track record of exceeding fundraising goals and are passionate about advancing the mission of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. If you’re a visionary leader with strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to driving revenue growth, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation/Benefits:

$160k+ salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits package includes: a generous pension plan; escalating vacation; paid sick, personal days, and holidays; and health benefits for employees including medical, dental, vision, flex spending accounts, employee assistance program, and life and long-term disability insurance.

Notes:

• The SAG-AFTRA Foundation cannot provide relocation benefits to candidates.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
• Staff members are expected to consciously and continuously promote the mission, values, programs, and impact of the organization when presented with opportunities for participating in membership development and reaching out to personal connections on behalf of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
• This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

About the SAG-AFTRA Foundation

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides vital assistance and free educational programming to the professionals of SAG-AFTRA while serving the public at large through its award-winning children's literacy program Storyline Online®. The Foundation relies on support from gifts, grants, and sponsorships to maintain its free programs.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Please submit a cover letter (required) and resume to Matt Huhn, Director of Operations at mhuhn@sagaftra.foundation.