THIS POSITION IS HYBRID. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL WORK 2-3 DAYS PER WEEK IN THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO

For over 50 years, Children’s Council has been the heart of childcare and early education in San Francisco, advancing the belief that high-quality childcare can transform lives and communities. By advocating for quality early care and education, empowering families with information and financial support, and building the capabilities of educators, we ensure that every child in San Francisco has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Our more than 130 team members help families navigate childcare and preschool options and secure financial assistance to pay for it. We provide home-based childcare businesses with the training and resources to succeed. Through a wide range of free programs and workshops, we support parents and caregivers as they build child development skills.

As the city’s second-largest nonprofit contractor, with an annual budget exceeding $240 million, Children’s Council is a major stakeholder in the childcare system—educating the public and advocating for increased investment in early education at the local and state level. In 2023, Children’s Council connected over 6,800 children to childcare in San Francisco and trained and supported 120+ new childcare businesses resulting in 970 new childcare slots for children.

If you are a childcare champion, we want you on our team!

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

Benefits include:

10% employer 401(k) match
Tuition reimbursement
Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance
Life, AD&D, and Long-term disability coverage
FSA and Transit benefits
Generous PTO (starting with 5+ weeks annually) and 15 paid holidays
Strong support and investment in professional development opportunities.

YOU ARE

A seasoned fundraising leader with a proven record of securing five- and six-figure gifts and advancing philanthropic growth.
A collaborative strategist who inspires confidence among donors and motivates a high-performing fundraising team.
A relationship-driven communicator who engages authentically with donors, colleagues, and partners.
A data-informed thinker who balances big-picture vision with disciplined operational execution.
A passionate advocate for equitable access to early education and childcare for all families in San Francisco.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Director of Philanthropy is a strategic and results-oriented leader, who will join Children’s Council during an exciting period of organizational growth and impact. Reporting to the CEO, this role will design and implement a comprehensive, multi-channel fundraising strategy to expand philanthropic revenue from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources.

This leader oversees donor engagement, stewardship, and fundraising operations; manages and grows a portfolio of major donors; and provides strategic oversight of grants, contracts, and special events. Partnering closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership, the Senior Director ensures that the organization’s fundraising programs are robust, data-driven, and aligned with Children’s Council’s mission and strategic priorities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Fundraising Leadership and Management

Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports organizational goals and program growth with a focus on growing foundation support.
Lead the design and implementation of integrated fundraising campaigns across annual fund, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and institutional giving.
Manage the Development Department’s budget, fundraising goals, and performance metrics.
Collaborate with the CEO and Board to cultivate and solicit top prospects.
Provide mentorship and guidance to Development team members, including donor relations, grants, and events staff.
Manage and mentor three direct reports including Development Manager, Corporate Volunteer Relations, Advancement Associate, and Grants and Contracts Manager.
Foster collaboration and team culture, establishing accountability measures, and ensuring alignment with performance goals.
Lead and attend quarterly program development brainstorm meetings with program staff.
Manage the Advancement Committee of the board.

Major Gifts and Individual Giving

Manage a portfolio of 30–50 major donors and prospects, securing gifts of $5,000–$100,000+ annually.
Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned gift donors.
Implement strategies to grow mid-level and major giving pipelines.
Establish nascent major individual giving program that deepens and expands the existing donor base at all levels of giving, with special focus on growing high-end annual fund and individual major and estate gifts.
Responsible for developing strategies to grow fundraising beyond the FY24 fundraising total of $3.2 million.
Collaborate with Marketing to develop donor materials and campaigns that inspire investment.

Institutional Giving and Grant Strategy

Supervise the Grants and Contracts Manager and maintain high-quality funder relationships.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
Ensure timely submissions, compliance, and reporting for the organization’s grants and contracts.
Partner with program teams to develop persuasive, data-informed proposals and impact reports.

Events and Stewardship

Provide strategic direction for donor cultivation and stewardship events including an annual fundraising event and City Kids Family Fair.
Oversee sponsorship outreach and recognition to ensure fundraising goals are met.
Ensure events reinforce brand visibility, donor engagement, and philanthropic results.

Operations, Data, and Reporting

Oversee donor management systems and data integrity in Salesforce.
Develop and monitor KPIs for all fundraising activities and produce timely reports for leadership and the Board.
Champion cross-departmental collaboration to ensure seamless donor experiences and mission-aligned messaging.

COMPETENCIES

Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven record of securing five- and six-figure gifts with experience managing direct reports.
Has worked on a multi-faceted fundraising team encompassing individual, corporate, and institutional giving.
Proven record of securing foundation grants.
Strong experience in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
Experience supervising staff and managing budgets.
Proficiency in donor CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Commitment to the mission and values of Children’s Council, including equity and inclusion.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & REQUIREMENTS

Children’s Council operates in a hybrid model; applicants should be comfortable with both remote and in-office work. Currently, staff are in the office 3 days a week. This position requires occasional evening or weekend work for donor and community events. A background clearance is required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & EQUITY STATEMENT

Children’s Council is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity as central to our mission. We foster an inclusive workplace where staff feel welcomed and supported, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

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Senior Director of Philanthropy - Children's Council of San Francisco