Director of Development - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

About Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

For three decades, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts has served as a dynamic hub for contemporary art in San Francisco's downtown community, showcasing innovative and thought-provoking contemporary art across various disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, film and more.

YBCA brings together artists, audiences, and perspectives under one roof. We believe it’s this synergy that makes the city what it is today and will be for years to come–a hotbed for new and emerging creativity – a place where the diversity of the Bay Area comes to life and its artists, people, and ideas thrive.

YBCA aims to be a catalyst for conversations around critical social and cultural questions, using art as a medium to engage audiences in meaningful dialogues. To do this, YBCA is committed to supporting artists who push boundaries and challenge conventions, encouraging experimentation and innovation in the arts.

YBCA’s Mission Vision, and Values

Mission: To be a gathering space for creative expression that fosters meaningful connection for all.

Vision: To be a catalyst of creative exploration, expression and innovation that empowers artists, inspires community and drives lasting social change.

Values:

• Belonging: We believe the arts are for everyone.
• Inclusive Collaboration: We are stronger together.
• Optimism: Art has the power to inspire change.
• Curiosity: We believe that learning is at the center of all artistic expression.

About the Role

As the Development Director at YBCA, you will lead our development department, playing a critical role in shaping and executing our fundraising strategies to ensure the organization's financial health and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the San Francisco Bay Area. You will oversee all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, grants, donor cultivation, and donor special events, while also developing and implementing strategies that deepen relationships with existing donors and expand our donor base. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to impact the arts community by driving growth and innovation in our development efforts.

Top Priorities, Year 1

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donor cultivation, significantly increasing YBCA’s funding opportunities and donor base.
• Strengthen relationships with key funders, partners, and stakeholders, enhancing YBCA's reputation and support within the community.
• Enhance data-driven decision-making by leveraging advanced analytics to understand donor behavior and trends, optimizing fundraising efforts.
• Lead the planning and execution of 10-20 high-impact cultivation events per year, engaging a broad spectrum of donors and stakeholders in meaningful ways.
• Elevate YBCA’s brand and visibility in the philanthropic community through strategic communications and marketing collaborations.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Strategic Leadership and Management:
  • Lead the development department, setting and implementing the strategic direction for YBCA’s fundraising efforts.
  • Ensure the development department operates with high efficiency and effectiveness, implementing best practices in fundraising and donor management.
  • Manage and mentor the development team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as a member of the extended leadership team, contributing to overall organizational strategy and decision-making.
  • Drive the growth of YBCA’s fundraising initiatives, identifying new opportunities and leveraging existing relationships to maximize revenue.
• Major Gifts and Donor Relations:
  • Develop and manage a dynamic portfolio of major donors and prospects, crafting personalized engagement and stewardship plans.
  • Lead major gift solicitation efforts and ensure donor recognition and stewardship.
• Grant Management:
  • Oversee the lifecycle of grants, from identification to application, compliance, and reporting, ensuring maximization of funding opportunities.
  • Identify grant opportunities, write grant proposals, and manage reporting requirements for foundation and corporate grants. 
  • Ensure the timely submission of high-quality grant applications, deliverables and funding requests, adhering to all deadlines and requirements. 
• Project Management:
  • Serve as the primary internal point of contact for grant-related projects, coordinating efforts across departments.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive project plan outlining tasks, timelines and responsibilities related to each grant.
  • Monitor and track the process of grant-funded projects to ensure they meet objectives and deliverables.
  • Coordinate with finance to generate accurate grant finance reports and manage funding requests.
• Documentation and Record Keeping:
  • Oversee the use and optimization of Salesforce for advanced data management, analysis, and reporting, ensuring the integrity and utility of donor data.
  • Maintain organized and comprehensive records of all grant-related documents, communications and activities.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Act as a primary spokesperson for YBCA’s development efforts, articulating the organization's vision and impact to donors, partners, and the public.
  • Enhance YBCA's presence and visibility in the philanthropic community through strategic communications and partnerships.
  • Lead cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring seamless integration of fundraising with programmatic and organizational goals.
• Cultivation and Events:
  • Spearhead the planning and execution of strategic cultivation events, enhancing donor engagement and support.
  • Coordinate logistics for cultivation events, ensuring seamless execution and positive participant experiences.
  • Coordinate invitations, RSVPs, and post-event follow-up activities.
• Grant Compliance and Reporting:
  • Stay informed about grant regulations, guidelines and reporting requirements.
  • Ensure that funded projects adhere to grant terms, conditions and compliance standards.
  • Prepare and submit accurate and timely grant reports, detailing project outcomes and financial expenditures.
• Membership:
  • Manage correspondence with YBCA members, addressing inquiries and providing necessary information.
  • Oversee the distribution of membership cards and maintain accurate membership records.
  • Respond to inquiries through the giving email inbox, providing timely and accurate responses.

Qualifications, Education, Training, and Certifications

• 7 years of progressive leadership experience in development or fundraising, preferably within the arts or nonprofit sector, preferred.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including major gifts, grants, and events.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with a track record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM systems, with a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, capable of engaging with a diverse range of donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead complex projects and initiatives.
• Experience coordinating events, especially cultivation events related to fundraising and donor engagement.
• Knowledge or experience managing membership programs.
• Adherence to high ethical standards in handling confidential information and managing donor relationships.
• A “get it done” spirit and creative problem solver at heart.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and new responsibilities within a growing program; willingness to handle projects outside of standard responsibilities, as needed.

Who Should Apply?

Research shows that candidates from groups closest to the harms of institutional racism and inequality often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the listed qualifications; we believe that no one meets 100% of the qualifications. We are less concerned about whether you’ve done everything within a particular job description and are more interested in cultivating a pool of candidates who want to join a connected, mission-driven, hard-working team.

Ultimately, we are seeking applicants who have a blend – in some way – of the following:
 

• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including major gifts, grants, and events.
• Experience overseeing the lifecycle of grants, from identification to application, compliance, and reporting, ensuring maximization of funding opportunities.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with a track record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM systems, with a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making.

If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $125,000 based on full-time hours, and includes a competitive benefits package.

Benefits include PTO, Holiday Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Group Life and AD&D Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Employee Assistance Program, Travel Assistance, paid time off to volunteer, and ability to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan with match.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is committed to diversity in its programming and in creating a work culture and environment that is reflective of San Francisco Bay Area demography. The Center encourages and actively recruits applicants representing dimensions of difference that include — but are not limited to — age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.

YBCA will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

Accommodations

YBCA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact accommodations@ybca.org with the subject line “Accommodations Request”.

Health and Safety

At YBCA, we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our community. Our current COVID-19 health and safety protocols meet or exceed local, state, and federal public health requirements. We require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Exemption from these requirements will be reviewed according to standards set forth by state and local health agencies and reasonable accommodations will be made for those providing valid exemptions.

All initial interviews will be conducted remotely via phone or video conference. Please note that this position may perform some work remotely and on site responsibilities. 

Application Status

After you apply, you will receive a confirmation email to let you know that your resume has been received. A member of our recruiting team will personally review your application and, if you are a potential match for one of our open positions, we will be in touch. If there is not a match right now, we will keep your resume on file for future opportunities.

Agencies and Recruiting Firms: Please note that we will only review applications submitted directly by candidates and do not accept resumes or pay fees to third parties. Any unsolicited resumes received will be considered the property of YBCA.

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