Associate Director, Special Giving
Hybrid - Irvine, CA
Our Purpose
Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
Vision and Impact Plan
By 2030 Southern California will be the most inclusive place for people with disabilities to live, learn, work, & play.
About Easterseals Southern California
Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) is a premier nonprofit and a trusted expert and provider of autism services for children and adults for Southern California. Mark Whitley is President and CEO and, since assuming the role more than 30 years ago, has overseen the organization’s growth from a $1.5 million to a $500 million + organization, making it the largest of Easterseals’ 70 affiliates nationwide. Currently serving more than 18,000 people through 75-plus service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations across Southern California, Easterseals Southern California offers the highest-quality autism therapies, adult and senior day services, child development and early education programs, independent living services, and employment services for individuals and their families with disabilities. With a vision to make Southern California the most inclusive place in the country for people with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play by 2030, Whitley has developed a team of more than 2,600 professional staff committed to leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors in their communities through services and advocacy. The organization is the go-to disability inclusion organization in Hollywood and across media and entertainment, earning its reputation through award-winning, multi-media campaigns as well as through the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and the Media Access Awards Presented by Easterseals.
ADVANCEMENT
In 2012 Sterling Search assisted Easterseals Southern California in hiring its Chief Development Officer, Nancy Weintraub (a 30+ year veteran) to oversee philanthropy. In its tradition of entrepreneurialism in creating new revenue streams that further their mission, Weintraub now oversees all its revenue and program development verticals which include government relations and grants, private foundation grants, corporate, sports and entertainment partnerships, DEIA consulting, community relations and engagement, and individual giving (planned giving, annual fund, employee giving and major gifts). In 2023, Sterling Search assisted Easterseals Southern California in expanding their development team with the hiring of the Senior Director of Development, Jen DeGrave, a 20+ year veteran development leader in the academic and higher education space. Within 6 months, Jen was promoted to Vice President, Development and now seeks a new member of her expanding team.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Senior Director, Major and Planned Gifts, the ADSG will oversee donor cultivation and strategy for annual giving programs. This includes the development and execution of strategic outreach, growth, and stewardship for segments including, but not limited to: President’s Circle ($1K+ donors), annual and monthly giving, and digital fundraising.
The individual giving team’s marketing, design, and communications needs, like the rest of the organization, are supported by a robust strategic marketing and communications department. Amongst the traditional marketing and communications functions, there is a strong social media and graphic design team.
Like other nonprofits, there is always an urgency to acquire philanthropic dollars to do more for its mission. Easterseals Southern California is no different except that the core of their programs is supported by large government grants. Not only does 100% of the money raised from philanthropy go to programming, but its annual revenue is not responsible for closing the gap on the organizational budget each year.
This is a unique opportunity for a successful and hardworking development professional with experience in building and growing programs and portfolios to the next level. The ADSG will have a deep passion for social impact and disability inclusion and will be ready to place their mark on developing a robust annual giving program leveraging years of innovative programming, supporting its vision in creating the best place to be for people with disabilities by 2030.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Manages a portfolio of donors, including fundraising for the organization’s strategic initiatives.
Build upon the existing President’s Council program by identifying strategic enhancements and developing a calendar of opportunities for members.
Maintains oversight of the President’s Council program including regular review of members, identifying new members, and tracking renewals and year-over-year statistics.
Takes ownership of the Thrive Alliance/Monthly Giving program to cultivate membership and ensure growth.
Maintains and oversees outreach and recognition plans for monthly donors.
In collaboration with the Senior Director and VP, Development creates and launches a multi-channel digital fundraising blueprint.
Develops and launches a pilot program to invite participant family giving.
Reviews monthly donor lists shared by the national office and become a member of the Development Leadership Network affinity group.
Develops outreach strategy for effective reengagement of lapsed donors.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree required.
EXPERIENCE
3+ years of experience in non-profit fundraising, including portfolio management, appeal segmentation, and digital fundraising.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
A record of quantifiable success in donor segmentation, research, cultivation, and stewardship.
Exceptional management, organizational, and budgeting skills.
Demonstrated ability to successfully plan, set goals and objectives, organize, and implement strategic initiatives.
Ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and proofreading skills with all levels of staff and the public.
A strong set of interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with and gain the respect and support of varied and changing constituencies including program and support staff, volunteers, existing and potential donors, and other key stakeholders.
A track record as an effective communicator, skilled at writing and public speaking; adept at writing proposals, solicitation letters, donor correspondence, and other types of materials to enhance fundraising.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise a high level of discretion.
Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC.
A working knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and experience with Boomerang software is preferred but not required.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING CAPABILITIES
Commitment to the mission and work of the agency with credibility and persuasiveness to secure support from others.
A decisive and resourceful individual who will accept responsibility and take charge of results, as well as work successfully with limited resources.
A self-starter who is confident enough to express opinions, to forge ahead when appropriate and hold back, when necessary, with a sensitivity to the feelings and opinions of others.
A doer who functions effectively without being autocratic or political; must be a team player who is inclusive, flexible, creative, energetic, and fair minded.
An energetic person who is emotionally mature and dependable, a collegial individual.
This position offers a base salary of $100,000 to $115,000 plus comprehensive benefits, based upon qualifications and experience.
To learn more, or for a confidential conversation, please contact Vanessa Petersen.
Phone: (917) 670-1555
Email: Vanessa@SterlingSearchInc.com
Direct all correspondence, emails, and telephone calls to Sterling Search, Inc. Any communication with Easterseals Southern California will be redirected back to Sterling Search.