Development Manager

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The Development Manager plays a key role in advancing the organization’s fundraising goals, with a primary focus on executing special events—especially the annual gala—and cultivating corporate partnerships. This position supports a broad range of development activities including donor stewardship, sponsorship fulfillment, and fundraising campaign support. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, relationship‑driven professional with a passion for event execution and ազդ donor engagement.

Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD), the largest poverty law firm serving San Diego County since 1953, strengthens our communities by redressing our clients’ legal problems, empowering our clients to access and effectively participate within the legal, governmental, and social systems and encouraging self‑empowerment in the fight against poverty and injustice. LASSD continues to be a proud, committed, and compassionate group of people dedicated to providing equal access to justice for San Diegans through aggressive, quality legal services.

• In private development
  
  Director, support development activities including special events, corporate sponsor ships, employee matching, and giving campaigns.
• Lead planning and execution of the annual gala, including sponsorship acquisition, project management, cross‑departmental coordination, and vendor management.
• Manage a portfolio of ~100 donors and prospects, guiding them through the donor cycle from identification to stewardship.
• หมายว cultivating and strengthening relationships with corporate sponsors; ensure timely and accurate fulfillment of sponsorship benefits.
• In partnership with the Outreach and Pro Bono teams, deliver presentations to law offices and other businesses to promote partnership opportunities, with a focus on increasing cy pres awards.
• Promote and facilitate corporate matching gift opportunities to maximize donor impact.
• Draft narratives, copy, and graphics for fundraising proposals, event materials, and donor communications.
• Maintain accurate donor records in CRM; generate reports to support fundraising strategy and track progress.
• Collaborate with the Development Assistant to ensure timely gift acknowledgments and sponsor recognition.
• Conduct donor research and prospectingкут support acquisition and growth strategies.
• Contribute to the implementation of annual fundraising plans, with a strong emphasis on donor acquisition and retention.
• Oversee event marketing efforts to maximize attendance and elevate brand visible, including managing roofs and updating event‑related websites (e.g., One Cause) to ensure accurate and engaging content.
• Other duties as assigned.

• B.A. degree or demonstrated equivalent experience in business, marketing, communications, or fundraising/development.
• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, or event planning within a nonprofit setting, including direct responsibility for planning and executing a gala or similar large‑scale fundraising event.
• Proven success in managing large‑scale events and securing corporate sponsor ships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience with proposal writing and donor presentations.
• Proficiency with donor databases/CRMs (e.g., Salesforce) and event platforms (e.g., One Cause).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively across departments.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Commitment to mission and organizational values.
• Ability to work successfully with people from all backgrounds.

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish preferred.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to develop and manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, vendors, and internal teams.
• Comfort with public speaking and delivering presentations to…