POSITION: Development Director

LOCATION: Los Angeles

REPORTS TO: Executive Director, LA

SUPERVISES: Development staff, including the Development Manager

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $95,000 - $130,000/year

TRAVEL & SCHEDULE

Non-local: 0% except once a year for approximately 3-4 days for LIFT’s annual All Staff Retreat in one of its regional cities (no non-local travel if retreat is in home city)
Local In-Person External Meetings: 15%
Some evenings and occasional weekend work to attend events

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

LIFT’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty by investing in parents. Through direct work with families, engaging technical assistance partnerships, and by advocating for policies that drive systemic change, we’re fighting poverty by lifting two generations at once.

Our team culture is rooted in deep respect for the parents we partner with and for each other. We’re looking for dedicated team members who share our vision that, 25 years from now, LIFT is no longer needed because we have helped build a social service system grounded in Hope, Money, and Love, where all families can thrive. We’re guided by mission- and strategy-aligned leadership grounded in kindness, curiosity, relationships, and a commitment to equity. Explore our benefits and what it’s like to work at LIFT below – or visit our Benefits & Culture Overview to learn more.

*LIFT operates sites in Chicago, Los Angeles, DC, and New York. LIFT operates as a hybrid work environment. Accordingly, this role will be expected to work in the LA office approximately two days a week.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the regional Executive Director, the Development Director owns and builds LIFT-LA’s revenue strategy to ensure the region’s long-term sustainability and growth. Co-leading regional development strategy with the Executive Director, the Development Director carries full revenue accountability in service of the organizational strategic plan: setting revenue projections, identifying gaps, making trade-offs across revenue streams, and adjusting strategy to close shortfalls.

This is a strategic, future-oriented role. The Development Director thinks in three-year horizons, sees revenue as a system rather than a set of activities, and builds fundraising capacity beyond themselves — across staff, board, and systems. They independently manage a pipeline of 100+ prospects, activate the board for fundraising accountability, supervise development staff, and design scalable fundraising infrastructure in partnership with Program, Finance, and Communications. Success for the Director looks like a healthy, diversified, and growing revenue base that gives our members and programs the resources they need — and creates space for the Executive Director to operate at a higher level.

AS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, YOU WILL…

Revenue Strategy & Ownership

Co-lead regional development strategy with the Executive Director, aligning fundraising with LIFT-LA’s growth plan and the organizational strategic plan
Set strategy across revenue streams, build annual and multi-year projections, identify gaps, and adjust to close shortfalls
Advise the ED on revenue risk and growth opportunities, making trade-offs across revenue streams
Ground fundraising in race, equity, and social justice, advancing a community-centric model

Pipeline, Relationships & Board

Own full pipeline health and independently manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and institutional prospects
Set the giving level structure, retention strategy, and upgrade pathways
Lead funder meetings, site visits, and events, and advise the ED on prospect strategy
Expand LIFT-LA’s external fundraising network (e.g., AFP, philanthropy networks)
Activate the board for fundraising accountability and manage the board pipeline with the ED

Systems & Team Leadership

Set the vision for fundraising tools and systems, designing scalable processes with Program, Finance, and Communications
Ensure Salesforce supports decision-making and establish stewardship standards by giving level