Development Director

Classification and Time: Full-time, Exempt

Salary: $130,000 - $145,000 DOE

Benefits: Health, dental and vision insurance, long-term disability and life/AD&D insurance, pretax commuter benefit, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid holidays, sick, and vacation time

Hours: 40 hours per week

Reports to: Executive Director

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE URBAN FOREST

Since 1981, Friends of the Urban Forest, a premier San Francisco environmental nonprofit, has brought together communities throughout the city to plant more than 60,000 trees — half of San Francisco’s street tree canopy. Friends of the Urban Forest has a long history of integrating urban greening with civic engagement as a way to increase community health and resilience, combat the effects of the climate crisis, and promote environmental equity and social justice. Friends of the Urban Forest recognizes San Francisco’s many communities and cultures and the diverse ways in which they connect with our urban forest. We also connect San Franciscans to nature and to each other.

This position at Friends of the Urban Forest would give you the exciting opportunity to be part of a growing and dynamic professional organization that has been creating a greener San Francisco for over 45 years.

Position Overview

The Development Director is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive fundraising strategy that ensures the long-term sustainability and growth of Friends of the Urban Forest, generating between $1.5 and $2 million in contributed revenue annually. This includes oversight of all annual, major, and planned giving; foundation and corporate relations; events; and communications that support donor engagement. The Development Director serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and the rest of the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Board of Directors and staff to strengthen Friends of the Urban Forest’s culture of philanthropy.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned fundraising professional with excellent leadership skills, a collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to environmental justice and community empowerment.

Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Partner with the Executive Director, the rest of the Senior Leadership Team, and Board to strengthen philanthropy, cultivate donor relationships, and expand fundraising capacity.
• Provide regular analysis, projections, and strategic recommendations to organizational leadership.
• Grow total annual contributed revenue and specifically, unrestricted funding.
• Strengthen cross-departmental collaboration with Programs, Finance and Operations.

Team Management & Culture Building

• Hire, supervise, support, and mentor a small team of experienced resource development staff.
• Foster a collaborative, values-driven department that centers equity, curiosity, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Ensure clear roles, workflows, and performance benchmarks.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors and institutional funders.
• Oversee proposal development, reporting, events, donor communications, and development of CRM standards and donation platforms.
• Expand and diversify the donor base while strengthening engagement with long-time supporters and community partners.

Collaboration & External Relations

• Work closely with program staff to understand organizational priorities and articulate compelling case statements.
• Represent Friends of the Urban Forest at events, donor meetings, partner gatherings, and community forums as needed.
• Collaborate with communications staff to ensure consistent, mission-aligned messaging.
• Collaborate with finance staff to ensure systems accurately report and classify revenue.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in environmental, community development, or social justice organizations.
• Proven success in major gifts, foundation relations, and donor strategy development.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and storytelling skills.
• Strong project management skills and comfort juggling multiple priorities.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered practices.
• Passion for sustainability, climate resilience, and urban forestry is strongly preferred.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

The Development Director position is full-time, exempt with an annual salary of $130,000 - $145,000. Friends of the Urban Forest offers a competitive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance for employees and 50% for dependents (up to a certain limit). We offer a 403(b) Retirement Plan with an employer match, a generous paid leave policy that includes 13 holidays each year, vacation starting at 12 days and increasing with additional years of employment, 10 sick days and funds for professional development opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Friends of the Urban Forest is dedicated to gender and race equity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, Friends of the Urban Forest does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of any status or characteristic protected by applicable laws or ordinances. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Flexible and Safe Work Environment

The position currently operates in a hybrid model with approximately 50% time working in the office located in the Presidio of San Francisco and 50% time working remotely.

Friends of the Urban Forest is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all employees. In an effort to avoid serious health and safety risks and significant disruption to our work, we have taken measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 including a mandatory vaccination policy. New hires will be asked to provide proof of vaccination on the first day of employment.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Office workspaces are often shared and employees should not have any expectation that they can be assigned a dedicated workspace.

HOW TO APPLY

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply, and so are candidates dedicated to anti-racism, gender inclusivity, and inclusion.

If you're interested, please apply using this form.

Health, dental and vision insurance, long-term disability and life/AD&D insurance, pretax commuter benefit, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid holidays, sick, and vacation time