Director of Individual Major Gifts - East Bay

The Director of Individual Major Gifts – East Bay establishes and maintains a personal portfolio of up to 150 individual donors who are among KQED’s most significant supporters with a focus on annual asks of $10,000 or more. This position averages approximately 10‑12 visits or high‑contacts each month . High contacts are defined as 15 minutes or longer phone calls, proposals, sitting next to donors at events, meeting in person with current and prospective donors, as well as volunteers. Funding will be sought and secured for all KQED content areas (news, arts, science and education) and for all platforms (television, radio, web and social) of KQED. Under the direction of the Senior Director of Major Gifts, this position will support KQED’s President and CEO, Vice President for Development, other major gifts staff and key volunteers in cultivation and solicitation initiatives for unrestricted funding as well as projects.

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. This will enable us to better serve and reflect the Bay Area through diverse and inclusive storytelling.

We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

KQED Code of Ethics

The mission that drives us: KQED provides citizens of Northern California with a community‑supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st‑century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration—exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

This role will work hybrid between working in KQED’s newly renovated headquarters and working remotely.

Salary Information: $107,352.00–$134,000 Annually

Essential Functions:

1. Specifically, this position identifies, qualifies, cultivates and solicits major donor prospects in an assigned portfolio of around 150 individuals, alone, and in consultation with other key volunteers and staff when necessary and appropriate. For assigned portfolio prospects, prioritizes prospects, researches or commissions research on their interests and capacity, and identifies an individualized strategy for solicitation and follow up. Develops written strategies in consultation with the Senior Director for Major Gifts; coordinates contacts that assigned prospects receive; facilitates relationships between potential and current donors and KQED’s senior staff, board, volunteers and others; reviews prospect strategies regularly for refinement and interprets KQED’s annual and project needs for donors and prospects. This position averages 10‑12 visits or high contacts per month. (50%)
2. Develops and implements an annual business plan and budget for inclusion in the overall development plan to ensure successful cultivation and solicitation of KQED’s most significant donors. Together with Senior Director for Major Gifts, identifies a budget goal based on portfolio members’ past giving and behavior utilizing information such as last gift, largest gift, gifts to special projects and new solicitation vehicles. Updates regularly throughout the year for forecasting. (25%)
3. In consultation with the Senior Director of Major Gifts creates and supervises implementation of targeted events for assigned prospects and donors. This may include a series of “behind the scenes” events or other formats that will motivate, engage and educate prospects and donors. (10%)
4. Manages one or two production projects at a time as assigned. Specifically, maintains content (Exec. Summary, sample proposals, recordings, etc.); maintains prospect and funding report; and, “be the expert” for fellow development staff. (10%)

Other Job Functions:

1. Performs other duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Major Gifts (5%)

Knowledge/Experience Required:

1. Five to seven years fundraising experience required with three to five years of experience in major gift fundraising.
2. Demonstrated experience and ability to be successful in face‑to‑face solicitation.
3. Experience in personal solicitation of gifts of $10,000 and above.
4. Ability to develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for Major Gifts from individuals, as well as the ability to establish measurable goals and objectives to achieve them.
5. Strong oral, written, presentation and organizational skills.
6. Ability to work effectively with volunteers.
7. Ability to work independently and as part of a group/team.
8. Willingness and ability to travel throughout Northern California.
9. Excellent computer skills, such as Word, databases, and internet.

Knowledge/Experience Desired:

1. Special Requirements: Valid CA driver’s license and car for making visits.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift a minimum of fifteen (15) pounds;
• Ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull or carry;
• Ability to use abdominal and lower back muscles over time without fatigue;
• Ability to stand and/or sit for extended periods;
• Ability to bend, stoop, stretch, twist, sit, and reach;
• Fine motor skills;
• Good visual and auditory acuity.

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as necessary to meet the ongoing needs of this organization.