Associate Director of Development

Job Title: Associate Director of Development

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Development Associate

Location: Pasadena, California

Classification: Full-time, Exempt, Hybrid

Salary Range: $95K - $105K

Benefits: Medical, dental and vision; 401(k) participation and 5% company match; sick, vacation and holiday pay; professional development stipend.

Position Summary

Create CA seeks a full-time Associate Director of Development who will oversee individual giving, major gifts, events, and corporate sponsorships. The Associate Director of Development will be a key member of the development team, providing critical support for institutional giving, the donor management database, and other development needs for Create’s Pasadena office and statewide team. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Create CA’s mission is to advocate for high-quality arts education for all students by providing policy expertise and by mobilizing a statewide network of advocates and allied partners. Create CA is the only statewide organization that brings together all primary constituencies for arts education, including arts organizations, K-12 teachers, professional teacher associations, state and local education departments, professional development providers, parents and PTAs, and interested community members in higher education and business. Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core to our organizational values and integrated into our external and internal processes. For more information, please visit www.createca.org and createca.org/racial-equity-statement

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

General Development

• Working closely with the Executive Director and Deputy Director, oversee individual giving, major gifts, events, and corporate sponsorships, and support institutional giving by processing grant paperwork, monitoring deadlines, and submitting proposals and reports
• Build relationships with, cultivate, and solicit donors, including but not limited to: board members, individual donors, major donors, legacy society members, and corporate sponsors
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to: fund development consultants, event planners, and other contractors
• Supervise Development Associate (whose duties will include grant writing/copyediting, grant reporting, database management, fundraising communications, event planning support, and assigned prospect research)
• Develop and implement a legacy giving program
• Coordinate logistics, prepare materials, and execute donor meetings and special events
• Work closely with the operations team to ensure development activities comply with legal and fiscal guidelines
• Support the processing, tracking, and acknowledgment of donations
• Oversee direct mail campaigns
• Produce fundraising dashboards, reports, and monitor development goals on an ongoing basis, and provide recommendations for improvement including new and innovative fundraising ideas
• Work closely and serve as staff liaison for the Board Fund Development Committee on meeting planning and objectives

Donor Cultivation

• Conduct donor prospect research
• Develop major gifts relationships, cultivate and maintain foundation and donor relationships.
• Support the Executive Director in securing and finalizing major grants
• Implement and refine Fund Diversification Plan, striving to meet or exceed annual development goals.
• Maintain donor development database and coordinate with third-party vendors as appropriate
• Work with leadership to evolve the board to become active fundraising partners, shifting from a supportive to a fundraising role
• Provide training and technical assistance to board and staff engaged in donor solicitation

Communication & Other

• Respond to public inquiries and represent Create CA effectively to the public
• Provide strategic guidance and feedback on communications projects related to development materials, including email campaigns and social media content.
• Inform the design and implementation of a communications strategy that builds brand awareness and supports fundraising efforts that reflect Create CA’s unique role in advancing equitable access to the arts.
• Model and cultivate a healthy workplace culture, including uplifting racial diversity, equity and inclusion values as described in Create CA’s Racial Equity Statement
• Provide other development support as needed

Physical Requirements

• Duties require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs

Job Qualifications

Experience: 3-5 years of mid-level fund development experience required.

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ideal candidate will have/be:

• Exemplary organizational, time management, project management, analytic and coordination skills
• Highly motivated, able to plan proactively, prioritize tasks, and manage competing priorities
• Excellent attention to detail and follow-through on projects/tasks
• Strong written and spoken communication, interpersonal skills, and ability to connect with diverse audiences
• Stellar note-taking, editing, and proofreading skills
• Knowledge using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Macintosh or PC platform required
• Experience with Google Workspace, Smartsheet, Dropbox, Zoom, and/or donor databases is desired but not required
• Experience building and maintaining organizational systems and processes, including donor management systems and project management highly desired
• General technological savvy and strong online research skills
• Friendly and professional presence in telephone, virtual, and face-to-face communication
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team structure
• Ability to handle sensitive information with tact and discretion
• Ease working with and ability to present complex data to a variety of audiences in a simple, understandable way
• Honesty, integrity, ability to adapt to change and provide solution-oriented approaches
• Valid California driver’s license

Application Process

To apply, submit the following as one (1) attachment in pdf format to hr@createca.org with the subject line “Create CA Associate Director of Development Application - [Your Name]”:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing sample - Preferably an executive summary or introduction of a previous grant application that you have written with identifying information redacted.

Applicants will be contacted only if their skills match the job requirements. No calls, please. Anticipated start date is March/April 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Create CA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Create CA seeks diversity and does not discriminate based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status or any other basis protected by law.

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.

Medical, dental and vision; 401(k) participation and 5% company match; sick, vacation and holiday pay; professional development stipend.