Development Officer

Dec 13

Outward Bound California
Remote in California

Anticipated Start Date: February, 2025

Description

The Development Officer (DO) will work directly with Outward Bound California’s Advancement Director, Executive Director, and Board of Directors to lead and increase individual giving, manage donor cultivation strategies, and produce engaging fundraising events that support OBCA’s mission of providing transformative outdoor experiences for diverse audiences across California.

This role will focus on cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of annual fund donors, securing gifts from major donors ($1,000+), and planning donor-focused events that engage the OBCA community and promote philanthropic support.

The Development Officer will also be part of the team leading OBCA’s $2.25 million capital campaign in support of basecamp improvements and programming in Joshua Tree and Midpines, California. The DO will spend a significant amount of time in direct interaction with donors, helping donors fulfill their philanthropic interests through their giving to Outward Bound California.

Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship

Develop and implement strategies to grow OBCA’s annual fund and major gifts program, focusing on increasing donor retention and acquisition
Steward a portfolio of annual fund donors giving up to $1,000, including lapsed and current donors
Work with the Advancement Director and Executive Director to identify and solicit major donors giving $1,000+.
Partner with the Advancement Director and Executive Director to support board giving and engagement
Lead donor cultivation and stewardship for OBCA’s Challenge and Discovery Legacy Circle
Create donor stewardship plans, including personalized proposals, in-person visits, impact reports, and legacy giving materials to support retention, engagement, and increased giving
Work with the marketing department to create print and digital fundraising campaigns that support the annual fund.
Support corporate sponsorship initiatives and grant applications as needed
Participating in other duties as assigned

Development Systems Management

Oversee OBCA’s donor acknowledgement process
Oversee donor wealth screening and donor qualification
Oversee giving platforms, donor advised funds, stock transfers, crypto donations, etc.
Track portfolio progress and create reports that accurately reflect portfolio activity and performance
Analyze donor data to monitor progress and adjust strategies to meet or exceed fundraising goals Capital

Campaign Support

Support OBCA’s $2.25 million capital campaign for basecamp improvements and programming in Joshua Tree and Midpines, California by engaging mid-level and major donor prospects in campaign efforts
Assist the Advancement Director and campaign leadership in implementing the campaign plan for prospect research, solicitation, and donor recognition
Work with the marketing team to create campaign materials, including case statements, proposals, and updates
Work with the advancement team to track campaign progress in the donor database and ensure accurate reporting
Work with the Advancement Director to plan and executive campaign-specific cultivation and stewardship events such as basecamp site tours, overnight invitationals, and donor receptions

Event Planning and Production

Plan and execute donor cultivation and acknowledgement receptions, capital campaign invitationals, and the OBCA’s signature biennial fundraiser, the City Skyline Challenge -Coordinate logistics, including venue selection, catering, invitations, RSVPs, volunteers, and event schedules
Work with the Advancement Director to identify and solicit individual, corporate, and foundation event sponsors
Be a visible presence at donor receptions, capital campaign events, alumni gatherings, volunteer days, the annual all-staff meeting and the City Skyline Challenge
Manage event budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships, ensuring events are executed within scope and meet fundraising goals

Requirements

Minimum of three years of experience in major gifts fundraising, with progressive responsibility and a proven track record of securing visits with prospective donors, and soliciting, closing, and stewarding annual fund and major gifts of $10,000+
Competitive candidates will have proven experience converting new donors/prospects into major donors
Familiar with San Francisco Bay Area and/or Los Angeles philanthropic and nonprofit communities
Available for occasional travel to visit current and prospective donors and basecamps in the High Sierra, Southern California, and the Bay Area
Passionate about youth development, the environment, and outdoor education
Knowledge of Outward Bound programming and philosophy, and a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors
Salesforce power-user or deep experience with donor databases
Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, and to meet deadlines
Ability to develop long-term plans, set objectives, and track progress towards achieving objectives
Personal initiative, curiosity about people, and a sense of humor
Friendly, outgoing, collaborative and flexible
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills
Proficiency with office technology and information systems including Google Suite, Microsoft, and donor databases.
Proficiency with Google Drive and/or Salesforce is preferred
Ability to lift and move a minimum of 30 pounds

Bonus if you have...

Experience in capital campaign management
Experience in event planning
Ability to create and manage a budget

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

This is a Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried position.

Salary commensurate with experience within the anticipated range of $90,000-$100,000

Benefits

OBCA offers a competitive benefits package, including comprehensive health insurance with employer contribution, long-term disability and life insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, and 401(k) plan participation with employer match after one year of employment.

Opportunities for professional development ProDeal, an opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at a discounted price Location This position is remote, California-based with travel between Northern and Southern California. Candidates located in the Bay Area or Los Angeles are preferred

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

Outward Bound California seeks an innovative and experienced human-oriented and systems-driven leader who believes in the power of outdoor education and who has the skills and expertise to advance the organization and its fundraising, brand and communications to the next level of sophistication and excellence.

Outward Bound California (OBCA) is a dynamic state-wide non-profit that uses challenging experiences in outdoor settings to create social-emotional learning opportunities for our students (teens and adults).

From our 1-day programs on our San Francisco Challenge Course to multi-day rock climbing and backpacking in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree, OBCA encourages our students to tap into their inherent potential as compassionate leaders and active participants in their communities. OBCA is deeply committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We do this, in part, through our 40 community partnerships and by offering partial or full scholarships to over two-thirds of our students.

We believe that all people should have safe access to the outdoors and culturally relevant and responsive educational programming. We work to build a culture where we are always learning and improving toward a vision for equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are also committed to reflecting the diverse communities with whom we work and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

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