ETA Fundraising Lead

The Impact You’ll Make

Empower Through Action (ETA) is a purpose-driven non-profit dedicated to creating lasting change in our community by providing wrap-around support to 1,000+ historically underserved students across San Mateo and Foster City high schools and feeder middle schools. Our work is trauma-informed and strength-based, centered on belonging, opportunity, and growth, and includes access to food, clothing, and essential items so students can thrive.

Empower San Mateo expands Hillsdale High School’s Empowerment Through Action (ETA) program to additional schools through a five-year growth plan that includes adult mentors, enrichment activities, academic tutoring, Peace Pantry, Community Closet, Community Garden, and related student and family supports. Every dollar we raise fuels programs that transform the lives of students furthest from opportunity.

As our Fundraising Lead, you will connect passionate supporters to meaningful impact, building the foundation that powers our growth. By cultivating both individual and institutional donors, you will unlock the resources that expand our opportunity and support for students and families.

What You’ll Do

Individual Donors (50%)

• Develop and implement strategies to grow individual contributions, from first-time donors to major gift supporters.
• Create high-impact communication materials for major donors.
• Coordinate board members, volunteers, and students to personally connect with donors (e.g. calls, emails, handwritten notes, and in-person meetings) to share stories of impact.
• Organize and host donor engagement events – both small group gatherings and larger community celebrations.

Institutional Donors (50%)

• Research prospective foundation and corporate funders and assist the ED to identify, qualify, and prioritize prospects.
• Maintain a database of institutional donor contacts and proposals, including deadlines, requirements, and next steps
• Contact institutional donors and arrange calls and/or in person meetings to secure invitations to submit concepts and/or proposals. Prepare meeting briefs and follow-up plans.
• Write and submit concepts and proposals to donors, sourcing content from the ED and other ESM staff.

Fundraising Operations

• Maintain accurate records in our CRM, tracking interactions and contributions.
• Report to the ETA board quarterly on the fundraising pipeline, including wins, losses, and success rate.
• Maintain all fundraising files in the appropriate folders.

What You’ll Bring

• 5+ years of directly relevant nonprofit fundraising experience, ideally on a small team where you owned work end-to-end.
• Strong familiarity with the local donor and funder landscape - particularly values-aligned support committed to education, equity, and youth-serving initiatives.
• Demonstrated track record of securing gifts and grants from diverse sources (individuals, private sector, and foundations).
• Proven experience researching prospects and writing compliant, compelling proposals.
• Experience in planning and executing effective fundraising and donor engagement events.
• Fluency in English with excellent communication, writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Comfortable engaging a wide range of audiences and stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a CRM/donor database (Salesforce preferred).
• Highly organized, proactive, collaborative, and mission-driven.

Why You’ll Love It Here

We have a mission-driven culture where your work directly changes lives. We are a collaborative team that celebrates wins and supports each other. We are consistently inspired by interactions with our students and with the volunteers and donors who support our mission. We are an equal opportunity employer.

None

Must be proficient in English in reading and writing.