The Peninsula College Fund (PCF) is seeking an experienced individual to fill the role of Director of Development and Major Gifts. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Director of Development and Major Gifts (Director) will spearhead development efforts as PCF continues to grow. As the principal contact for members of PCF’s donor community, the Director must be adept at stewarding relationships with existing donors, and be able to cultivate support from prospects, including individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. The ideal candidate will have major gift experience across Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and will have a demonstrated track record of raising $2-5 million annually. The Director of Development and Major Gifts currently manages a Development Specialist. The Director of Development and Major Gifts is responsible for forecasting and achieving PCF’s revenue objectives by developing and implementing a fundraising strategy, including the retention of existing donors and the acquisition of new major donors, that achieves near-term goals while also establishing and pursuing strategic goals.

About The Peninsula College Fund:

The PCF, which began in 2005 as a grassroots initiative to support a small group of scholars, has grown significantly and now serves over 500 students, awarding more than $12 million in scholarships and wraparound services. Initially a volunteer-run organization until late 2010, PCF now operates with a small staff. The program offers crucial support through four main areas: scholarships of $3,000 per year for each student over four years of college, one-to-one mentoring that connects scholars with caring adults for guidance and support, college and career success trainings tailored to equip students with essential skills, and assistance with internship applications to facilitate valuable summer opportunities.

Responsibilities

Strategic

Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team and participate in Board meetings with shared responsibility for achieving the organization's vision and goals.
Develop, diversify, and implement the strategic fundraising direction of the organization to increase financial support in line with PCF’s overall strategy and goals.
Combine high-level strategy with hands-on implementation and foster relationships to support PCF’s sustainability and strategic growth Supervise development staff and collaborate across departments and teams to further PCF’s vision and mission.
Coordinate development activities with other facets of the organization, particularly communications and finance Build a communications strategy (including social media, newsletters and promotional materials) towards raising PCF’s profile amongst funders and donors.

Individual Donors

Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy aligned with PCF’s goals.
Identify, cultivate, and secure (in partnership with the Executive Director) new major donors contributing at the $25,000+ annual level.
Actively manage a portfolio of 150-200 relationships, including prospecting, stewarding current relationships and following development best practices

Annually create and implement a fundraising plan, with a goal of developing effective methods and strategies to increase PCF’s overall fundraising effectiveness over time.

Support the involvement of PCF’s Board as active partners in the fundraising process, and provide leadership for the Board’s Development Committee.
Create effective donor and prospect communication strategy, calendar, and content.
Work closely with Events Lead, managing VIP ticket sales and seating at PCF events; participate in and support donor events and community gatherings to help grow the organization’s visibility and relationships.
Ensure that contributions and donor data are properly maintained in PCF’s donor database, including monthly reconciliation of contributions with PCF’s Accountant.
Ensure that gifts are acknowledged and documented in a prompt and appropriate manner, and regularly report to the Executive Director on progress toward fundraising goals.
Research and identify new major donor prospects in coordination with the Executive Director, PCF board members, and the development committee.

Institutional Funders (Foundation and Corporate)

Research, write, submit, and document effective letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and corresponding grant reports.
Maintain and manage a detailed calendar of preparation and deadline submission dates for foundation grants and reports and other gift prospects.
Lead and partner with the Executive Director in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of foundation and corporate donors

Administration

Ensure effective data tracking and systems: Oversee the evaluation of systems to support development and inform data-driven planning. .
Oversee monthly reconciliation of contributions and donor records with PCF’s Accountant to ensure that grants and gifts are properly coded and in agreement with the general ledger.
Ensure accurate donor recognition and acknowledgment in print and online.
Ensure that high quality supplemental grant materials, such as thank you letters from scholarship recipients, letters of support, etc. are current.
Ensure that development-related areas of PCF’s website and social media platforms are current, accurate, and well written.
Participate as may be requested or required when “all hands-on deck” are needed to support PCF events, including the College Kick-Off Weekend, Career Exploration Fair, and other all-organization events

Qualifications:

Minimum 7–10 years of experience in major gifts or related fundraising roles, with a successful record of securing six-figure gifts.
Strong connections to Bay Area individuals, corporations, and foundations with the capacity to make significant gifts.
Proven ability to cultivate relationships and close six-figure gifts.
Experience with a wealth-intelligence and prospect research platform (e.g., WealthEngine, iWave, etc.) used by nonprofits is a plus
Excellent communication, presentation, and strategic planning skills.
A deep belief in the importance of expanding access to higher education for first-generation, low-income students.
Entrepreneurial mindset with high initiative, follow-through, and comfort working in a small, collaborative team.
Strong alignment with the mission of expanding educational access for low-income, first-generation students.
Bachelor’s degree required.

Compensation

Salary: $150,000 - $180,000 annually We offer a generous benefits package: Leave: 12 days of vacation (more days accrued with tenure), 12 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days and a flexible work schedule when needed. Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits: We currently pay 100% of all premiums for eligible employees. 403(b) Retirement Plan. This is a full-time, 40 hr./week exempt position.