Director of Development

Summary

Angel City Sports seeks an experienced and strategic Director of Development (DoD) to lead our fundraising efforts and build sustainable revenue streams that support our mission. The Director of Development will be responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive development strategy encompassing associations and civic organizations, individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, special events, and donor engagement. At a current $2M+ budget, Angel City Sports has an eye toward substantial growth leading into the LA28 Games with a projected budget of $4M-$5M+ by 2028. The DoD will collaborate and work closely with the Executive Director, Founder, and Board of Directors. This role is vital to ensuring the organization’s financial sustainability and expanding capacity to serve more athletes with physical disability and visual impairments. The DoD is a key ambassador for Angel City Sports and should understand the fundraising landscape locally, regionally, and nationally.

Key Job Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual fundraising plan with clear goals, strategies, and metrics tied to the Strategic Plan
• Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams including individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and special events
• Set and achieve ambitious annual fundraising targets in alignment with organizational budget and growth plans
• Lead development and execution of an Angel City Sports Annual Report
• Analyze fundraising data and trends to inform strategy and optimize performance
• Stay current on fundraising best practices and emerging trends in nonprofit development
• Work closely with Associate Director, Development & Operations and Executive Director on grants
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress to Executive Director and Board of Directors
• Lead and engage the Development Committee in fundraising strategy and activities to meet fundraising goals

Individual Giving & Donor Relations

• Build and manage a portfolio system for Executive Director, Director of Development, Associate Director, Development & Operations, and the Board of Directors for donors and prospective donors
• Develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individual donors at all levels
• Implement and manage annual giving campaigns, special named funds/giving circles, and “Play It Forward” recurring donor programs
• Create compelling donor communications including appeals, newsletters, and impact reports
• Oversee donor database management and ensure accurate gift tracking and acknowledgment
• Develop moves management strategies to upgrade donors and increase retention
• Coordinate with Board of Directors on donor engagement and solicitation efforts

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

• Identify, cultivate, and secure corporate sponsors and partners for programs and premier events (Youth Weekend, Angel City Games, Junior Adaptive Sports Camp, Courage Weekend/Para Golf Classic)
• Develop and update annual sponsorship packages and partnership opportunities aligned with corporate objectives
• Manage existing corporate sponsorship relationships and ensure high-quality stewardship
• Create activation opportunities that provide value to corporate partners
• Coordinate with program team to fulfill sponsorship benefits and recognition
• Build long-term strategic partnerships with corporations committed to disability inclusion in partnership with Executive Director and Founder as appropriate

Special Events & Fundraising Campaigns

• Oversee fundraising components of signature events including the Annual Awards Gala, the Los Angeles Country Club (LACC) Day of Golf, donor cultivation events and the above-mentioned premier events
• Develop and execute peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns like the Pasadena Tri and giving days like Giving Tuesday and DAF Day
• Lead and engage all committees and/or Event Planner associated with fundraising events like the Gala Committee, Gala Host Committee, LACC Committee, and others
• Coordinate event sponsorships, donations, and revenue generation activities
• Work to maximize fundraising potential of all organizational events
• Create third-party fundraising opportunities and community engagement campaigns
• Manage event-related donor cultivation and stewardship activities

Development Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee Virtuous donor database (CRM) management and ensure data integrity
• Implement systems and processes for efficient development operations
• Manage development budget and track ROI for fundraising activities
• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations and ethical standards
• Develop and maintain fundraising policies and procedures
• Generate regular reports and analytics on fundraising performance
• Support and collaborate with Associate Director, Grants & Operations to develop and maintain constituent data analysis on demographics and communities served for reporting
• Supervise and engage interns, volunteers and help strategically grow development staff

Board & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with Board Development Committee on fundraising initiatives
• Provide training and support to Board members on fundraising and donor engagement
• Prepare Board members for donor meetings and solicitations
• Engage Board members in opening doors and making introductions
• Collaborate with Executive Director on Board giving and participation goals
• Prepare fundraising updates and strategies for quarterly Board meetings

Marketing & Communications Collaboration

• Work closely with marketing and communications team on donor-facing materials
• Coordinate with Program and Marketing teams to fulfill sponsorship benefits and recognition deck
• Ensure brand consistency across all development communications
• Contribute to content development that highlights donor impact and organizational success
• Coordinate storytelling efforts that showcase athlete experiences and program outcomes
• Support social media and digital campaigns that drive fundraising results

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit environment
• Minimum 4-5 years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success
• Proven track record of securing five and six-figure gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations
• Strong major gifts fundraising experience including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Excellent grant writing skills with successful foundation funding track record
• Experience with donor database management systems (Virtuous, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce or similar)
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Project management abilities and attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and fundraising software systems
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for events and donor meetings

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sports organizations, adaptive sports, or disability services sector
• Supervisory experience and leading teams
• Knowledge of the Los Angeles and Southern California philanthropic community
• Experience with peer-to-peer fundraising platforms and digital giving tools (Classy or similar)
• Corporate partnership and sponsorship sales experience
• Event fundraising experience with large-scale community events
• Experience working with Boards of Directors on fundraising initiatives
• Understanding of planned giving, capital campaigns, and endowment development

Core Competencies

• Passionate about the mission of adaptive sports and disability inclusion
• Self-motivated and entrepreneurial with ability to work independently
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
• Collaborative team player who builds strong relationships
• Creative problem-solver with innovative approach to fundraising
• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Resilient and adaptable in dynamic nonprofit environment
• Strong emotional intelligence and cultural competency
• Authentic communicator and compelling storyteller
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range of $85,000-$110,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Ten (10) paid vacation days, 10 paid sick days (accrued), 11 paid holidays. ACS closes the day after Thanksgiving and December 26 through January 1 each year, offering this time paid off for employees.
• Comp time for evening/weekend work schedules
• 401(k) plan, up to a 4% employer match, based on personal contribution
• Professional development funds
• Industrious membership – ability to work from other Industrious office locations if needed
• $50 monthly cell phone stipend
• Access to building gym

Angel City Sports (ACS) is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of ancestry, age, citizenship, color, disability (physical and mental, includes HIV and AIDS), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion (includes religious dress and grooming, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, request for FMLA, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law (“Protected Categories”). ACS will not discriminate based on a perception that an employee or applicant is a member of one or more of the Protected Categories or is associated with someone who is a member of one or more of the Protected Categories. ACS is committed to fostering a diverse and safe work environment where employees respect one another and share a commitment to our organization’s mission, vision, and values.