Apply now

SanDiego350 is seeking a Development Manager to support and grow the organization’s fundraising efforts, with a primary focus on individual donors, including major donors.


The Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to develop and execute fundraising strategies. They will manage fundraising drives and efforts to engage and cultivate donors, and play a key role in grant research, writing, and reporting. They will support the Marketing & Fundraising Manager on communications, logistics and sponsorships for fundraising events.


This position is ideal for someone who enjoys relationship-building, donor outreach, writing, and hands-on fundraising execution, and is excited to learn and grow while playing a key role in growing a mission-driven organization.


SanDiego350 is an inclusive volunteer organization building a movement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice. We support a livable planet and a just society through education and outreach, public policy advocacy, and mobilizing people to take action. We represent approximately 8,000 local volunteers and supporters in the San Diego area. 


Primary Responsibilities


Individual Donor Development: Lead efforts to build relationships with and engage individual donors, with a strong focus on building new major donors. Execute all stages of the donor cultivation cycle, including identification, outreach, solicitation, appreciation and stewardship. Conduct regular outreach to donors, including in-person meetings, phone calls, and personalized communications. Lead donor appreciation and engagement efforts, including donor communications and special events. Plan and implement donor drives and individual giving campaigns. Maintain accurate and up-to-date donation records. Track and analyze fundraising data and donor trends to determine campaign effectiveness and inform fundraising strategies. 


Grants Research, Writing and Reporting: Conduct grant research and prospecting to identify new funding opportunities. Assist with proposal development. Coordinate proposal preparation, including grant writing. Track grant deadlines, reporting requirements, and deliverables and support grant reporting and impact documentation. Build relationships with foundation funders and attend networking events. 


Fundraising Events & Organization Support: Support planning and logistics for fundraising events, with a leadership role on donor outreach, sponsorships, donor appreciation, and event reporting. Assist with other organizational needs as appropriate. 


Required Qualifications:

  • Minimum 3+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
  • Demonstrated success in making fundraising pitches and securing major gifts.
  • 3+ years experience with all stages of the donor cultivation cycle.
  • Comfort and experience meeting with donors, making fundraising calls, and engaging and building relationships with supporters.
  • Experience developing individual donor strategies and planning, coordinating, and executing individual giving campaigns.
  • Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems.


Preferred Qualifications

  • 2+ years experience with grant research, grant writing, grant reporting and a track record of securing grants.
  • Experience with tracking, analyzing, and reporting on fundraising data.
  • Experience identifying, requesting and securing sponsorships.
  • Experience with planning and organizing fundraising events. 
  • Experience planning and executing effective fundraising communications.


Key Skills and Strengths

  • Self-motivated and independent. Able to take initiative and effectively manage workload with minimal supervision.
  • Strong organizational skills, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with and maintain positive relationships with diverse people; cultural sensitivity in dealing with diversity issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status. 
  • Familiarity with and passion for climate and environmental justice issues and an understanding of institutional and systemic racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities, including disproportionate climate burdens. 
  • Relationship builder with strong interpersonal skills
  • Collaborative and a team player who cooperates, communicates, and supports the team.
  • Excellent computer and digital skills and ability to learn new software – especially Google Workspace, relational database, Asana.
  • Excited to grow in the job and learn new skills. 


Employment Details

  • Full-time, exempt, hybrid role based in San Diego County with weekly meetings at our Hillcrest office and some travel around San Diego County.
  • Some evening and weekend availability required for events and donor engagement.
  • Initial hiring range: $70,500 – $75,000 depending on experience.
  • Benefits include: 100% of premiums for employer-paid health plans with buy-up coverage available, 30 days paid time off including annual winter break, wellness leave, and reimbursement for travel and home internet/cell phone costs. 
  • Reports to the Executive Director.


To apply: Send a single PDF with your resume and a cover letter describing your interest and why you’re the best fit to Jobs@SanDiego350.org. We will not look at applications through any other platform.


Deadline: The position is open until we find the perfect fit. Everybody who applies for the position will be notified about the status of their application. Thank you for the time and effort you put into applying!


SanDiego350 is committed to being a collaborative group that values a diversity of approaches and perspectives to the work we do because we know this allows the movement to be as strong as it can be. People of color, and of all genders, sexualities, ethnicities, and abilities, and particularly members of communities on the frontlines of climate change, are welcome and encouraged to apply.