Director of Development and Communications

Position Overview

The Director of Development & Communications is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing all aspects of LCF’s fundraising, communications, and marketing program to achieve the organization’s annual and long-term financial and relationship goals. They develop, oversee, and implement LCF’s major gift program, foundation support, planned giving, special events, capital campaigns, marketing and communications. The Director works with the Executive Director to identify and cultivate donors and funding sources to achieve our roughly $2 million annual operating budget and works closely with other LCF Program Directors, the Board of Directors, and the Development Committee to grow LCF’s funding base. They work closely with the finance staff on budgeting, grant management and reporting processes. This position reports to the Executive Director and is a valued member of LCF’s senior leadership team.   

 Desired Experience and Skills 

• Informed passion and sense of urgency for the mission of the Laguna Canyon Foundation.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in and responsibility for nonprofit fund development and communications.
• Demonstrated track record cultivating and stewarding major gifts from individuals and institutions.
• Superior executive functioning skills and sound judgement with a growth mindset.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and implement vision, strategy, and timelines to reach the end goal of multiple projects.
• Prior experience writing communication materials such as newsletters and annual reports and using electronic communications, including social media, preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in the use of Salesforce, Smartsheet, and desktop applications.
• Talented candidates that do not meet all requirements are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities 

 Donor Cultivation and Stewardship 

• Acknowledgement and stewardship of existing major donors.
• Manages the Salesforce database, including the creation of a moves management plan.
• Maintains a planned giving program.
• Maintains and cultivates a portfolio of prospects to bring new donors to the organization.
• Creates and executes a strategy for a sustained base of annual individual donors.
• Works with partners with similar or compatible missions in local government, corporate, and surrounding communities to achieve mutual objectives.
• Maintains and grows new relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, donors, foundations, and strategic partners.

Fundraising and Community Events 

• Manages annual events, including Trails fundraiser and other fundraising events.
• Secures financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Participates in donor and volunteer appreciation events.
• Creates new fundraising initiatives.

Grant and Foundation Management 

• Plans annual grant asks.
• Supervises all grant activity, develops proposals, and submits applications and reports.
• Researches new grant prospects.
• Communicates and meets with funders.

Marketing and Communications 

• Creates, manages, and tracks multiple annual campaigns, including direct mail, online fundraising, and crowdfunding.
• Responsible for community engagement and fundraising through an active presence in the Laguna Beach community and beyond.
• Works with Outreach Program to implement speaker pool to meet outside requests.
• Manages website and social media content and messaging in partnership with LCF staff.
• Publishes quarterly donor newsletters.
• Optimizing a variety of media strategies, engages new and existing donors and raises awareness of the Foundation’s mission and contributions.

 General 

• Collaborates with staff and Board, as needed.
• Develops and executes an annual revenue plan.
• Develops and executes an annual marketing and communications plan.
• Works with Board Development & Marketing Committee Chair to include Board in fundraising activities.