Director of Development

About Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

For three decades, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts has served as
a dynamic hub for contemporary art in San Francisco’s downtown
community, showcasing innovative and thought-provoking contemporary
art across various disciplines, including visual arts, performing
arts, film and more.

YBCA brings together artists, audiences, and perspectives under
one roof. We believe it’s this synergy that makes the city what it
is today and will be for years to come–a hotbed for new and
emerging creativity – a place where the diversity of the Bay Area
comes to life and its artists, people, and ideas thrive.

YBCA aims to be a catalyst for conversations around critical
social and cultural questions, using art as a medium to engage
audiences in meaningful dialogues. To do this, YBCA is committed to
supporting artists who push boundaries and challenge conventions,
encouraging experimentation and innovation in the arts.

YBCA’s Mission Vision, and Values

Mission: To be a gathering space for creative expression that
fosters meaningful connection for all.

Vision: To be a catalyst of creative exploration, expression and
innovation that empowers artists, inspires community and drives
lasting social change.

Values:

• Belonging: We believe the arts are for everyone.
• Inclusive Collaboration: We are stronger together.
• Optimism: Art has the power to inspire change.
• Curiosity: We believe that learning is at the center of all
  artistic expression.

About the Role

As the Development Director at YBCA, you will lead our
development department, playing a critical role in shaping and
executing our fundraising strategies to ensure the organization’s
financial health and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the San
Francisco Bay Area. You will oversee all fundraising initiatives,
including major gifts, grants, donor cultivation, and donor special
events, while also developing and implementing strategies that
deepen relationships with existing donors and expand our donor
base. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to impact
the arts community by driving growth and innovation in our
development efforts.

Top Priorities, Year 1

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that
  includes major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships, and
  individual donor cultivation, significantly increasing YBCA’s
  funding opportunities and donor base.
• Strengthen relationships with key funders, partners, and
  stakeholders, enhancing YBCA’s reputation and support within the
  community.
• Enhance data-driven decision-making by leveraging advanced
  analytics to understand donor behavior and trends, optimizing
  fundraising efforts.
• Lead the planning and execution of 10-20 high-impact
  cultivation events per year, engaging a broad spectrum of donors
  and stakeholders in meaningful ways.
• Elevate YBCA’s brand and visibility in the philanthropic
  community through strategic communications and marketing
  collaborations.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Strategic Leadership and Management:
  • Lead the development department, setting and implementing the
    strategic direction for YBCA’s fundraising efforts.
  • Ensure the development department operates with high efficiency
    and effectiveness, implementing best practices in fundraising and
    donor management.
  • Manage and mentor the development team, fostering a culture of
    excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as a member of the extended leadership team, contributing
    to overall organizational strategy and decision-making.
  • Drive the growth of YBCA’s fundraising initiatives, identifying
    new opportunities and leveraging existing relationships to maximize
    revenue.
• Major Gifts and Donor Relations:
  • Develop and manage a dynamic portfolio of major donors and
    prospects, crafting personalized engagement and stewardship
    plans.
  • Lead major gift solicitation efforts and ensure donor
    recognition and stewardship.
• Grant Management:
  • Oversee the lifecycle of grants, from identification to
    application, compliance, and reporting, ensuring maximization of
    funding opportunities.
  • Identify grant opportunities, write grant proposals, and manage
    reporting requirements for foundation and corporate
    grants.
  • Ensure the timely submission of high-quality grant
    applications, deliverables and funding requests, adhering to all
    deadlines and requirements.
• Project Management:
  • Serve as the primary internal point of contact for
    grant-related projects, coordinating efforts across
    departments.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive project plan outlining
    tasks, timelines and responsibilities related to each grant.
  • Monitor and track the process of grant-funded projects to
    ensure they meet objectives and deliverables.
  • Coordinate with finance to generate accurate grant finance
    reports and manage funding requests.
• Documentation and Record Keeping:
  • Oversee the use and optimization of Salesforce for advanced
    data management, analysis, and reporting, ensuring the integrity
    and utility of donor data.
  • Maintain organized and comprehensive records of all
    grant-related documents, communications and activities.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Act as a primary spokesperson for YBCA’s development efforts,
    articulating the organization’s vision and impact to donors,
    partners, and the public.
  • Enhance YBCA’s presence and visibility in the philanthropic
    community through strategic communications and partnerships.
  • Lead cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring seamless
    integration of fundraising with programmatic and organizational
    goals.
• Cultivation and Events:
  • Spearhead the planning and execution of strategic cultivation
    events, enhancing donor engagement and support.
  • Coordinate logistics for cultivation events, ensuring seamless
    execution and positive participant experiences.
  • Coordinate invitations, RSVPs, and post-event follow-up
    activities.
• Grant Compliance and Reporting:
  • Stay informed about grant regulations, guidelines and reporting
    requirements.
  • Ensure that funded projects adhere to grant terms, conditions
    and compliance standards.
  • Prepare and submit accurate and timely grant reports, detailing
    project outcomes and financial expenditures.
• Membership:
  • Manage correspondence with YBCA members, addressing inquiries
    and providing necessary information.
  • Oversee the distribution of membership cards and maintain
    accurate membership records.
  • Respond to inquiries through the giving email inbox, providing
    timely and accurate responses.

Qualifications, Education, Training, and Certifications

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in development or
  fundraising, preferably within the arts or nonprofit sector,
  preferred.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive
  fundraising strategies, including major gifts, grants, and
  events.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with a track
  record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM systems, with
  a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills,
  capable of engaging with a diverse range of donors, partners, and
  stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving
  skills, with the ability to lead complex projects and
  initiatives.
• Experience coordinating events, especially cultivation events
  related to fundraising and donor engagement.
• Knowledge or experience managing membership programs.
• Adherence to high ethical standards in handling confidential
  information and managing donor relationships.
• A “get it done” spirit and creative problem solver at
  heart.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and new
  responsibilities within a growing program; willingness to handle
  projects outside of standard responsibilities, as needed.

Who Should Apply?

Research shows that candidates from groups closest to the harms
of institutional racism and inequality often apply to jobs only if
they meet 100% of the listed qualifications; we believe that no one
meets 100% of the qualifications. We are less concerned about
whether you’ve done everything within a particular job description
and are more interested in cultivating a pool of candidates who
want to join a connected, mission-driven, hard-working team.

Ultimately, we are seeking applicants who have a blend – in some
way – of the following:

• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive
  fundraising strategies, including major gifts, grants, and
  events.
• Experience overseeing the lifecycle of grants, from
  identification to application, compliance, and reporting, ensuring
  maximization of funding opportunities.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with a track
  record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM systems, with
  a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making.

If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $125,000 based on full-time
hours, and includes a competitive benefits package.

Benefits include PTO, Holiday Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision,
Flexible Spending Accounts, Group Life and AD&D Insurance, Long
Term Disability Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Employee
Assistance Program, Travel Assistance, paid time off to volunteer,
and ability to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan with
match.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is committed to diversity
in its programming and in creating a work culture and environment
that is reflective of San Francisco Bay Area demography. The Center
encourages and actively recruits applicants representing dimensions
of difference that include — but are not limited to — age, national
origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation,
gender or political affiliation.

YBCA will consider for employment all qualified applicants with
criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of
the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article
49).

Accommodations

YBCA is committed to providing access and reasonable
accommodations for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of
the employment process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed,
please contact accommodations@ybca.org with
the subject line “Accommodations Request”.

Health and Safety

At YBCA, we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of
our community. Our current COVID-19 health and safety protocols
meet or exceed local, state, and federal public health
requirements. We require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a
condition of employment. Exemption from these requirements will be
reviewed according to standards set forth by state and local health
agencies and reasonable accommodations will be made for those
providing valid exemptions.

All initial interviews will be conducted remotely via phone or
video conference. Please note that this position may perform some
work remotely and on site responsibilities. 

Application Status

After you apply, you will receive a confirmation email to let
you know that your resume has been received. A member of our
recruiting team will personally review your application and, if you
are a potential match for one of our open positions, we will be in
touch. If there is not a match right now, we will keep your resume
on file for future opportunities.

Agencies and Recruiting Firms: Please note that we will only
review applications submitted directly by candidates and do not
accept resumes or pay fees to third parties. Any unsolicited
resumes received will be considered the property of YBCA.