Senior Director of Development

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Development (DOD) will be a key contributor to the organization’s success and sustainability by contributing to the accomplishment of the organization’s mission and fundraising goals. This is a unique opportunity for a charismatic development leader who is passionate about creating sustainability for a cherished institution that provides meaning well beyond its geographic footprint.

This position will be responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of a comprehensive fundraising program focused on growing major giving and launching a planned gifts program to ensure the Center’s ongoing success and sustainability.

The DOD will have administrative guidance and oversight of all aspects of the development function including fundraising, donor and foundation relations, and events. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the DOD will work closely with an engaged staff and Board who are eager to act as ambassadors. This position will supervise a Development Manager and a part-time Development Assistant.

The DOD will be enthusiastic about this opportunity to build on a solid foundation of donor support with a lot of untapped potential for the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. This leader will design the strategy for and oversee all fundraising efforts including cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, as well as plan and execute a range of successful fundraising events.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the organization’s annual and long-range strategic fundraising efforts that align with and support the strategic direction of the organization.
• Develop, present, and implement a detailed fundraising plan in collaboration with the Executive Director, garnering widespread adoption by the community and Board of Directors.
• In conjunction with the Development Committee Chair, report to the Board on the organization’s progress toward meeting the Development department and fundraising goals.
• Provide leadership to the Development Committee, supporting the Committee’s Chair and Executive Director in setting agendas, shaping strategy, and communications with Committee members.
• Establish goals and metrics to evaluate the implementation of strategy and tactics and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the development department.

Major and Planned Gifts

• Identify, cultivate, and successfully close major individual gifts to meet established fundraising goals, including engaging with the Executive Director, Board and/or volunteers to assist with this process.
• Identify new prospects with untapped capacity and cultivate relationships with those who have the potential to make major, capital campaign, and/or planned gifts.
• Develop and implement a planned giving strategy and formalized program to secure deferred gifts.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board Chair to establish each Board member’s individual contribution plans for both long-term projects and annual fundraising efforts. Communicate with each Board Member regularly to encourage and support fundraising efforts.

Foundation, Corporation, and Government Relations

• Identify and cultivate meaningful working relationships with foundation and institutional leaders.
• Guide and support the Development Manager in the writing of grant applications to secure program and operational support from foundations, corporations, and government entities.
• Lead and advise the team on research and cultivation of new grants and other institutional funding.

Annual Giving Program

• Lead the Development team on the development of strategies for all annual giving initiatives.
• Working closely with the Marketing and Communications department, align annual giving initiatives and external messaging with marketing and branding strategies, capitalizing on opportunities to capture new donors and to increase donations.

Donor Recognition and Fundraising-Related Events

• Oversee and guide the implementation and execution of fundraising and donor-related events, working regularly to engage the RBAC’s volunteers and Board of Directors.
• Ensure appropriate stewardship of all gifts to the organization, including implementation of donor recognition activities.

Team Leadership & Department Operations

• Maintain a working knowledge of best practices and significant developments and trends in philanthropy relevant to the RBAC and adapt fundraising strategies, as necessary.
• Guide and supervise Development team on database management and utilization, including prospect research, briefings, reporting, and cultivation of new funding sources.
• Lead and support the development staff, volunteers or contractors, to accomplish the organization’s fundraising goals.
• Lead development staff on maintaining accurate donor information, developing and running reports and metrics to present to the Executive Leadership team and Board, and the writing of donor briefings for individual meetings and events.

Other

• Be available for regular evening meetings, including those related to donor engagement, fundraising events, and Board of Directors and Committee meetings.
• Be available to attend fundraising events and activities on weekends, which may include travel to different locations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

At RBAC, we carefully consider a wide range of factors to determine a compensation package. The final offer will consider a wide range of factors including, but not limited to skill sets, relevant experience and training. The salary range is $110,000 - $175,000 per year plus competitive benefits.

THE ORGANIZATION

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (RBAC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, opened in 1990 and is in Pasadena’s beautiful Brookside Park, just south of the famous Rose Bowl Stadium. This world-class aquatic facility offers year-round aquatic and fitness programming to children, youth, families, and seniors so that all generations can achieve the benefits of healthy living habits, regular exercise, and competitive sports training. Today, RBAC serves more than 400,000 patrons annually. The Center’s two Olympic pools, diving well, Therapy Pool, and dry land facilities provide a full range of programs including:

• Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo (Splashball) Lessons
• Lap Swimming (long & short course)
• Water Fitness Classes
• Special needs and adaptive swimming programs
• Competitive Teams: Swim, Master’s Swim, Water Polo, and Dive
• Recreational Swimming and Independent Therapy Pool Use