Santa Monica Mountains Fund · 17 hours ago
Director of Development
Thousand Oaks, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$90K/yr - $110K/yr
5+ years expSanta Monica Mountains Fund (SAMO Fund) seeks a full-time Director of Development to lead and execute the organization’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This is a senior, results-oriented role responsible for advancing annual and long-term philanthropic revenue, strengthening donor relationships, and supporting SAMO Fund’s mission.
Non-profit Organization Management
Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year development plan to increase annual revenue, diversify funding sources, and support long-term organizational sustainability
Establish clear, measurable fundraising goals and performance indicators; regularly track progress and adjust strategies in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board
Plan and implement fundraising objectives, strategies, budgets, initiatives, and timelines aligned with SAMO Fund priorities and partnerships with the National Park Service and California State Parks
Contribute to organizational planning by aligning development strategy with programmatic growth and capacity
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners
Oversee donor programs, including stewardship strategy, communications, logistics, and relationship management
Conduct prospect research and donor intelligence activities to prioritize outreach and align prospects with SAMO Fund initiatives
Oversee donor onboarding, retention, renewal, and acknowledgment processes
Develop a compelling case for support for SAMO Fund programs and initiatives
Create and implement a donor recognition plan
Strategically steward new and existing donors to deepen engagement and long-term commitment
Attend outreach events and meetings to cultivate relationships and identify new prospects
Provide a high level of professionalism and responsiveness to donors, partners, and the community
Work with the Executive Director to develop and implement an annual donor-focused communications strategy
Oversee donor communications including newsletters, annual appeals, stewardship reports, and campaign materials
Prepare or coordinate production of mailings, brochures, annual reports, website content, and event materials in collaboration with graphic and communications support
Craft clear, compelling donor-centered stories that communicate impact
Cooperate closely with Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the National Park Service, and California State Parks personnel
Serve as an external ambassador for SAMO Fund with donors, partners, and at select community events
Strategize, design, and manage donor and community engagement events, including annual fundraising events
Manage event budgets, logistics, timelines, and coordination of staff and volunteers
Support mission-based events that strengthen donor relationships and community connection
Attend and coordinate Fundraising and Outreach Committee meetings in partnership with the Executive Director
Support committee members with materials, planning, and follow-up
Collaborate with Board members to support donor cultivation and fundraising initiatives
Oversee effective use of the Little Green Light CRM to support donor stewardship, prospect tracking, reporting, and data-informed fundraising strategy
Ensure accurate donor records, gift processing, acknowledgments, and reporting
Maintain mailing lists and donor communications tools including Little Green Light and Mailchimp
Prepare regular fundraising reports for leadership and the Board, including progress toward revenue goals, donor engagement trends, and forecasting insights
Collaborate with Finance to ensure gifts are properly recorded and reconciled
Maintain awareness of National Park Service and California State Parks rules and procedures, Director’s Orders, SAMO Fund branding standards, and fundraising best practices
Participate as a collaborative member of a small administrative team, supporting shared organizational priorities as needed
Attend professional development opportunities to stay current with fundraising trends and practices
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
Minimum 5–7 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience
Experience developing fundraising strategies, campaigns, and donor communications
Success managing donor and prospect relationships
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency with donor software or CRMs, with Little Green Light preferred
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva, Mailchimp, Adobe, and similar platforms
Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding fundraising goals in a nonprofit environment
Strong relationship-building skills and high emotional intelligence when working with donors, board members, partners, and community stakeholders
Strategic thinker who is also comfortable with hands-on execution
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
Professional judgment, discretion, and integrity
Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to take initiative
Passion for national parks, public lands, and SAMO Fund's mission
Interest in environmental conservation, public lands, or nonprofit work aligned with National Park Service and Santa Monica Mountains Fund programs
Familiarity with the National Park Service, California State Parks, or public–private partnerships
Employees are required to drive a personal vehicle for official business
Must be willing to commute to various park locations within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and occasionally beyond the region
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and programs
Ability to walk up to a half mile on uneven terrain and lift up to 25 pounds
Benefits
Flat-rate healthcare insurance stipend.
Paid time off and holidays.
Flexible work schedule.
Professional development opportunities.
Company
Santa Monica Mountains Fund
Santa Monica Mountains Fund is the official partner to the National Parks Service in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase