Job Description

Missi0on Statement

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

The Regional Director of Philanthropy is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies to support The Salvation Army’s mission. This role will cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors within a specified region of the Golden State Division, ensuring strong relationships and sustainable revenue growth. The ideal candidate is an experienced, strategic, and results-driven fundraiser with a passion for making a meaningful impact.

Essential Functions

Fundraising & Donor Development

• In collaboration with the County Coordinators attend and provide staff assistance to the Metro Advisory Board meetings, executive committee meetings, finance/development committee meetings and the impact committee meetings.
• Develop and manage relationships with donors, local corporate donors, and local foundations.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 110 relationally qualified donors.
• Develop donor plans aligned with territorial benchmarks and metrics, including per-donor fundraising goals and strategies for gifts of $5,000 and higher.
• Engage in face-to-face donor meetings, presentations, and proposal development.
• Cultivate relationships with grant funders and manage grant proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with the Development Team, and other teams, to coordinate fundraising efforts.
• Coordinate with divisional staff in identifying Planned Gifts, as applicable.

Strategy & Planning

• Understand the funding needs for the region, including existing and expanded operations.
• Coordinate development efforts with Corps Officers, Regional Leadership, Divisional Development Department and contracted fundraising firms.
• Regularly update leadership on fundraising progress and challenges.

Community Engagement & Advocacy

• In cooperation with local units represent The Salvation Army at regional events, conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Develop partnerships with community leaders, board members, and volunteers.
• Consult with leadership to align strategies with organizational priorities and address challenges.

Operational & Administrative Responsibilities

• Provides supervision of daily operations of the San Diego County Development Team.
• Meets regularly with the SoCal Divisional Director of Development for strategy and progress to goals and initiatives.
• Document all donor/funder interactions in the CRM, following established practices or policies.
• Prepare reports on fundraising activities, donor engagement, and revenue projections.
• Attend board meetings as a guest, when requested, to learn about programs and development goals.
• Maintain communication and cooperation between the Development Department and other local departments
• Participate in professional training, meetings, and development opportunities.
• Carry out office and computer-related tasks to fulfill the position goals.
• Ensure compliance with Salvation Army Policies, ethical standards, and legal regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience
• Minimum five years in non-profit fundraising with a successful track record in major gifts and grants
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong relationship management and customer service skills
• Ability to travel regionally and occasionally work evenings and weekends
• Proficient in Microsoft products and online resources for internet research
• Experience managing a portfolio and direct solicitation
• Comfortable with direct donor interaction and major financial commitments
• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple projects independently
• Familiarity with fundraising and workplace ethics
• Adaptable and flexible in changing job situations
• Goal-oriented and able to meet/exceed expectations
• Discrete with confidential information
• Detail-oriented with focus on quality and accuracy
• Ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals
• Support and promote The Salvation Army’s mission and values
• Valid Driver’s License and willingness to travel regularly

PREFERRED EXERIENCE:

• Experience in nonprofit organizations, particularly social services or human rights
• Knowledge of planned giving, capital campaigns, and grant writing

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Effective interpersonal, conversational, and presentation skills, demonstrating professional maturity, emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities, and strong case development and gift solicitation skills.
• A leader who enjoys problem-solving, thinks strategically and creatively is goal-oriented, and takes initiative with good follow-through.
• An strong manager who demonstrates a strategic mindset, balancing attention to analysis, details, and metrics with higher-level goal-setting and planning, without micro-managing.
• A fundraiser who is comfortable with direct leadership donor and volunteer interactions, who models good stewardship communication practices, and who is able to effectively ask, lead the gift conversation, network for connections, facilitate a team approach, and rally others who can open doors
• A team leader, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to effectively motivate staff, officer leaders, and key volunteers to collaborate for the successful achievement of department and organizational goalsWillingness and ability to travel regularly throughout the Division.
• Ability to work extended hours during busy times, occasional weekends and some holiday hours particularly around The Salvation Army’s busy Christmas season.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage stressful conditions with poise, courtesy, tact, and professionalism.
• Skill managing and prioritizing multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner to meet tight deadlines.
• High levels of discretion and an ability to maintain confidentiality around sensitive information. Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office tools, Google suite and familiarity with donor management software and email applications. Comfort working personally with the donor CRM and ability to learn new software.
• Other duties as assigned

PAYRATE: $150-$165K/yr

Essential Qualification

• Must embrace, support, and reflect well on The Salvation Army’s mission and values through one’s professional responsibilities and behavior at all times.
• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience, plus a minimum of five years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven track record of major gifts success.
• Effective interpersonal, conversational and presentation skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities and strong case development and pitching skills.
• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, leadership volunteers and wealthy donors, as well as internal stakeholders and leadership.
• The selected individual should enjoy problem solving, think strategically and creatively, and take initiative with good follow through.
• A high level of comfort with direct donor interaction is a must, including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for major financial commitments.
• Team player, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to collaborate effectively with officers, staff and volunteers for successful achievement of position and department goals. Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment without extensive admin support. Must be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities with professionalism and grace. Must keep good documentation through contact reports and activity tracking using Portfolio. database according to Salvation Army protocols.
• Demonstrated goal-oriented, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon timeframes.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly. Valid Driver’s License required.

Working Conditions

Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis. Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead. Ability to operate computer and telephone. Ability to lift 25 lbs.

Mental Demands

• Work under stressful conditions.
• Interact with others with courtesy and tact.
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner to meet tight deadlines.
• Respond to crisis situations in a calm and effective manner.
• Complete projects on schedule.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain regular and punctual work attendance.

Physical Demands

• The position requires sitting; climbing stairs and/or balancing; stooping, bending, stretching, standing; walking; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; use of vision; driving a vehicle; pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying 25 pounds; traveling by airplane; both outdoor and indoor navigation of settings.

Communication Demands

• The position requires: professional written and verbal communications with co-workers, other departments and program staff, clients, vendors, donors, volunteers, board members, philanthropic decision-makers, and officers. Talking on the telephone; responding to written or verbal requests; are frequent and mandatory. Attending online and in person training courses are mandatory. Reading and composing in English is mandatory and in other languages is encouraged and highly valued. Visiting/working at other worksites and non-worksite locations; communication via the latest technologies.

Equipment Needs:

• Use office equipment such as computers, photocopiers, scanners, calculators, smartphones, etc.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Valid driver’s license required
• Travel as necessary.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office tools and familiarity with donor management software and email applications.