Fundraising Program Director

Ecology Center Background

The Ecology Center’s mission is to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for the East Bay, California, and beyond. The Ecology Center transforms the ideas of sustainability into everyday practice. We offer information you can act on, infrastructure you can count on, and leadership for lasting change. We are working toward a world of resilient communities, zero waste and toxics, equal access to healthy food, sustainable resource use, and a safe and stable climate.

Founded in the run-up to the first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center has been a regional and national leader on a wide range of issues, turning vision into action and cementing it with advocacy. We operate the nation’s first and longest-running curbside recycling service, nationally recognized food and farming programs, and model education and engagement and youth development activities. 

We are a committed and diverse staff dedicated to making the world a better place through action. Every employee is integral to the success of our organization. We value vision, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. If you are passionate and qualified, we encourage you to apply to be part of our team.

Fundraising Program Director Role

The Ecology Center Fundraising Program Director is responsible for leading a highly effective fund development program that integrates communications and events to increase individual giving, cultivates foundation funding, builds earned revenue, supports government grant acquisition, and expands corporate sponsorships. The Fundraising Program Director is part of the Leadership Team, reporting to the Executive Director and assisting in visioning and executing the overall development of the organization. The Fundraising Program Director works with the Executive Director and other Program Directors to oversee marketing and communications strategies across the organization supporting the growth of earned revenue sources through our farmers market and retail store. The Fundraising Program Director supervises the Marketing & Communications Coordinator and the Events Coordinator. This is a hybrid/remote position with up to three days per week required in the office, in person.
 

Key Essential Duties

  • Collaborate with Executive Director, Board, and Leadership Team to drive organizational fundraising 
  • Execute annual fundraising budget goals and oversee fundraising program budget
  • Work with Program Directors and Managers to cultivate individual donors, and secure memberships, as well as source funding in alignment with organizational values
  • Research, engage and cultivate institutional, government, corporate, and smaller foundation funders in alignment with organizational values and priorities
  • Oversee and direct grant management process pre- and post-award including active participation in preparation and submission of grant applications, funder relationship management and timely grant reporting in collaboration with Program Directors and Managers
  • Work with Program Directors to build and execute an annual calendar of events that highlights and supports the organization’s key and emerging program areas and help achieve organizational fundraising and program goals
  • Manage the Ecology Center Salesforce Database, perform and oversee data entry, updates, integrations, and other administrative modifications to meet immediate and longer term goals
  • Develop and maintain foundation and donor tracking systems and infrastructure, enhancing the organization’s capacity for securing private funding.
  • Ensure timely and efficient fulfillment of all grant and contract submissions, reporting, and acknowledgment requirements
  • Develop and implement comprehensive annual marketing and communication plan, encompassing public relations, media relations, social media, digital communications, key messaging, and storytelling
  • Prepare annual organization-wide reports, including a Community Impact Report, annual fundraising report, and quarterly fundraising progress reports for Leadership Team and Board
  • Work with Program Directors to identify and execute program-specific communications, marketing, and funding strategies to authentically represent program activities, gain visibility, and optimize revenue
  • Hire, train, and support the Development Team in a unionized context
  • Provide leadership, support, and direct supervision for Marketing & Communications Coordinator and the Events Coordinator
  • Participate in organizational strategic planning and annual budget planning processes
  • Participate in broader organizational leadership through Leadership Team 
  • Support staff and board skill building and organizational capacity for fundraising
  • Support Volunteer coordination oversight in collaboration with Deputy Director
  • Observe safe operating practices and ensure staff compliance with organizational safety policies
  • Maintain familiarity with, follow, and ensure staff compliance with all Ecology Center policies and procedures in the performance of daily duties
  • Perform other duties as assigned

 Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Proven management experience in a non-profit environment
  • Demonstrated success in fundraising and membership development
  • Demonstrated success raising funds and cultivating relationships across multiple diverse communities
  • Demonstrated success in grant writing and foundation fundraising
  • Strong leadership, team building, staff and project management skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work across teams and with coworkers from diverse backgrounds
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate fundraising priorities across diverse program areas
  • Demonstrated understanding of communications and marketing strategy
  • Deep understanding of CRM and related tools. Salesforce, Constant Contact, and Eventbrite  preferably in a Mac environment 
  • General knowledge of and a strong commitment to environmental and social justices issues and values and how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic inequality, sexism, homophobia, and other injustices
  • Experience in developing and managing complex budgets
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated skills in developing social and digital media strategies, with successful online giving cultivation experience
  • A proactive worker who has excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Strong knowledge of membership/donor databases, tracking, and reporting
  • Strong abilities to research, gather and analyze funder information for strategic purposes
  • Management professional who pays attention to both detail and bigger picture goals 
  • Flexible, responsive, and able to manage diverse priorities

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • Minimum 5 years progressive non-profit fundraising and development experience
  • 3 years of progressive supervisory and team leadership experience

Salary and Benefits

Starting pay range $82,065 to $94,374, DOE, plus benefits including full medical and dental insurance, optional vision insurance, vacation, sick, holiday leave, fully vested employer-matched 401k plan, Employee Assistance Program

How to Apply

  1. Complete job application found at www.ecologycenter.org/jobs/
  2. Send completed application, resume, writing sample, and cover letter to hiring@ecologycenter.org. Please add “Fundraising Program Director” in the email subject line.

Deadline To Apply:

Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We value diversity. People of color, people LGBTQIA2s+-identified, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. EOE/AA.