Director of Development and Communications

MISSION

Our mission is to empower low-income, first generation college students to graduate and obtain a job that aligns with their career goals.

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

We support our scholars through four key programs:

• Scholarships: Each student receives a scholarship of $3,000/year for each of the four years enrolled in a four-year college/university.
• One-to-One Mentoring: We carefully match each scholar with one caring adult who provides support, counsel, networking, and positive role modeling to help each student complete college.
• College and Career Success Trainings: We provide all students with targeted, in-depth training events to give them the tools for college completion and career readiness.
• Summer Internships: We provide internship application support for our scholars, ideally for summer internship placements.

The Peninsula College Fund (PCF) is seeking an experienced individual to fill the role of Director of Development and Communications. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Director of Development and Communications (Director) will spearhead development efforts as PCF continues to grow. As the principal contact for members of PCF’s donor community, the Director must be adept at stewarding relationships with existing donors, and be able to cultivate support from prospects, including individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. The ideal candidate will have major gift experience across Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and will have a demonstrated track record of raising $2-5 million annually. The Director of Development and Communications currently has two direct reports: Development and Marketing Lead and Development Coordinator.

OUR HIRING PROCESS

We will review resumes on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

• We will conduct phone or Zoom screening, and in-person interviews at our Milpitas office.
• Candidates will be asked to complete a performance assessment.
• We would like to have the Development Director start by January 1, 2024.

How to Apply

Great communication skills are key to this leadership role. Please prepare a thoughtful cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please address the following:

1. Your belief in PCF’s mission
2. Why you believe you are qualified for this position
3. In what areas in the “Essential Job Functions” section might you need some support?
4. Where you learned of this opportunity

No phone calls, please.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Director of Development and Communications is responsible for forecasting and achieving PCF’s revenue

objectives by developing and implementing a fundraising strategy that achieves near-term goals

while also establishing and pursuing strategic goals. PCF’s current annual operating budget is

$3.2 million.

Strategic

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team and participate in Board meetings (reporting and advising) with shared responsibility for achieving the organization’s vision and goals.
• Develop, diversify, and implement the strategic fundraising direction of the organization to increase financial support in line with PCF’s overall strategy and goals.
• Combine high-level strategy with hands-on implementation and foster relationships to support PCF’s sustainability and strategic growth.
• Supervise a development staff of one full-time, and two part-time staff members. The Development team collaborates across departments and teams to further PCF’s vision and mission.
• Works closely with finance team to reconcile systems and prepare financial reports for executive director and Board review.
• Work closely with communications staff to build a communications strategy (including social media, newsletters and promotional materials) towards raising PCF’s profile amongst funders and donors.

Individual Donors

• Actively manage a portfolio of 150-200 relationships, including prospecting, preparing staff for funder meetings, stewarding current relationships and following development best practices.
• Annually create and implement a fundraising plan, with a goal of developing effective methods and strategies to increase PCF’s overall fundraising effectiveness over time.
• Support the involvement of PCF’s Board as active partners in the fundraising process, and provide leadership for the Board’s Development Committee.
• Create effective donor and prospect communication strategy, calendar, and content.
• Working closely with the PCF Event Lead, managing VIP ticket purchases and seating at PCF events.
• Cultivate relationships with, solicit, and steward Scholarship Circle Donors.
• Coordinate and host donor visits at PCF events.
• Oversee the planning and execution of major fundraising events as determined in collaboration with the ED and Board members to ensure that event goals are clearly defined and achieved.
• Ensure that contributions and donor data are properly maintained in PCF’s donor database, including monthly reconciliation of contributions with PCF’s Accountant.
• Ensure that gifts are acknowledged and documented in a prompt and appropriate manner, and regularly report to the Executive Director on progress toward fundraising goals.
• Research and identify new prospects in coordination with the Executive Director, PCF board members, and the development committee.
• Develop a strategy to increase the number of new four-year pledges.

Institutional Funders (Foundation and Corporate)

• Research, write, submit, and document effective letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and corresponding grant reports.
• Maintain and manage a detailed calendar of preparation and deadline submission dates for foundation grants and reports and other gift prospects.
• Lead and partner with the Executive Director and volunteers or vendors as appropriate in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of foundation, government, and corporate donors.

Administration

• Ensure effective data tracking (current systems in use at PCF are Live Impact, Greater Giving, Benevity.) Oversee the evaluation of systems to support development and inform data-driven planning.
• Oversee monthly reconciliation of contributions and donor records with PCF’s Accountant to ensure that grants and gifts are properly coded and in agreement with the general ledger.
• Ensure accurate donor recognition and acknowledgment in print and online.
• Ensure that high quality supplemental grant materials, such as thank you letters from scholarship recipients, letters of support, etc. are current.
• Ensure that development-related areas of PCF’s website and social media platforms are current, accurate, and well written.
• Participate as may be requested or required when “all hands-on deck” are needed to support PCF events, including the Awards Ceremony, the College and Career Leadership Conference, and other all-organization events.
• Lead and manage the development and fundraising function of IGP, including hiring, supervising, coaching and developing the staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Values

• Passion for educational opportunity and equity
• Desire to empower others through service

Required Qualifications

• Deep appreciation of PCF’s mission and values
• Energetic and innovative
• Ability to work in a resource-constrained environment
• 3-5 years of experience as a Development Director with deep knowledge of and experience in increasing organizational capacity
• Previous experience building and maintaining relationships with high capacity donors; very comfortable making the ask
• Direct experience with individual giving programs, grant writing, and corporate sponsorship
• Excellent verbal, written, and public presentation skills
• Impeccable attention to detail
• Understands how digital tools and platforms function, and also understands how they support organization, productivity, collaboration, and efficiency
• Familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) software. PCF currently uses Live Impact
• Experience in planning and producing effective donor-related events, such as house parties, donor appreciation events, etc.
• Facility in developing, managing, and interpreting budgets and development-related financial, analytical, and other data-driven reports
• Experience in serving as a key external representative, and ability to communicate effectively and comfortably with a variety of groups and individuals, including individual donors, foundation officers, scholars, corporate representatives, partner high school representatives, partner college representatives, etc.
• Experience with philanthropy in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
• Strong organizational, leadership and team-building skills with ability to promote productivity and efficiency

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of marketing and communications
• Positive attitude and sense of humor
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a multicultural context, and experience working with low-income communities and communities of color

WORK ENVIRONMENT & BENEFITS

Work Environment

• We have a hands-on, collaborative, and entrepreneurial work environment.
• We believe in an inclusive work environment that fosters individual growth and team empowerment.
• While we take our work very seriously, we also like to have fun and enjoy each other’s company. We have a sunshine committee that plans fun events (that usually involve food!) for staff.
• Standard office environment. Some travel to various venues for events and for meeting with donors. Availability for non-traditional hours including weeknights and weekends on a limited basis required.

Work Location

This position is hybrid, with the expectation that the Development Team works from our Milpitas office one day a week.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary & Compensation

• Salary: $125,000 – $140,000 annually
• We offer a generous benefits package:

1. Leave: 10 days of vacation,12 paid holidays, 8 paid sick days and a flexible work schedule when needed.
2. Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits: We currently pay 100% of all premiums for eligible employees.
3. 403(b) Retirement Plan.

• This is a full-time, 40 hr./week, exempt position.
• All PCF staff members have access to a professional development stipend

The Peninsula College Fund