Director of Fundraising & Major Gifts

SoLa Impact•Los Angeles, CA

35d•$150,000 - $185,000•Onsite

About The Position

The SoLa Foundation is seeking a results-driven Director of Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships to lead revenue generation through grants, corporate sponsorships, institutional partnerships and high networth individuals. This is not a maintenance role. This is a builder role. The ideal candidate is a proven fundraiser who knows how to identify opportunities, build relationships with decision-makers, write or oversee compelling proposals, and most importantly—close funding. You must be comfortable with urgency, accountability, and ambitious goals. Understand that fundraising is both relationship-driven and execution-heavy. This role will work closely with the Chief Impact Officer to translate vision into funded programs. ABOUT THE FOUNDATION The SoLa Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of SoLa Impact, works to improve the lives of South LA residents and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing opportunities for education, economic mobility, & community development. SoLa provides the community with skills-based technology programming, as well as scholarships and career development opportunities for underinvested communities to ensure Black and brown Angelenos get increased access to jobs, mentorship, and placement in the most competitive fields of businesses. Four Key Pillars of Change: Career Development & Entrepreneurship, Education & Tech Innovation, Financial Literacy & Economic Mobility, and College Readiness & Scholarships. ABOUT THE COMPANY The SoLa Foundation is the community-centered platform advancing equitable economic mobility in historically disinvested communities across South Los Angeles, working to deliver lasting, measurable outcomes. Led by Chief Impact Officer Sherri Francois, The Foundation focuses on designing and implementing workforce development initiatives, education and career pipelines, youth and internship programs, and resident-centered services that expand access to opportunity and economic participation. Guided by a data-driven, people-first approach, our social impact focus works collaboratively with The Foundation, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, civic leaders, and private-sector partners to ensure accountability, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in grants, institutional fundraising, strategic partnerships and individual major and/or principal gifts
Demonstrated track record of closing grants, gifts or sponsorships of $100K+
Experience building a fundraising pipeline from scratch or scaling one significantly
Strong writing, storytelling, and proposal development skills
Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
Comfort operating in a fast-paced, founder-led environment
High integrity, follow-through, and ownership mentality

Nice To Haves

Experience in growing business development pipelines.
Multi-sector experience encouraged Experience in workforce development, education, housing, or community-based nonprofits.
Multi-sector capital raising experience, including political fundraising, corporate business development and philanthropy a plus
Familiarity with corporate philanthropy and public-private partnerships
Salesforce, Asana, or similar CRM/project management experience

Responsibilities

Own institutional and individual fundraising targets, with clear quarterly and annual dollar goals
Identify, pursue, and close grants, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships
Develop a focused pipeline of foundations, corporations, high networth individuals and public funding sources aligned with SoLa’s mission
Drive opportunities from prospecting through award
Lead or oversee the development of high-quality grant proposals and sponsorship decks
Ensure timely submission of proposals, renewals, and reports
Partner with program and finance teams to align budgets, outcomes, and compliance
Maintain a grant calendar with deadlines, submission goals, and reporting requirements
Build and steward relationships with foundation officers, corporate leaders, institutional partners and high networth individuals
Represent SoLa Foundation in external meetings, funder briefings, and site visits
Collaborate with c-suite leadership to deepen existing partnerships and expand giving
Track pipeline activity, dollars submitted, dollars awarded, and conversion rates
Provide regular fundraising reports to leadership with clear metrics
Create scalable systems that support future fundraising growth