Vice President of Development

Hybrid / San Diego, CA

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter comprise the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the SDFB distributed 44 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank serves, on average, 400,000 people per month in San Diego County.

Mission

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter provide nutritious food to people in need, advocate for the hungry, and educate the public about hunger-related issues.

About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank 

Founded in 1977, the San Diego Food Bank is one of the oldest in the U.S. It has steadily grown to become the country's fourth-largest independent food bank, serving a community of over 3.4 million people in San Diego County. As the community's primary safety net for hunger, it provides and efficiently recovers and redistributes fresh, frozen, canned, and boxed food to those in need. Last fiscal year, SDFB provided nutritious food to 400,000 San Diego County residents monthly, distributing 43.5 million pounds of food (including 30% fresh fruits and vegetables).

  • The Food Bank operates several hunger relief and resource programs including:

  • The Neighborhood Distribution Program

  • Emergency Food Assistance Program

  • Senior Food Program

  • CalFresh Outreach Program

  • Diaper Bank Program

  • Food to nearly 500 Nonprofits Feeding Programs

  • Nutrition & Wellness Program

  • Food 4 Kids Backpack Program

  • College Hunger-relief Program

  • Food Bank University

  • Fresh Rescue Program

  • Period Supply Program

SDFB receives food from a variety of sources, including locally run food drives, the USDA, growers, retailers, and wholesalers. Approximately 11,000 people volunteer at the Food Bank's warehouse annually, and the labor savings costs help them more effectively fulfill their mission.

As one can see from the list of feeding programs, SDFB has become the food safety net for many demographics in San Diego especially the working poor. Food insecurity will continue to rise and as a pioneer in the industry, SDFB has taken on the responsibility to address this. Some innovative solutions include:

  • Commissioning a customized machine that can convert truckloads of staple products, like rice into small-packed bags at mere cents on the dollar.

  • Breaking down waste food and converting it into compost and pig feed for farmers.  

The Opportunity

With the continuing increase in demand for food, SDFB recognizes it is imperative to increase its level of philanthropic support.  To do so, SDFB has brought in new leadership to advance this effort with Kimberley Layton, Chief Advancement and Communications Officer. With some strategic new hires in the department, Layton is seeking the Vice President of Development to oversee all its philanthropy.

For many years, SDFB’s fundraising has consisted primarily of direct mail, special events, grants, and a very successful spring Gala which raises over $1 million annually and attracts key affluent and influential individuals from all over San Diego.  Before Covid, SDFB was raising approximately $7 million annually.

The SDFB is embarking upon an aggressive capital campaign shortly which will provide them with the capacity to double the number of San Diegans they are currently feeding to 800,000. This is an ambitious goal for the organization, and they have taken the necessary steps to the success of this vision.  SDFB recently completed a Business Plan that models and projects its growth over the next 10 years, and this informational report can be used to answer questions that major donors might have. 

Position Purpose

The Vice President of Development (VPD) at Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is a pivotal and strategic leadership role responsible for orchestrating and executing fundraising initiatives to advance the organization's mission. Reporting to the Chief Advancement and Communications Officer (CACO), this position is responsible for overseeing all Individual Giving initiatives, Special Events, Direct Mail, Planned Giving, and the Development Services teams, driving efforts toward securing philanthropic support for the Food Bank's programs and services. This position will manage a portfolio focused on building philanthropic engagement and securing annual and major gifts from assigned prospects.

The VPD plays a critical role in fostering donor relationships, expanding fundraising opportunities, and ensuring the sustainability and growth of the organization's financial resources. This is a senior leadership role and will serve as part of the SDFB leadership team.

Essential Duties

  • Serve as the visionary for the development team both from an operational and donor strategy standpoint.

  • Oversee the planning and execution of direct mail programs, planned giving programs, donor cultivation events, special events, stewardship activities, and recognition programs.

  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of development staff and Development Services staff, providing guidance and support to optimize their performance.

  • Develop and execute comprehensive major gifts fundraising plans targeting individuals capable of making gifts of $1 million or more.

  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors, ensuring regular and meaningful engagement.

  • Collaborate with the executive leadership team and board members to engage donors and secure major gifts through personalized solicitations, proposals, and presentations.

  • Create and manage a robust portfolio of assigned major donors, ensuring timely and meaningful communication and stewardship activities.

  • Utilize data analytics and donor management systems to track progress, evaluate fundraising efforts, and identify opportunities for improvement.

  • Serve as a spokesperson for the organization, representing the Food Bank at public events, community engagements, and donor meetings.

  • Collaborate with other departments to integrate fundraising efforts with marketing, communications, and programmatic activities.

  • Stay abreast of trends and best practices in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management to inform strategic decision-making.

  • Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the VPD position will be a seasoned fundraising professional with a proven track record of success in leadership and nonprofit development. They will possess strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and empower their team to achieve ambitious fundraising targets. Strategic thinking, coupled with excellent communication and relationship-building abilities, will be critical for cultivating and stewarding donor relationships effectively. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a passion for the mission of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and a commitment to advancing its impact through innovative fundraising strategies and initiatives. The candidate must be committed to teamwork and have an exceptional ability to set and communicate clear goals and effectively delegate and support work. This candidate must also be able to successfully manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, adjust to changing circumstances, and demonstrate confidence working with a diverse team.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

  • Fundraising principles and techniques, particularly for Direct Mail, Planned Giving, special events, and major gifts ($25k+). 

  • Donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

  • Nonprofit financial management and budgeting practices.

  • Donor management databases and fundraising software (e.g., Blackbaud).

  • Relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing fundraising activities.

Ability to:

  • Lead, inspire, and motivate a team of fundraising professionals towards achieving fundraising goals.

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

  • Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to articulate the organization's mission and fundraising priorities.

  • Analyze data and metrics to assess fundraising performance and make data-driven decisions.

  • Manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

  • Exercise discretion, integrity, and confidentiality in handling sensitive donor information.

Education, Training & Experience

  • Master’s or bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field.

  • Minimum of (10+) years of non-profit experience

  • Minimum of (5+) years managing others

  • CFRE certification or equivalent is highly desirable.

Schedule

The schedule for this position primarily follows a typical Monday through Friday structure, with standard working hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, flexibility is essential as occasional weekends or extended hours may be required based on meetings and events.

This position is predominately in-office with flexibility for remote work. The schedule and flexibility for this role will be collaboratively determined between the employee and their manager.

Compensation

Salary range of $170,000 to 190,000 plus comprehensive benefits.

Please contact Julie Lugo for a confidential conversation and to learn more about this opportunity.

Phone: (310) 909-4897
Email: Julie@SterlingSearchInc.com

Please direct all correspondence, emails, and telephone calls to Sterling Search, Inc. Any communication with San Diego Food Bank will be redirected back to Sterling Search.

Apply Here

By uploading your resume, you authorize Sterling Search, Inc. to contact you and share your information with employers for positions aligned, equal to, or similar to your skill set. Sterling Search, Inc. will not sell your contact information to anyone for solicitation purposes.