Director of Development & External Affairs
About The Position
The Director of Development & External Affairs leads Stepping Stone of San Diegos fundraising strategy and external presence in support of our mission as an LGBTQ+ specialized addiction recovery and housing nonprofit. This senior leadership role oversees core revenue functions including institutional giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, special events, and giving campaigns. The Director also leads external affairs, builds government relationships, and stewarding community partnerships and public relations. The role oversees communications and marketing in coordination with Stepping Stones marketing vendor. Stepping Stone launched its formal development program through the hiring of our Development Manager in 2023. As we are in our 50th anniversary year, we are expanding our development capacity and seeking a roll-up-your-sleeves leader who can scale fundraising, strengthen systems, and operate comfortably in a growing organization. This is a self-starter role that requires minimal oversight to initiate planning, set goals, and drive execution. The Director partners closely with the Deputy Executive Director, Executive Director, Board of Directors, Development Manager, senior leadership, and key stakeholders to grow philanthropic revenue and deepen donor and sponsor relationships. This role directly supervises the Development Manager and sets clear priorities and accountability, so the development function is proactive, measurable, and aligned with organizational goals.
Requirements
- Passion for Stepping Stones mission serving LGBTQ+ communities and advancing addiction recovery services.
- 5+ years of progressive senior/executive level fundraising development experience across multiple revenue streams (major gifts, institutional giving, corporate/foundation partnerships, events, and campaigns).
- Demonstrated success developing and executing fundraising strategy with measurable growth.
- Strong relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills; comfort engaging donors, executives, and community stakeholders.
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience supervising staff and/or managing vendors/consultants.
- Proficiency with common office productivity tools (Microsoft Office/Google Workspace) and comfort learning CRM systems.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in San Diegos nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including relationships with local public agencies and funders, corporate partners, and community leaders.
- Experience overseeing communications/marketing strategy, including vendor management and multi-channel campaigns.
- Proficiency with donor CRM systems and fundraising analytics (e.g., Raisers Edge, Salesforce, Network for Good, Bloomerang, etc.).
- Experience with planned giving and/or multi-year giving strategies.
- Experience fundraising in behavioral health, housing, HIV services, or LGBTQ+ community-based settings.
Responsibilities
- Development Strategy, Leadership, and Revenue Growth
- Institutional Giving (Government, Foundation, and Corporate Grants)
- Major Gifts, Sponsorships, and Relationship Management
- Fundraising Events and Giving Campaigns
- External Affairs, Partnerships, and Public Relations
- Communications & Marketing Oversight
- Development Planning, Operations & Team Growth
Benefits
- Health Premiums company paid, including Acupuncture and Chiropractic
- Dental & Vision company paid
- Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care)
- Generous paid time off including 120 hours (15 days) of vacation, 11 paid holidays (additional 4 floating holidays), and a separate bank for sick time.
- Employee Assistance Program
- 403(b) Retirement Employer Match up to 5%
- Life/AD&D Insurance company paid
- Long Term Disability Insurance company paid
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
