Development and Communications Director

CAL-WOOD EDUCATION CENTER

9h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Development and Communications will be responsible for diversifying Cal-Wood’s revenue stream, strengthening our relationships with prospective supporters, and implementing our development plan. This includes major donor fundraising, corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations, foundation and government grants, long term capital fundraising, special events, and increasing our endowment. The position will also be responsible for developing upon our communications plan, illustrating our engagement and activities in the communities we serve. This is a salary exempt leadership position that will assist the Executive Director and Board of Directors in strengthening fundraising, communications, and strategies, as well as helping with the direction of the organization.

Requirements

Experience within a service-based nonprofit organization, demonstrating the ability to think strategically, execute established plans, effectively manage staff, leverage financial resources, and achieve exceptional results in alignment with the organization’s mission.
Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising/communication, with a proven track record of success in major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, grant writing, and special events.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling donor communications and marketing materials.
Strong leadership and management skills, with experience managing a team of fundraising professionals.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, Board members, and partner organizations.
Demonstrate ability to interact effectively with key stakeholders, constituents, government agencies, partners, and team members.
Experience with fundraising software and donor databases.
A deep commitment to the mission and values of our organization.
Experience with branding, messaging, public speaking, networking, digital marketing, social media engagement, public relations, and event management.

Nice To Haves

We are looking to hire someone who is culturally diverse and being bilingual is a plus (Spanish).

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive, multi-year development strategy aligned with Cal-Wood’s strategic plan and long-term sustainability goals.
Diversify and grow revenue streams including individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, government grants, events, planned giving, capital campaigns, and endowment growth.
Establish and manage annual and multi-year fundraising targets, benchmarks, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Develop and oversee fundraising budgets; monitor ROI for campaigns, events, and donor acquisition efforts.
Build, manage, and actively steward a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Partner closely with the Executive Director and Board members to identify, prepare, and support them in donor engagement and solicitation efforts.
Create personalized donor journeys, recognition strategies, and stewardship plans that reinforce long-term donor relationships.
Oversee gift acknowledgments, donor reporting, and impact communications to ensure donors feel valued and informed.
Serve as a key partner to the Board of Directors and the Development Subcommittee on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and campaign execution.
Train, coach, and support Board members in fundraising best practices, donor conversations, and relationship-building.
Prepare regular development reports and dashboards for Board review, including pipeline updates and progress toward goals.
Lead institutional fundraising strategy, including foundation, corporate, and government grants.
Oversee grant prospect research, proposal development, submission calendars, compliance, reporting, and renewal strategies.
Collaborate cross-departmentally to gather program data, outcomes, and financial information needed for competitive proposals.
Ensure accurate tracking of grant requirements, deadlines, and deliverables.
Lead development and execution of an integrated communications and marketing strategy that supports fundraising, community engagement, and organizational visibility.
Ensure consistent messaging, branding, and storytelling across all platforms, including print, digital, social media, email, and donor communications.
Collaborate with program staff to translate impact, outcomes, and participant stories into compelling donor-facing content.
Act as a public ambassador for Cal-Wood, representing the organization at community events, donor meetings, and networking opportunities.
Oversee planning and execution of fundraising events, including Music and Moonlight, ensuring strong donor engagement, volunteer coordination, and financial performance.
Develop sponsorship packages, underwriting opportunities, and event-related donor cultivation strategies.
Evaluate events annually and refine strategies to maximize net revenue and mission impact.
Ensure effective use and integrity of fundraising and communications systems, including Bloomerang, Canva, JotForms, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Excel.
Maintain accurate donor records, prospect pipelines, and fundraising reports.
Analyze fundraising and engagement data to inform strategy, improve performance, and support decision-making.
Oversee donor privacy, data stewardship, and ethical fundraising practices.
Recruit, supervise, coach, and evaluate the part-time grant writer, development administrator, and communications coordinator.
Foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture that emphasizes accountability, professional growth, and equity.
Work closely with program, finance, and operations staff to align fundraising and communications with organizational priorities and capacity.
Support internal staff with development-related training, messaging, and donor interactions as needed.