Director of Development

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library resulting in free programs, resources, and services available to the hundreds of thousands of adults, children, and youth in Los Angeles. We accomplish this mission through fundraising, advocacy, and producing innovative programs that strengthen the Library and promote greater awareness of its life-changing and dream-fueling resources.

We recognize that libraries are bigger than buildings and more than books, and we are eager to build on our past success by continuing to identify opportunities to help the LAPL (Los Angeles Public Library) thrive as a responsive, resilient, and dynamic institution that meets the evolving needs and improves the lives of Angelenos all across the city. In our work, we reinforce our core values, including empathy, curiosity, accountability, adaptability, high achievement, learning, and collaboration, and we prioritize upholding justice and equity in the workplace. We are dedicated to providing professional development, centering team building, and mirroring the welcoming and inclusive environment of public libraries. We love ideas, learning, and making an impact–and are looking to recruit colleagues who share these passions.

The Director of Development is a collaborative, self-motivated, and results-oriented leader that will focus on high-level strategic thinking, team building, and goal setting while also managing day-to-day fundraising tasks and all aspects of development operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Director of Development will develop and implement an integrated annual giving program that includes donor solicitation & stewardship, direct mail & digital fundraising, special events, recurring monthly giving, and membership. The Director of Development will supervise the Development Manager and the Donor Relations & Events Manager.

Ideal Candidate

The Director of Development will work with the CDO to envision and shape the organization’s fundraising direction and revitalize its approach to donor solicitation & stewardship. They will be a seasoned fundraiser, strategic thinker, and people connector with an entrepreneurial spirit, and have significant experience in the nonprofit field.

Annual Giving

Work with Chief Development Officer to develop and execute a comprehensive annual giving strategy to meet and exceed fundraising goals.

Develop a year-long calendar that schedules key fundraising activities and tracks benchmarks for appeals, events, and communications.

Utilize Raiser’s Edge to maintain accurate and up-to-date records on donors and prospects. Use reports and analysis to boost fundraising progress and effectiveness.

Provide strategy and execution for LFLA’s general membership program including Young Literati and Leadership Circle.

Manage and report on annual giving and membership trends, providing insights and recommendations for program improvements.

Direct Mail & Digital Appeals

Oversee the annual implementation of direct mail, digital appeals, and individual giving campaigns including writing copy, list management, printer communications, and coordination of personalized touches for donors.

Oversee recurring systems and process for membership program including relationships with external vendors, including designers, printers, and mail houses, to ensure timely and cost-effective campaign and membership delivery.

Work collaboratively with marketing & communications staff to create and implement a communications strategy for annual donors and fundraisers throughout the year, compelling fundraising campaigns, and engaging communications and materials.

Analyze the performance of direct mail, including response rates, donor acquisition, and retention, to continuously improve effectiveness.

Works with Data Services team to provide reporting and data analysis for annual giving, membership, appeals, and donor cultivation efforts to inform and optimize future campaigns.

Donor Relations & Events

Works with the Development Manager and the Donor Relations & Events Manager to strategically plan and implement a program of activities to identify, solicit, and retain donors.

Oversee and support the planning and curation of engaging donor and member events including Young Literati, Leadership Circle, third-party fundraisers, and other donor cultivation and stewardship events.

Manage the stewardship of current donor relationships by implementing appropriate frequency of outreach, communication, appreciation, and involvement.

Ensure that donors are promptly thanked for their contributions through personalized letters, emails, or phone calls. Share the outcomes and stories that demonstrate the impact of donor support, ensuring donors feel valued and informed.

Work closely with Data Services team to implement and maintain data tracking systems for event evaluation.

Other duties as assigned

A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with experience in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, board members, and staff

Strong knowledge of fundraising principles, ethics, and best practices

Commitment to the mission and values of the organization, with a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector and the challenges it faces.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience in writing compelling fundraising copy for various channels.

Experience in managing special events (in-person and virtual)

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Leadership experience with the ability to motivate and guide a team.

Must be proficient in Microsoft O365 and MS Office Suite, with intermediate excel skills preferred

Significant experience using fundraising databases, particularly Raiser’s Edge, to manage donor records, track fundraising activities, and analyze campaign performance.

Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights for campaign improvements.

Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for innovation in fundraising approaches.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT The LFLA is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, off-duty cannabis use, and any other category or status protected by state, local or federal law.