Director of Development & External Affairs

Position Title Director of Development & External Affairs Department Administration Report to Deputy Executive Director Secondary Reporting Executive Director Salary Range 105000 130000 annually DOE; eligible for performance based bonus incentives tied to success metrics created and achieved Type Full Time Non Exempt Position Summary The Director of Development & External Affairs leads Stepping Stone of San Diegos fundraising strategy and external presence in support of our mission as an LGBTQ specialized addiction recovery and housing nonprofit This senior leadership role oversees core revenue functions including institutional giving major gifts corporate and foundation partnerships special events and giving campaigns The Director also leads external affairs builds government relationships and stewarding community partnerships and public relations The role oversees communications and marketing in coordination with Stepping Stones marketing vendor Stepping Stone launched its formal development program through the hiring of our Development Manager in 2023 As we are in our 50th anniversary year we are expanding our development capacity and seeking a roll up your sleeves leader who can scale fundraising strengthen systems and operate comfortably in a growing organization This is a self starter role that requires minimal oversight to initiate planning set goals and drive execution The Director partners closely with the Deputy Executive Director Executive Director Board of Directors Development Manager senior leadership and key stakeholders to grow philanthropic revenue and deepen donor and sponsor relationships This role directly supervises the Development Manager and sets clear priorities and accountability so the development function is proactive measurable and aligned with organizational goals Essential Functions Development Strategy Leadership and Revenue Growth Develop implement and continuously improve an annual and multi year development plan aligned with organizational priorities and growth goals including revenue targets by stream grants major gifts corporatefoundation partnerships events and campaigns Establish clear success metrics dashboards and reporting rhythms for senior leadership and the Board; regularly analyze results and adjust strategy to improve performance Lead an annual development calendar with disciplined planning for solicitations stewardship renewals events and communications that support fundraising outcomes Partner with FinanceOperations leadership to ensure alignment on revenue forecasting donor restrictions documentation and audit ready grant and donor files Institutional Giving Government Foundation and Corporate Grants Provide strategic oversight of a contracted Grant Writer grant prospecting proposal development submission timelines and reporting requirements across government and private funding sources Ensure cross department coordination to gather program outcomes budgets compliance documentation and client impact stories needed for competitive proposals Maintain funder relationships and strengthen renewal strategy including site visits briefings and stewardship touchpoints Oversee development of standard grant tools organizational boilerplate program descriptions logic models outcomes budget narratives to increase efficiency and quality Major Gifts Sponsorships and Relationship Management Partner with the Executive Director and Board to identify engage and solicit high capacity donors and key sponsors; prepare meeting strategies briefings and follow up plans Build and manage a moves management pipeline for individuals corporations and foundations including qualification cultivation plans solicitation strategy and stewardship Manage a personal portfolio of key donor and sponsor relationships with an emphasis on cultivating and soliciting major gifts and multi year commitments Lead sponsorship strategy and benefit fulfillment across events and campaigns ensuring sponsor recognition deliverables are met and relationships are strengthened year over year Fundraising Events and Giving Campaigns Provide executive oversight and revenue strategy for Stepping Stones signature fundraising and community events including the Pink Gala including budgets sponsortable strategy donor experience and performance evaluation Oversee and generate annual giving campaigns eg Giving Tuesday year end appeal and other new campaigns including segmentation strategy messaging and donor experience optimization Lead capital campaigns from feasibility through close including campaign strategy case development prospect pipelines gift tables volunteer leadership and execution plans to meet multi year fundraising goals Set clear roles and work plans between the Director and Development Manager and other key staff for event execution sponsor fulfillment tickettable sales and post event stewardship Ensure event and campaign processes are documented and repeatable including run of show planning volunteer coordination and vendor management when applicable Maintain a strong pipeline of auctionrafflein kind support as appropriate to event strategy External Affairs Partnerships and Public Relations Serve as a senior ambassador for Stepping Stone building and maintaining relationships with City County State and public agency leaders community partners institutional stakeholders and influencers to increase visibility and support Proactively identify and create strategic engagement opportunities for the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director with key funders stakeholders community leaders and partner organizations briefings tours introductions speaking opportunities and relationship building meetings Build and manage partnership pipelines that can lead to sponsorship cause marketing in kind support referral partnerships and collaborative funding opportunities Coordinate media relations and thought leadership efforts press strategy pitches op eds and organizational statements in partnership with leadership and the marketing firm Represent Stepping Stone at community events and convenings including occasional evenings and weekends Communications & Marketing Oversight Oversee communications and marketing strategy led by the marketing vendor ensuring a consistent voice brand alignment and mission forward storytelling Serve as the internal connector with program teams and key stakeholders to source stories impact data and content for web email social donor communications and event marketing Oversee marketing vendor scopes deliverables timelines and performance Development Planning Operations & Team Growth Lead the creation and execution of Stepping Stones annual development plan partnering across programs operations and leadership to assess funding needs set revenue goals and track progress Translate organizational priorities into clear fundraising strategies timelines and accountability campaigns events major gifts grants sponsorships Report out on strategy goals and benchmarking to Executive leadership and across the organization the lead to a clear plan for ROI on development efforts Supervise coach and support the Development Manager including goal setting work planning feedback and professional development Oversee and grow the development operations gift processing acknowledgements pledge tracking stewardship plans donor recognition and donor database hygiene As Stepping Stone grows help build the development bench contractors interns event support and future hires Other duties as assigned Success metrics Success metrics will be finalized in partnership with the Deputy Executive Director and Executive Director within the first 90 days of employment based on baseline performance and annual organizational priorities Suggested metrics may include Development Plan and Fundraising Growth Publish an annual development plan and 12 month calendar with revenue targets provide monthly reporting against targets Increase total contributed revenue and unrestricted revenue year over year targets set after baseline review Major Gifts Sponsorships and Pipeline Discipline Maintain an active moves management pipeline with timely follow up and documentation in the CRM targets set after baseline review Meet annual major gift askscommitments and sponsorship renewalsnew commitments as set in the development plan Minimum Qualifications Passion for Stepping Stones mission serving LGBTQ communities and advancing addiction recovery services 5 years of progressive seniorexecutive level fundraising development experience across multiple revenue streams major gifts institutional giving corporatefoundation partnerships events and campaigns Demonstrated success developing and executing fundraising strategy with measurable growth Strong relationship building communication and presentation skills; comfort engaging donors executives and community stakeholders Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with excellent attention to detail Experience supervising staff andor managing vendorsconsultants Proficiency with common office productivity tools Microsoft OfficeGoogle Workspace and comfort learning CRM systems Preferred Qualifications Experience in San Diegos nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem including relationships with local public agencies and funders corporate partners and community leaders Experience overseeing communicationsmarketing strategy including vendor management and multi channel campaigns Proficiency with donor CRM systems and fundraising analytics eg Raisers Edge Salesforce Network for Good Bloomerang etc Experience with planned giving andor multi year giving strategies Experience fundraising in behavioral health housing HIV services or LGBTQ community based settings Environmental Factors and ConditionsPhysical Requirements Working mostly indoors in a climate controlled environment Long periods at a desk and in front of a computer monitor Holiday weekend or evening work may occasionally be required Eligible to work remotely andor hybrid in office arrangements consistent with organizational policy and role responsibilities Benefit Package Stepping Stone is proud to offer a generous benefits package for employees representing the potential additional 10000 on average per full time employee above base pay including but not limited to Health Premiums company paid including Acupuncture and Chiropractic Dental & Vision company paid Flexible Spending Accounts Health Care & Dependent Care Generous paid time off including 120 hours 15 days of vacation 11 paid holidays additional 4 floating holidays and a separate bank for sick time Employee Assistance Program 403b Retirement Employer Match up to 5 LifeAD&D Insurance company paid Long Term Disability Insurance company paid

Created: 2026-04-02