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Careers

Staff at The San Diego Foundation address the region’s most pressing challenges and identify opportunities by working with donors and partners to improve the quality of life for all San Diegans.

Thank you for your interest in the work of The San Diego Foundation. To learn more about our work and inquire about joining our team, contact jobs@sdfoundation.org.

Community Scholarships Administrator

Since 1975, The San Diego Foundation (TSDF) has been helping passionate, charitably minded citizens find ways to create positive impacts in communities across the San Diego region. With more than $850 million in assets and management of more than 2,100 funds, we support our donors’ philanthropic goals. Today more than $1 billion in grants have been made to support nonprofit organizations that provide service and opportunity to people throughout our community. Join TSDF to assist us in growing a vibrant region!

Purpose of Position

TSDF is seeking a dynamic, experienced administrator to support scholarship recipients through the application process, coordinate payments to students, and assist in performing various administrative and clerical tasks associated with the Community Scholarship Program.

In this role you will be responsible for, but not limited to:

  • Primary coordinator of the contact database, which includes researching and updating contact information and processing scholarship applications in the database.
  • Produce reports and spreadsheets to track key data related to individual scholarships and the overall effectiveness of the program.
  • Provide customer service to parents and students through the scholarship e-mail address and phone line.
  • Coordinate correspondence with student applicants, including e-mail blasts to applicants and tracking required paperwork from recipients and addressing potential forfeitures.
  • Process scholarship grants in the database while working with finance department to ensure proper approval of scholarship payments.
  • Serve as a liaison between schools and students in disbursing student payments, trouble-shooting all payment issues, and adhering to all foundation/school guidelines.
  • Organize all mailings/distributions to the Scholarships donors and committee members including thank you letters and progress reports.
  • Provide support in the selection process including qualifying application, creating application packets and distributing to donors and volunteers.
  • Schedule and coordinate the logistics of student interviews.
  • Support the scholarship selection process, including fund narrowing, application qualifying, and leading student interviews and read/ discussion sessions.
  • Coordinate outreach to schools and education nonprofits for all scholarship funds involved in the Common Scholarship Application.
  • Coordinate meeting logistics and prepare meeting minutes for the Community Scholarship Program Committee.
  • Support implementation of opportunities for donor and recipient connections through recipient scheduling and communication.
  • Support event planning and logistics for events for the department such as annual Scholarships Celebrations.
  • Provide occasional front desk telephone and in-person reception backup.

We are looking for:

  • Minimum of three years administrative experience in professional office environment, preferably with nonprofit/foundation experience.
  • Demonstrated track record in developing and utilizing administrative organizational systems with attention to detail, timeliness and record keeping.
  • Professional attitude and demeanor working with students, parents and school counselors.
  • Ability to work independently and successfully prioritize and coordinate multiple projects and meet deadlines.
  • Regularly takes the initiative to recognize problems, and clearly explain potential solutions.
  • Experience in providing superior customer service.
  • Outstanding interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills.
  • Writing, editing and proofing skills.
  • Advanced knowledge and proficiency with computer software applications: MS Windows, Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point.
  • Strong aptitude and experience with database applications, data entry and report generation preferably with Blackbaud (Raiser’s Edge, Financial Edge and Grants Edge).
  • Ability to be flexible and open to change with successful experience working in a fast-paced environment.
  • Associates or bachelor’s degree helpful but not required.

Apply Today

The San Diego Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation.

Qualified applicants please submit the following to jobs@sdfoundation.org:

  • Cover letter and resume
  • Indicate in Subject Line: Community Scholarships Administrator

Development Director

Since 1975, The San Diego Foundation (TSDF) has been helping passionate, charitably minded citizens find ways to create positive impacts in communities across the San Diego region.  With more than $800 million in assets and management of more than 2,100 funds, we support our donors’ philanthropic goals.  Today more than $1 billion in grants have been made to support nonprofit organizations that provide service and opportunity to people throughout our community. Join TSDF to assist us in growing a vibrant region!

Purpose of Position

TSDF is seeking a dynamic Development Director responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding charitable giving to TSDF.  Through donor advised funds (DAFs), planned giving, and other philanthropic vehicles our mission is to provide leadership for effective philanthropy that builds enduring assets.  The Director will report to and work in collaboration with the Vice President, Development and Stewardship.

Qualities & Attributes

  • Proven track record in development, especially major gifts and/or planned-giving.
  • Ability to communicate a vision and value proposition that inspires philanthropy.
  • Have the desire to get out of the office and build external relationships.
  • Be a “self-starter” and goal driven from initiating conversations to strong stewardship.
  • Possess a positive attitude, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, ability to listen and engage in goal oriented conversation.
  • Thorough understanding of charitable giving with knowledge of the San Diego philanthropic community.

In this role, you will be responsible for, but are not limited to:

  • Cultivate relationships with philanthropists new to TSDF with a goal of establishing new funds and asset growth.
  • Strengthen relationships with donors and fund advisors resulting in an increase in new funds and asset growth.
  • Participate in TSDF educational events to engage donors, demonstrate value, and introduce new philanthropists to TSDF.
  • Collaborate cross-departmentally to optimize service and build a synergistic and systemized approach to new business development.
  • Contribute to encouragement of donor awareness, participation in and support for TSDF Community Impact programs, the Center for Civic Engagement, and other TSDF stewardship opportunities.
  • Meet or exceed fund development goals.

We are looking for:

  • Minimum of 5 years development experience in a community foundation or other high profile non-profit organization, especially in major gifts or planned-giving.
  • Knowledge and proven successful application of sales methods for professional service, including the stages of influence.
  • Knowledge of donor motivation.
  • Superior and effective interpersonal, written communication, and presentation skills.
  • Knowledge of donor and prospect management database software and maximization of interrelation database.
  • Ability to influence and get things done through others not reporting to you.
  • Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.

Apply Today

The San Diego Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation.

Qualified applicants please submit the following to jobs@sdfoundation.org:

  • Cover letter and resume
  • Indicate in Subject Line: Development Director

Prospect Research Analyst

Since 1975, The San Diego Foundation (TSDF) has been helping passionate, charitably minded citizens find ways to create positive impacts in communities across the San Diego region. With more than $800 million in assets and management of more than 2,100 funds, we support our donors philanthropic goals. Today more than $1 billion in grants have been made to support nonprofit organizations that provide service and opportunity to people throughout our community. Join TSDF to assist us in growing a vibrant region!

Purpose of Position

TSDF is seeking a dynamic Prospect Research Analyst to hold responsibility for providing specialized, high quality prospect research and extensive analysis using a variety of resources and strategies, to provide accurate, timely and strategic information to development team on prospective donors.

In this role you will be responsible for, but not limited to:

  • Provide specialized, high quality prospect research and analysis using a variety of sources and strategies, to provide accurate, timely, and strategic information to development staff on prospective donors to The Foundation
  • Coordinate with Development staff to ascertain depth of information required for each prospect or subject of research; discuss expanding or curtailing research based on preliminary analysis of data and needs.
  • Identify, collect, organize and maintain all information relating to prospects critical for the effective and successful cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects.
  • Analyze, interpret and synthesize all information collected to prepare a cogent, timely, and accurate research reports on prospects.
  • Evaluate results of research for the purposes of assessing the giving potential and philanthropic inclination of new and existing donors. As applicable, recommend cultivation strategies.
  • Strategize with Development team to continually enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the research/reporting/information organizing process.
  • Contributing to the maintenance of the inhouse prospect database by ensuring that information resulting from research and prospecting is entered into the database in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Maintain and enhance the inhouse prospect database with attention to Research unit requirements.
  • Examine and analyze current periodical literature for pertinent information on donors and prospects; update department files and database.
  • Participate in professional development activities as they relate to keeping abreast of current trends and practices in the field of prospect research.

We are looking for:

  • Demonstrated skill in utilizing major on-line databases in a fund-raising environment.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of biographical and financial reference sources and the ability to gather information effectively from a variety of resources.
  • Ability to extract information in report format from complex databases.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of electronic resources and research systems.
  • Minimum of two years of progressively more in-depth experience in prospect research, development, fundraising, market research, and/or relevant experience.
  • Organization agility and flexibility in dealing with fluctuating priorities, with the ability to remain organized.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present material in a concise, professional manner, in keeping with departmental goals and standards.
  • Experienced in creating precise, detailed, and analytical reports from a large volume of research.
  • Teamwork, self-motivation, a proactive approach to work, flexibility and strong interpersonal skills are essential.
  • Strong initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Initiative to recognize and anticipate problems, then solve them.
  • Demonstrated experience in the use of software applications, including Microsoft Suite, Word and Excel as well as using in-house database.
  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant field. Two years of experience in prospect research is preferred.

Apply Today

The San Diego Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation.

Qualified applicants please submit the following to jobs@sdfoundation.org:

  • Cover letter and resume
  • Indicate in Subject Line: Prospect Research Analyst

Programs & Member Engagement Manager, San Diego Women’s Foundation

The San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) educates and inspires women to engage in collective philanthropy. We are a membership organization with over 200 dynamic, highly engaged members and $3.4 million in grantmaking since 2000. Founded as a supporting organization of The San Diego Foundation (TSDF), SDWF benefits greatly from a strong partnership with TSDF.

Purpose of Position

SDWF is seeking a Manager of Programs and Member Engagement to support SDWF work and impact by overseeing our grants process, providing committee leadership and ensuring an engaging and educational member experience.

In this role, you will be responsible for, but are not limited to:

Member Stewardship and Engagement

  • Develop and manage member recruitment, retention and growth strategies
  • Manage member engagement strategies, including educational and social events, the annual grants process, board and committee service, etc.
  • Provide staff leadership to the Membership and Programs Committees, whose responsibilities include events, education and engagement
  • With the support of staff coordinator, oversee membership annual renewals

Annual Grantmaking Process

  • Oversee all stages of SDWF grant selection process, which includes the training and participation of 100+ SDWF member-reviewers each year

Committee Management

  • In partnership with committee chairs, oversee the work of various SDWF committees (including Membership, Programs, Grants)

Event and Programs Management

  • Manage the planning and execution of SDWF events and meetings, including scheduling, managing vendors, event communications, developing talking points and materials
  • Oversee trainings and educational programming to help SDWF members become more effective philanthropists

Marketing and Communications

  • In coordination with the Executive Director and with support of SDWF Coordinator, develop and implement the annual communications strategy
  • Develop content for SDWF communications, including event invitations, newsletters, member surveys and updates, annual appeal, as well as content for the Annual Report and marketing materials.

Other responsibilities as assigned to fulfill SDWF mission.

We are looking for a passionate believer in the power of women working together for change, with the following qualifications:

Competencies

  • Initiative: Ability to work independently; initiative to recognize and anticipate problems, then solve them
  • Communication: Strong written and verbal communication; excellent writing and editing skills; comfortable leading meetings and trainings
  • Flexibility and Problem Solving: open to change, highly adaptable as situations might require
  • Organization: Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to set up processes, systems and workflow
  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and see how individual projects fit within the larger scope of organizational goals
  • Customer Service: People person with enthusiasm for providing the highest level of customer service to our members and Community Partners. Will include frequent face-to-face, phone and email communications.

Education and Work Experience

  • Minimum three to five years in a professional business setting, with nonprofit/foundation experience
  • Experience managing committees and working with high-level volunteers
  • Proven ability to professionally represent an organization, both internally and externally
  • Strong technical skills, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, and database management (preferably Raiser’s Edge); Experience with MailChimp and EventBrite a plus
  • Demonstrated meeting and event planning experience
  • Bachelor’s degree required

Special Conditions

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
  • Ability to attend and transport materials to and from meetings within the San Diego region as needed

Why Work For Us

  • Work closely with smart, talented community-minded women to improve our community
  • Use your diverse skillset to directly benefit the work and impact of SDWF
  • Flexibility and excitement of a small nonprofit, with the support, stability and professionalism of larger organization thanks to our partnership with TSDF
  • Generous benefits package and professional development opportunities

Apply Today

Qualified applicants please submit the following to jobs@sdfoundation.org:

  • Cover letter and resume, saved in PDF format
  • Indicate in Subject Line: Manager, Programs and Member Engagement (SDWF)