Senior Director of Development

While young people from low-income communities – who are disproportionately young people of color – face systemic inequities in school, in the workforce, and in life, they possess unique strengths, resilience and tremendous potential. When provided with support and resources, these young people fulfill their potential and achieve success in school, work, and life.

Through a combination of mentoring and transformative experiences, Summer Search supports young people to successfully transition from adolescence into adulthood. We aim to unleash the potential of our young people while also building a toolkit for navigating and challenging systemic barriers to higher education and career opportunities.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Summer Search Bay Area – the organization's largest and oldest region -- is seeking a development leader to join our senior leadership team. In close partnership with the Executive Director, an engaged Board of Directors, and a talented development team, this position will build upon our strong financial footing and base of individual and institutional funders in order to deepen our impact and serve more young leaders of today and tomorrow. Specifically, the Senior Director of Development will:

Design, implement, and lead fundraising strategies that drive growth and sustainability

• Oversee a strong development function in order to advance goals to 1) raise $5.3M in FY23 and position the organization for year-over-year growth, 2) steward and increase support from existing supporters, and 3) identify and pursue new supporters that are aligned with Summer Search’s values and mission.
• In close partnership with the Executive Director and a six-person development team, lead and/or guide strategies for individual donors (major gifts, mid-level, and annual) and institutional partnerships (foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, earned-income partnerships, and government grants).
• Personally manage a $800K+ portfolio of approximately 35 board members and close-in major donors, inclusive of stewarding all board members' philanthropy.
• Play a highly visible role with the 30+ members of the Bay Area Board of Directors. Partner with board members on donor strategy, as well as to maximize their leadership and networks in fundraising participation.
• Oversee the smooth operations of the development department, inclusive of consistent processes for donor data and moves management tracking, pipeline management, donor communications, and reporting.
• Participate in a cohort of national and regional development peers to share and learn best practices across the Summer Search network.

Serve as a senior leader, people manager, and champion for Summer Search's mission and values

• As a member of the Bay Area leadership team, contribute to guiding overall organizational strategic direction, decision-making, prioritization, and goals.
• Supervise an Associate Director of Donor Relations & Events and an Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships, while providing coaching and mentoring the entire 6-person development team
• Cultivate a sustainable, people-centered, critically conscious team culture through personal reflection and work, development of values-driven systems and processes, and coaching and development of staff.
• Operate with an abundance of Summer Search's foundational competencies: social and emotional intelligence, critical consciousness, cultural humility, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Actively work to infuse anti-racism into day-to-day work, including participating in staff and board learning about racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ensure asset-based positioning of Summer Search participants, families, and communities in all donor-facing communication and interactions.

WHO YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic advocate for Summer Search's mission and values. You believe that students have innate potential, and that through relationships and experiences, they can fully realize their potential. You thrive in an organization that values authenticity, gratitude, relationships, well-being, and a commitment to social emotional learning and personal growth.
• A strategic and tactical fund development professional. You bring at least 8 years of work experience in major gift fundraising, with a track record of prospecting, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and institutional supporters. You approach fundraising through an analytical and data-driven lens and are hands-on in translating strategy into tangible activities and goals.
• A thoughtful communicator and relationship builder who inspires others to action. You approach all interactions with warmth and sincerity. You confidently interact with staff, board members, donors, and other external stakeholders. You convey ideas clearly and concisely in writing and in-person interactions.
• A kind people leader who leverages individuals’ strengths and fosters collaboration. You have experience in managing and coaching direct reports and lay leaders for high performance and accountability. You give and receive feedback in order to motivate, hold staff accountable, and promote professional and personal growth.
• An action-oriented, resourceful, and collaborative project manager. You possess a “get it done” attitude, with the ability to stay focused and nimble in a dynamic environment. You succeed at managing multiple workstreams and motivating, coordinating, and directing others to stay on track.
• A catalyst for equity, diversity, and inclusion. You possess critical consciousness and cultural humility, with an understanding of systemic and institutionalized racism that operate in day-to-day lives of individuals and communities. You are self-reflective about your own growth and learning, relative privilege, and positional power.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary for this position is $120,000 - $130,000. Summer Search is committed to transparent, equitable compensation practices. Salaries are benchmarked using current market data and salary bands are created to demonstrate the growth potential within the band. Typically, offers are made at the starting place of the salary band. The Hiring Manager partners with the Talent Team to ensure offers are appropriate, competitive and maintain internal equity.

Well-being, flexibility, and ongoing learning and development are pillars of our culture. We value our staff and are committed to creating an environment where every individual feels seen, heard and valued. Investments in our staff include:

• Medical insurance with up to 90% employer contribution
• Dental, vision, FSA, life and disability insurance plans
• 401 (K) and Employer Match up to $2,000 annually
• Generous time off including 15 vacation days, 10 sick days, and 18 holidays (2 floating holidays of your choice, a birthday day-off, 10 company-wide holidays, and a 1-week December closure). Plus, Refresh Fridays - a paid half day off the first Friday of every month!
• A comprehensive Employee Recognition Program (years of service awards, spot awards, professional development funding, and a sabbatical program)
• Individual, local, regional, and national training
• A commitment to developing leaders from within the organization
• An organizational culture that supports staff well-being and holistic self-care/community care
• Ample opportunities to connect with the students and communities we serve

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION AT SUMMER SEARCH

Equity, diversity, and inclusion is at the root of everything we do. Our vision is that Summer Search students become critically conscious leaders who increasingly invest in themselves and their communities. We support this vision through programmatic, operational, and talent practices centered in critical consciousness and cultural humility.

We commit to anti-oppression at all levels in the organization. We effectively hire, retain and promote People of Color so that all staff have equitable opportunity to advance to their fullest potential. Program staff are skillful in discussing race, identity, social/cultural context with students and supporting the development of their critical consciousness.

All staff and boards hold equity work as a crucial priority, are willing and able to navigate conversations about race and identity, and increasingly reflect the racial and other identities of the students we serve. We reflect critically on key organization decisions and actions to ensure we create increasingly equitable and just outcomes, especially for our students and staff of color.

WORK HOURS AND LOCATION

This is a hybrid role. While we do not have a required "in-office" schedule. This position is expected to work as needed in each of the Bay Area office locations (Oakland, Richmond, Santa Rosa, and, starting in 2025, San Jose), as well as attend donor-facing meetings and events across the entire Bay Area region This position also requires occasional staffing/attending events outside of regular business hours (typically no more than 10%).

COVID POLICY

Summer Search requires all its staff be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious objection may be able to qualify for an exemption, consistent with state and federal law.

If this opportunity speaks to you, please click here to submit your resume, a fundraising-related writing sample (e.g. a grant LOI, donor appeal, annual report), and targeted cover letter, addressed to Kenyon DeVault, Executive Director, that answers the question, “Why are you interested in the Senior Director of Development opportunity at Summer Search?” We review applications on a rolling basis and strive to get back to applicants within two weeks.