Special Olympics Northern California

Job Title: Senior Director of Development

Reports To: Senior Vice President (SVP)

FLSA: Salaried, full-time – benefits eligible

Office Location: San Jose

Special Olympics Northern California's (“SONorCal”) mission is to create an inclusive community where people with and without disabilities can make connections, develop healthy lifestyles, achieve success, and experience the joy of sports.

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Development plays a key leadership role in advancing the mission and vision of Special Olympics Northern California. This position is responsible for driving revenue growth by developing, leading, and executing comprehensive annual fundraising plans. The Senior Director of Development will oversee and guide the Development team, ensuring strategic alignment and operational excellence across all fundraising initiatives. This role focuses on cultivating and expanding support from corporations, community partners, and foundations. The Senior Director of Development will proactively identify and secure funding opportunities to meet and exceed revenue goals, while also creating long-term strategies for sustained financial growth. The Sr. Director of Development reports to the Senior Vice President and supervises development staff within their assigned region, which includes Alameda, Walnut Creek, Solano, Sonoma, and Napa.

Responsibilities/ Essential Functions:

• Advance the mission of SONorCal by securing corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and campaign support to meet regional and team revenue goals.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising plans aligned with annual and multi-year strategic objectives; ensure plans are realistic, measurable, and achievable.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners through in-person cultivation and stewardship meetings, donor events, and effective written and verbal communication.
• Develop compelling funding proposals tailored to partner interests, leveraging internal marketing and program resources to highlight key initiatives in sports, health, leadership, and school programs.
• Establish and maintain a partner cultivation and stewardship cycle to foster donor engagement, encourage increased giving, and promote a long-term relationship with SONorCal.
• Ensure full utilization of Salesforce for donor and prospect management; maintain accurate & current records, leverage dashboards and data to track progress and forecast revenue.
• Lead and manage staff in the Development department, fostering a high-performance culture through effective recruitment, coaching, and supervision to meet organizational objectives.
• Provide leadership and support in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of fundraising campaigns, events, and initiatives, ensuring alignment with best practices and timelines.
• Promote and support professional development opportunities to enhance team performance and growth.
• Serve as the lead for the region’s Signature Event, the annual Bocce Bash, overseeing all aspects of planning and execution to ensure revenue targets are achieved.
• Collaborate across the organization to ensure alignment with vision and goals and contribute feedback and support to fundraising initiatives and broader organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with the Director of Events to expand corporate support and sponsorship of special events.
• Partner with cross-regional SONorCal teams, including Programs staff and Marketing staff, to develop innovative fundraising strategies and enhance the experience and overall engagement of funders.
• Support additional fundraising events as needed, including managing volunteer logistics and day-of revenue operations.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, or related field; equivalent work experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 4 years of successful nonprofit fundraising experience, with a demonstrated strong track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
• At least 2 years of experience managing staff, preferably within a fundraising or development team.
• Must be adept at strategizing and executing revenue-generating campaigns in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing regional budgets, with ability to forecast accurately and ensure that staff stays within budget as well as course correct as needed.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including persuasive writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders, donors, and volunteers.
• Strong experience in leading, planning and executing fundraising events, highly preferred.
• Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement and discretion to achieve goals.
• Capable of managing competing priorities in a multifaceted and deadline-driven environment.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM systems is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.).
• Ability to successfully exercise independent judgment and discretion to reach goals.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends, as required by organizational events and business needs.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers, including delegation and goal achievement through volunteer engagement.
• A passion for SONorCal’s mission and a genuine commitment to the organization’s values and vision.

This is a hybrid position, requiring regular in-office days as well as regular attendance at in-person events. Candidates must reside within the region to accommodate these requirements. We offer a collaborative, inclusive, and casual work environment.

Benefits include, but are not limited to: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) retirement plan, life and long-term disability insurance, vacation, sick and personal days, federal holidays, and a paid winter break. Compensation is based upon experience. The salary range is $110,000 - $118,000.