Director of Development

Position Summary

The Director of Development (DOD) is a seasoned, entrepreneurial leader responsible for building and scaling The Ebell's philanthropic program at a pivotal moment in the organization's history. Reporting directly to the CEO, the DOD will initially serve as the organization's lead frontline fundraiser, developing relationships with individual and institutional donors, making direct asks, and building a robust major gifts pipeline in support of annual, capital, and campaign priorities.

This is an opportunity for an experienced development professional to help create a culture of philanthropy across an organization where fundraising capacity and expertise are still evolving. The DOD will serve as a close partner and advisor to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership team, helping organizational leaders become more effective ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraisers.

Roles & Responsibilities

Fundraising & Major Gifts

• Serve as The Ebell's lead frontline fundraiser, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual and institutional donors, including six- and seven-figure prospects.
• Build and manage a robust major gifts pipeline, using disciplined prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, moves management, and stewardship practices.
• Expand The Ebell's donor base by developing new philanthropic relationships throughout Los Angeles and beyond.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing major gifts, annual giving, institutional giving, sponsorships, campaigns, and stewardship.

Campaign Leadership

• Play a senior leadership role in The Ebell's capital fundraising efforts to preserve and ensure the future of its historic campus, addressing near-term needs while building toward a larger, long-term campaign.
• Partner with campaign counsel, organizational leadership, and volunteers to develop campaign strategy, prospect plans, feasibility efforts, solicitations, and a compelling case for support.
• Identify and pursue diverse sources of capital, including individual and institutional philanthropy, public funding, historic tax credits, and government support.

CEO & Board Partnership

• Serve as a trusted fundraising advisor to the CEO and partner closely on donor strategy, campaign priorities, and key external relationships.
• Engage, coach, and equip Board members to identify prospects, cultivate relationships, open doors, and participate effectively in solicitations.
• Provide leadership and the Board with clear reporting on fundraising performance, pipeline development, campaign progress, and opportunities.

Development Operations & Team Leadership

• Strengthen the systems, processes, metrics, and infrastructure necessary to support significant fundraising growth and a strong culture of philanthropy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the development team, including the Senior Development Manager and grant writing resources, while assessing future staffing needs.
• Establish clear goals, roles, workflows, and accountability across the development function.

Donor Communications & Institutional Giving

• Oversee compelling donor communications, cases for support, proposals, campaign materials, and stewardship strategies that strengthen donor engagement and giving.
• Lead foundation, corporate, and government fundraising, cultivating relationships with key institutional funders and overseeing a strong grants pipeline.
• Collaborate across marketing, programming, membership, events, and other teams to ensure cohesive messaging and donor engagement.

Technology & Data

• Lead the continued implementation and optimization of Salesforce as The Ebell's central development CRM, ensuring strong adoption and data integrity.
• Use donor, prospect, and campaign data to manage the pipeline, evaluate performance, forecast revenue, and inform fundraising strategy.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit development experience, with significant experience in major gifts and frontline fundraising.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing six-figure gifts; experience with seven-figure gifts strongly preferred.
• Experience with a capital or comprehensive campaign, ideally within an ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort.
• Experience building or significantly strengthening a major gifts program, development operation, and culture of philanthropy.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with a CEO, Board members, campaign volunteers, and senior stakeholders, including coaching leaders in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Sophisticated understanding of major gifts, moves management, stewardship, annual and institutional giving, and campaign strategy.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing fundraising staff and external resources.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing cases for support, proposals, donor communications, and solicitation materials.
• Strong command of CRM systems and fundraising data, with the ability to use data to evaluate pipelines, performance, and strategy; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Collaborative leadership style and ability to work effectively across marketing, membership, programs, operations, finance, and events.
• Experience in arts and culture, historic preservation, education, community-based organizations, or another mission-driven environment is highly desirable; familiarity with the Los Angeles philanthropic community is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, and local travel for donor meetings and events.

Compensation & Benefits

The Ebell offers a competitive executive compensation package commensurate with experience including a salary range of $150,000-$160,000 and a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plan options; paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and long-term disability insurance; and an employee assistance program.

• Envision Consulting was retained by Ebell of Los Angeles to conduct the search for their incoming Director of Development.
• Applicants needing accommodation for any part of the application process may contact Envision Consulting at to request and arrange for assistance.