Development Director

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Classification : FULL-TIME / EXEMPT

Reports To : CEO / CO-FOUNDER

Location : Santa Clarita, CA (hybrid / onsite) Light Travel

Salary Range : $90,000 – $120,000 annually, plus performance-based bonus potential

ABOUT THE GENTLE BARN

At The Gentle Barn, we believe in redemption, compassion, and unconditional love, not just for humans, but for every living being. Since our founding, we’ve created a sanctuary for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals, while using their stories to inspire millions to live with kindness and empathy. We host educational programs, community events, and advocacy initiatives that empower change in the way society cares for animals. Our culture centers on integrity, respect, collaboration, and innovation.

As we grow, we seek a visionary fundraising leader to help scale our impact, deepen donor relationships, and build sustainable revenue streams that support our programs and expansion.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for strategizing, driving, and executing all fundraising efforts across individual giving, major gifts, grants, and planned giving. This person will partner closely with the CEO and cross-functional teams to integrate development into organizational planning, while managing a dynamic development team and maintaining accountability for revenue goals, donor stewardship, and growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Leadership

Design and implement a multi-year fundraising roadmap aligned with mission, strategic goals, and growth projections

Set ambitious fundraising targets, track progress, and adjust tactics based on metrics and performance

Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to overall organizational strategy and resource planning

Major Gifts & Individual Giving

Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects (e.g. $25K+, $100K+, etc.)

Grow the mid-level and annual giving programs

Advance high-potentials through giving tiers, using cultivation pipelines and donor segmentation

Grants & Institutional Funding

Oversee grant strategy : identify prospects, manage proposal development, reporting, and compliance

Work with program leaders to source funding opportunities and align with grant priorities

Events, Campaigns & Outreach

Lead signature fundraising events, capital or endowment campaigns, and special giving initiatives

Partner with marketing / communications to craft appeals, campaigns, and donor communications

Launch planned giving, giving circles, peer-to-peer, and digital fundraising efforts

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

Build donor recognition programs, impact reports, and stewardship touchpoints

Host cultivation activities (site visits, tours, virtual events) to deepen engagement

Maintain accurate, robust donor records, segmentation, and analytics

Team & Infrastructure

Supervise and mentor development staff and contract consultants

Manage the donor database, gift processing, reporting, data integrity, and forecasting

Coordinate mass mailings, donor communications, and campaign materials

Produce monthly / quarterly fundraising dashboards and present to leadership / Board

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in nonprofit management, communications, business, or related field

7+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, including 3+ years in a leadership role

Demonstrated track record in securing major gifts, individual giving, and grants

Experience building sustainable development pipelines and capital campaign(s)

Experience with donor software (Neon preferred) or database / CRM systems

Comfortable working non-traditional hours, including weekends and evenings

Some travel

Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills; ability to tell compelling stories

Highly organized, deadline-oriented, and detail-conscious

Ability to operate with integrity, discretion, and confidentiality

A self-starter who thrives both independently and as part of a collaborative leadership team

Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

Passion for animals, advocacy, sanctuary work, and the mission of The Gentle Barn

Preferred : experience in animal welfare, sanctuary environments, or with organizations focused on animals, compassion, or environmental causes, as well as human support causes.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary : $90,000–$120,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Bonus Potential : Performance-based bonus tied to meeting and exceeding fundraising goals

Benefits :

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and eligible dependents

Employer-paid basic life / AD&D, with options to add voluntary coverage

Short-term disability, critical illness, and accident coverage

403(b) retirement plan

Paid vacation, sick, and holiday time

The Gentle Barn Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a workplace where all voices are respected, and we welcome candidates of any background.

If this role energizes you and you believe in the power of compassion to change hearts and lives, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining your development philosophy and connection to The Gentle Barn’s mission, and three references.