First Day is seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Associate Director of Development to lead our community outreach and fundraising initiatives across Los Angeles County. This strategic and relationship-driven leader will work to build long-term partnerships, cultivate major donors, and raise the visibility and support for First Day’s work across all communities we serve including SPAs 5 and 7.
This role requires a highly experienced communications professional with a proven track record in donor cultivation, community engagement, and nonprofit development. The Associate Director of Development will represent First Day at public events, meetings, and community forums; manage annual fundraising campaigns and individual giving strategies; and work closely with site teams and leadership to align messaging with programmatic impact.
Responsibilities
The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the task that may be assigned. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
NOTE: First Day considers this position to be a mandated reporter of elder and child abuse
Fundraising Leadership
- pearhead First Day’s individual giving strategy, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational goals.
- Oversee campaigns such as Giving Tuesday, year-end appeals, donor spotlights, and site-specific fundraising efforts.
- Collaborate with the Director of Grants and Program Compliance to align private fundraising with grant-funded initiatives and agency priorities.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Build and manage a portfolio of major individual and institutional donors.
- Conduct donor visits, site tours, and regular communications to deepen donor engagement and retention.
- Track donor relationships and giving history using the agency’s CRM system (e.g., DonorPerfect or similar).
- Create compelling donor-facing communications, impact reports, and personalized engagement plans.
Community Outreach & Public Engagement
- Represent First Day at community events, coalition meetings, and public forums across Los Angeles County.
- Build partnerships with local businesses, service clubs, schools, civic groups, and faith communities to increase awareness and support.
- Serve as a key spokesperson at events and in media, articulating First Day’s mission and impact with clarity and enthusiasm.
- Coordinate and support site-specific community outreach efforts, ensuring consistent messaging and branding across locations.
Communications Strategy
- Work with marketing and external communications partners to create strategic content for newsletters, social media, donor appeals, and public campaigns.
- Develop and maintain a calendar of community events, outreach opportunities, and storytelling moments across all First Day sites.
- Support the creation of donor materials, brochures, one-pagers, and branded presentations tailored to different audiences.
Team Collaboration & Leadership
- Collaborate with program leaders at all First Day sites to identify compelling stories, data, and outcomes to share with the public.
- Mentor junior development or communications staff (if applicable) and support cross-department collaboration for community events and volunteer engagement.
Participate in management meetings to represent development strategies and provide input on cross-cutting initiatives.
Required
A. Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Relations, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
B. At least 3-5 years of experience in development, communications, or community engagement roles within a nonprofit setting.
C. Proven ability to cultivate and steward individual donors, with a track record of meeting fundraising goals.
D. Strong writing, public speaking, and presentation skills.
E. Ability to travel independently to locations across Los Angeles County and attend evening or weekend events as needed.
F. High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and a passion for social impact work.
Preferred Skills
A. Experience working with populations affected by homelessness, poverty, or health disparities.
B. Familiarity with donor databases (e.g., DonorPerfect, Salesforce) and digital fundraising platforms.
Bilingual in English and Spanish..
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Evenings as needed
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Whittier, CA 90602
