Director of Philanthropy-San Diego regional office-13-130

Position Summary

The Regional Director of Philanthropy is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies to support The Salvation Army’s mission. This role will cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors within a specified region of the Golden State Division, ensuring strong relationships and sustainable revenue growth.

Essential Functions

• Fundraising & Donor Development
  • In collaboration with the County Coordinators attend and provide staff assistance to the Metro Advisory Board meetings, executive committee meetings, finance/development committee meetings and the impact committee meetings.
  • Develop and manage relationships with donors, local corporate donors, and local foundations.
  • Maintain a caseload of approximately 110 relationally qualified donors.
  • Develop donor plans aligned with territorial benchmarks and metrics, including per-donor fundraising goals and strategies for gifts of $5,000 and higher.
  • Engage in face-to-face donor meetings, presentations, and proposal development.
  • Cultivate relationships with grant funders and manage grant proposals and reports.
  • Collaborate with the Development Team, and other teams, to coordinate fundraising efforts.
  • Cookordinate with divisional staff in identifying Planned Gifts, as applicable.
• Strategy & Planning
  • Understand the funding needs for the region, including existing and expanded operations.
  • Coordinate development efforts with Corps Officers, Regional Leadership, Divisional Development Department and contracted fundraising firms.
  • Regularly update leadership on fundraising progress and challenges.
• Community Engagement & Advocacy
  • In cooperation with local units represent The Salvation Army at regional events, conferences, and networking opportunities.
  • Develop partnerships with community leaders, board members, and volunteers.
  • Consult with leadership to align strategies with organizational priorities and address challenges.
• Operational & Administrative Responsibilities
  • Provides supervision of daily operations of the San Diego County Development Team.
  • Meets regularly with the SoCal Divisional Director of Development for strategy and progress to goals and initiatives.
  • Document all donor/funder interactions in the CRM, following established practices or policies.
  • Prepare reports on fundraising activities, donor engagement, and revenue projections.
  • Attend board meetings as a guest, when requested, to learn about programs and development goals.
  • Maintain communication and cooperation between the Development Department and other local departments.
  • Participate in professional training, meetings, and development opportunities.
  • Carry out office and computer-related tasks to fulfill the position goals.
  • Ensure compliance with Salvation Army Policies, ethical standards, and legal regulations.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience
• Minimum five years in non-profit fundraising with a successful track record in major gifts and grants
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong relationship management and customer service skills
• Ability to travel regionally and occasionally work evenings and weekends
• Proficient in Microsoft products and online resources for internet research
• Experience managing a portfolio and direct solicitation
• Comfortable with direct donor interaction and major financial commitments
• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple projects independently
• Familiarity with fundraising and workplace ethics
• Adaptable and flexible in changing job situations
• Goal-oriented and able to meet/exceed expectations
• Detail-oriented with focus on quality and accuracy
• Ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals
• Support and promote The Salvation Army’s mission and values
• Valid Driver’s License and willingness to travel regularly

Preferred Experiences

• Experience in nonprofit organizations, particularly social services or human rights
• Knowledge of planned giving, capital campaigns, and grant writing

Skills And Abilities

• Effective interpersonal, conversational, and presentation skills, demonstrating professional maturity, emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities, and strong case development and gift solicitation skills
• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, leadership volunteers and wealthy donors, as well as internal stakeholders and leadership
• Proven expertise in problem solving, thinking strategically and creatively, and taking initiative with good follow through
• A high level of comfort with direct donor interaction is a must, including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for major financial commitments
• Team player, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to collaborate effectively with officers, staff and volunteers for successful achievement of position and department goals
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment without extensive admin support
• Must be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities with professionalism and grace
• Demonstrated goal-oriented, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon timeframes
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly

Essential Qualifications

• Must embrace, support, and reflect well on The Salvation Army’s mission and values through one’s professional responsibilities and behavior at all times
• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience, plus a minimum of five years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven track record of major gifts success
• Effective interpersonal, conversational and presentation skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities and strong case development and pitching skills
• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, leadership volunteers and wealthy donors, as well as internal stakeholders and leadership
• Proven expertise in problem solving, thinking strategically and creatively, and taking initiative with good follow through
• A high level of comfort with direct donor interaction is a must, including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for major financial commitments
• Team player, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to collaborate effectively with officers, staff and volunteers for successful achievement of position and department goals
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment without extensive admin support
• Must be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities with professionalism and grace
• Demonstrated goal-oriented, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon timeframes
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly
• Valid Driver’s License required

Pay Rate

$150-$165K/yr