Director of Development
13 days ago
Santa Clarita
Job Description Job Title: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Classification: FULL-TIME/EXEMPT Reports To: CEO/CO-FOUNDER Location: Santa Clarita, CA (hybrid/onsite) Light Travel Salary Range: $90,000 – $120,000 annually, plus performance-based bonus potential ABOUT THE GENTLE BARN At The Gentle Barn, we believe in redemption, compassion, and unconditional love, not just for humans, but for every living being. Since our founding, we’ve created a sanctuary for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals, while using their stories to inspire millions to live with kindness and empathy. We host educational programs, community events, and advocacy initiatives that empower change in the way society cares for animals. Our culture centers on integrity, respect, collaboration, and innovation. As we grow, we seek a visionary fundraising leader to help scale our impact, deepen donor relationships, and build sustainable revenue streams that support our programs and expansion. POSITION SUMMARY The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for strategizing, driving, and executing all fundraising efforts across individual giving, major gifts, grants, and planned giving. This person will partner closely with the CEO and cross-functional teams to integrate development into organizational planning, while managing a dynamic development team and maintaining accountability for revenue goals, donor stewardship, and growth. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy & Leadership * Design and implement a multi-year fundraising roadmap aligned with mission, strategic goals, and growth projections * Set ambitious fundraising targets, track progress, and adjust tactics based on metrics and performance * Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to overall organizational strategy and resource planning Major Gifts & Individual Giving * Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects (e.g. $25K+, $100K+, etc.) * Grow the mid-level and annual giving programs * Advance high-potentials through giving tiers, using cultivation pipelines and donor segmentation Grants & Institutional Funding * Oversee grant strategy: identify prospects, manage proposal development, reporting, and compliance * Work with program leaders to source funding opportunities and align with grant priorities Events, Campaigns & Outreach * Lead signature fundraising events, capital or endowment campaigns, and special giving initiatives * Partner with marketing/communications to craft appeals, campaigns, and donor communications * Launch planned giving, giving circles, peer-to-peer, and digital fundraising efforts Donor Engagement & Stewardship * Build donor recognition programs, impact reports, and stewardship touchpoints * Host cultivation activities (site visits, tours, virtual events) to deepen engagement * Maintain accurate, robust donor records, segmentation, and analytics Team & Infrastructure * Supervise and mentor development staff and contract consultants * Manage the donor database, gift processing, reporting, data integrity, and forecasting * Coordinate mass mailings, donor communications, and campaign materials * Produce monthly/quarterly fundraising dashboards and present to leadership/Board IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES * Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in nonprofit management, communications, business, or related field * 7+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, including 3+ years in a leadership role * Demonstrated track record in securing major gifts, individual giving, and grants * Experience building sustainable development pipelines and capital campaign(s) * Experience with donor software (Neon preferred) or database/CRM systems * Comfortable working non-traditional hours, including weekends and evenings * Some travel * Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills; ability to tell compelling stories * Highly organized, deadline-oriented, and detail-conscious * Ability to operate with integrity, discretion, and confidentiality * A self-starter who thrives both independently and as part of a collaborative leadership team * Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation * Passion for animals, advocacy, sanctuary work, and the mission of The Gentle Barn Preferred: experience in animal welfare, sanctuary environments, or with organizations focused on animals, compassion, or environmental causes, as well as human support causes. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS * Salary: $90,000–$120,000 annually, commensurate with experience * Bonus Potential: Performance-based bonus tied to meeting and exceeding fundraising goals * Benefits: * Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and eligible dependents * Employer-paid basic life/AD&D, with options to add voluntary coverage * Short-term disability, critical illness, and accident coverage * 403(b) retirement plan * Paid vacation, sick, and holiday time The Gentle Barn Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a workplace where all voices are respected, and we welcome candidates of any background. If this role energizes you and you believe in the power of compassion to change hearts and lives, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining your development philosophy and connection to The Gentle Barn’s mission, and three references.