Director of Development

ABOUT CASA OF LOS ANGELES

CASA of Los Angeles (CASA/LA) organizes the community to take action and advocate for children and families in LA County’s overburdened child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Through an intentional, restorative and culturally relevant lens, we train committed, consistent, and caring adults who provide equitable access to resources and life-affirming connections. CASA/LA’s vision is a Los Angeles in which all children and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have equitable access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Development serves as the lead architect and executor of CASA/LA’s fundraising and development efforts. This position is responsible for designing, managing, and implementing strategies to increase revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and events. The Director will also oversee development operations, donor stewardship, marketing, and special events, and will manage a team of development and marketing professionals. As a key member of CASA/LA’s leadership, this person will work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to ensure the organization’s mission is supported through strong, diversified funding. Overseeing a team of 3, this strategic leader inspires collaboration, drives innovative fundraising initiatives, and strengthens CASA/LA’s capacity to achieve its mission of advocating for children and families across Los Angeles County.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising & Development Strategy

• Design and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategy.

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts.

• Lead individual giving campaigns, institutional fundraising efforts, and planned giving strategies.

• Develop and oversee the implementation of campaigns to maximize donor engagement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Hire, manage, and mentor the development and marketing team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment.

• Set departmental goals and regularly assess performance, providing coaching and professional development.

• Serve as a senior thought partner to the CEO and participate in strategic planning for organizational growth.

• Oversee and manage the development department’s annual budget, including forecasting and financial reporting to inform fundraising strategy.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Develop and maintain a robust donor stewardship program including acknowledgments, updates, and recognition.

• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of donor data using DonorPerfect.

• Create customized donor reports and impact communications.

Events & Marketing

• Oversee all fundraising and cultivation events, including annual galas, donor briefings, and third-party partnerships.

• Partner with the marketing team to develop CASA/LA’s marketing and communications strategy for donor engagement and volunteer recruitment.

• Represent CASA/LA publicly as a spokesperson and ambassador.

Board & Executive Support

• Collaborate with the CEO and board on donor engagement strategies, fundraising events, and board giving.

• Provide regular fundraising updates to the board and lead development-related board initiatives.

Grants & Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate reporting for all grants, donations, and public funding.

• Maintain compliance with grant requirements and oversee donor database integrity and internal systems.

• Work with the CEO and finance team to develop revenue projections and monitor progress toward fundraising goals.

• Develop and maintain relationships with foundations and other institutional funders; lead or support grant proposal writing, submission, and reporting.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or fundraising certification (e.g., CFRE) preferred

• 7+ years of experience in nonprofit development with a demonstrated track record in fundraising

• At least 3 years of supervisory experience leading development teams or departments

• Experience developing and managing budgets and financial projections for fundraising departments

• Demonstrated experience cultivating and securing support from foundations and public or private Grantmakers

• Experience with donor management systems (DonorPerfect preferred), Microsoft Office Suite, and project management tools

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; strong relationship-building and interpersonal abilities.

• Willingness to work some early mornings, evenings, and weekend days.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Who you are:

· Integrity and passion. A person of integrity and passion that lives by the core values of CASA/LA and is passionate about CASA/LA’s mission.

· Fundraising and leadership expert. You have proven knowledge and performance of fundraising and a successful track record of fund development campaigns in major gift cultivation and solicitation, special events management, grant writing, volunteer management, non-profit governance, and planned giving.

· Creative and bold. You are an innovative thinker of fundraising strategies. You hold the bar high and bring new opportunities to CASA/LA that will help drive systemic change.

· Inspiring. You are a leader that brings incredible people along with you. Whether to internal stakeholders or external partners, you can articulate a clear vision and how everyone can play important roles in pursuing CASA/LA’s mission.

· Tech-savvy. You are informed by validated data and take every opportunity to leverage it into actionable goals and strategy while utilizing the latest technology in computing, project management, donor management, and report creation.

· Action-oriented. You get things done and are driven by results utilizing the SMART principle of setting goals and taking actions to achieve them.

· Relationship-driven. You thrive with the opportunity to reach, connect, build, and maintain relationships with diverse constituents, representing a wide array of donors and members who support CASA/LA mission.

· Organized and efficient. You are a skilled task and priority organizer across teams in and outside the department ensure minimal waste, and that time is used at the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness.

· Collaborative. You know the best results come from teamwork, and can work by finding the best ways to use peoples’ strengths. You debrief wins and losses and capitalize on the learnings of what went well and what didn’t go well in terms of continuous improvement.

· Strong leader, manager and communicator. You have a proven record of championing and mentoring teams. Your words are chosen carefully to build up, recognize, and move people with passion to do their best work.

· Flexible. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity and working through competing priorities. You adapt to a changing environment with the ability to respond to and manage crisis with a calm and mindful approach.

· Passionate. You are motivated by the work that inspires you to do your best, and that is evident in your leadership and actions with all stakeholders.

· Fun. You know how to celebrate wins and have a good time.