Position Profile
Position Filled
Covenant House California
Associate Director of Development
Oakland, CA
The Organization
There is an estimated 10,000 homeless youth living in the Bay Area, including those recently emancipated from the foster care system. Homeless and emancipated foster youth experience disproportionately higher rates of unemployment, lower educational attainment, incarceration, dependence on public assistance, substance abuse, non-marital childbirth and other high-risk behaviors. Every day, homeless and at-risk youth turn to the one place where they know they'll find safety, a helping hand, and the opportunity to improve their lives. That place is Covenant House California.
Since 1988, CHC has opened its doors to more than 145,000 homeless youth who suffer from the trauma of trying to survive on the streets and the physical or psychological abuse, neglect or high-risk behaviors that led them there. CHC’s mission is to “protect and safeguard all children of the street” with “absolute respect and unconditional love” through our comprehensive services of street outreach and residential programs with supportive services. CHC helps kids escape life on the dangerous streets, resolve their crisis situations, and develop goals and skills that ultimately lead toward self-sufficiency and independent living.
Covenant House California operates programs in Hollywood and Oakland, California. Comprehensive services include street and day outreach programs, crisis shelter and transitional housing, supportive apartments, health services, substance abuse and mental health counseling, spiritual ministry, and education and employment programs. The organization partners with private businesses, government, and community agencies and associations in order to improve the lives of families and young people in California.
The Area
Oakland lies on the east side of the Bay Area of California. Rand McNally named Oakland as having the best weather in the United States. Oakland's climate is typified by the temperate and seasonally arid Mediterranean climate; it has features found in both nearby coastal cities such as San Francisco and inland cities such as San Jose, so it is warmer than San Francisco and cooler than San Jose. Oakland is sometimes called the "Sunny Side of the Bay", as it is less foggy and more temperate than San Francisco.
According to the 2000 US census, Oakland and Long Beach, California are the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, with over 150 languages spoken in Oakland. Not surprisingly, area restaurants reflect the varied tastes of the residents, and shops and entertainment provide choices to suit everyone. Attractions include the Oakland Zoo, Jack London Square, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center, Lake Merritt and Chinatown. Cultural activities are plentiful, with galleries, theaters, museums and performance venues in the area. For sports fans, Oakland is home to the Raiders NFL football team, the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team and the Oakland Athletics MLB baseball team. Nearby cities of San Francisco and Berkeley add to the entertainment and lifestyle offerings. With a major airport in the city, Oakland is not far from anywhere.
For more information, please visit the Oakland websites:
http://www.meetdowntownoak.com/
The Candidate
Both development offices report to the Associate Executive Director of Development and Communications in Los Angeles. The Development staff in Oakland has a close rapport with their colleagues in Los Angeles.
Reporting to the Director of Development and Community Relations in Oakland, the Assistant Director of Development creates and implements strategies to increase the level of financial commitment of Covenant House California (CHC)’s major donors ($10,000-$25,000+), as well as managing a range of fund raising activities. The Assistant Director of Development will supervise the Development Associate. The successful candidate will have the ability to quickly understand and articulate the needs and aspirations of Covenant House California, demonstrate ability to successfully cultivate and solicit donors, and enjoy devoting the majority of his/her time to fieldwork. The Assistant Director of Development will have energy, drive and enthusiasm, as well as the ability to solve problems creatively, and to recognize opportunity.
The staff at Covenant House California is smart and collaborative, accustomed to operating in a transparent environment where everyone knows what work is done, who does the work and what the purpose of the work is. On a daily, even hourly, basis, staff sees dozens of kids transformed through Covenant House California’s programs and services.
The successful candidate must be oriented toward building relationships and bringing people to experience and understand the impact their support has on the program. He or she must be approachable, personable and genuine.
The Position
This is a great opportunity for the new Assistant Director of Development (ADD) to establish the baseline for this position, grow the organization and create lasting impact. In this role, the ADD serves as the relationship coordinator for potential and current donors, cultivating and stewarding their support and involvement with the organization. Out-and-about in the community, the ADD will build trust with individuals and serve as the face of Covenant House California. The Oakland campus is the former We the People home of California Attorney General and former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, renovated to meet Covenant House California’s purposes.
Essential duties and responsibilities of the position include the following:
- Identify and cultivate new and existing relationships with individual donor community.
- Steward donor relationships and participation with Covenant House California.
- Solicit major gifts.
- Develop and implement metrics to analyze the donor base and to provide success measures for development activities.
- Manage donor information via the donor database, including tracking and acknowledging of all financial contributions.
- Create and manage correspondence, donor materials, acknowledgement letters and other relevant materials.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Bachelor's degree in liberal arts or other related field.
- Minimum of 3-4 years of progressive development experience, with a proven track record in individual gifts.
- Knowledge of capital campaigns and proper use of volunteers is desirable.
- Knowledge of prospect management software desirable.
- Must have excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills, proficiency with MS Office suite and attention to detail.
- Knowledge and expertise in principles of philanthropy, fundraising and stewardship, particularly in the Oakland/Bay area of California.
- Ability to professionally advocate Covenant House California’s positions on issues.
- Strong interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. The ideal person for this job would be a team player, personable, professional, upbeat, and energetic, takes initiative, and uses tact and diplomacy.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in various stages of development, each with a unique timeline.
- Work requires continual attention to detail. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
- Willing and able to travel.
To apply
Submit cover letter, resume, salary requirements and at least three references to:
This position has been filled. Thank you for your interest.
Submission of resumes by e-mail is preferred; include only your last name in the subject line.
