Director of Development & Communications

Director of Development & Communications

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

ABOUT STANFORD SIERRA YOUTH & FAMILIES

Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYAF) believes that each and every child deserves the love, safety, and unconditional commitment of a family, and the opportunity to develop as a healthy and productive young adult. SSYAF provides a continuum of care to empower youth and families to overcome challenges through the following array of comprehensive programs: family advocacy and support; behavioral and mental health services;

substance use prevention and treatment; juvenile justice intervention; mentoring; foster care; adoption services; and pre- and post-adoption support.

For 125 years, our commitment to youth and families has never wavered, supporting the entire family with professional treatment and compassionate care, so that every youth has the opportunity to thrive at home, in school, and in the community. In the coming year, our community-based programs will benefit approximately 6,700 youth and families throughout Northern California, including Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Yolo, Napa, and San Joaquin counties.

The Director of Development and Communications (Director) leads SSYAF’s philanthropic and fund development efforts. They manage the agency’s public image through strategic communication and media relations, acting as a bridge between the agency’s mission and its external perception by donors and the wider community. The position includes the supervision of 6 staff to secure foundation, grant, and charitable contributions to ultimately support the mission, vision, and values of the agency.

The Director will work closely with the CEO, the Executive Leadership Team, and the Board of Directors to maximize agency funding and public relations potential. The Director has a high level of competency in fundraising, developing long-standing donor relationships, and supporting broader fundraising efforts such as planned giving. In addition, the Director oversees SSYAF branding and communications strategy and serves as an official spokesperson for the agency.

A natural relationship builder, the Director will foster connections in the community and create strong relationships with both new and existing donors.

• Develop and implement visionary strategies for philanthropy and public relations, positioning the agency as a sector leader.
• Collaborate across programs and departments to identify economic support opportunities.
• Mentor staff and volunteers, fostering leadership in fund development and advocacy.
• Conduct staff meetings and employee training and development, including hiring, growth opportunities, and performance reviews.
• Work with CEO and leadership volunteers to empower Board members' fund development roles.
• Attend Board meetings and serve on the Board Development Committee.
• Leverage data analytics, key performance indicators, and donor software to optimize fundraising efforts and inform decision-making.
• Proactively identify and manage risks in fundraising and public relations activities.

• Create and maintain a donor-centered development plan with comprehensive relationship-building programs, including major gifts, annual giving, and grants.
• Evaluate internal and external factors affecting fund development, establishing short- and long-range plans.
• Develop a balanced funding mix and innovative fundraising strategies, including corporate sponsor ships, major gifts, planned giving, and digital campaigns.
• Ensure proper maintenance of donor records and gift management systems, including informational reports with the Finance Department.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new donor engagement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, laws, and ethical standards in fundraising.

• Provide expertise in media relations, crisis management, and social media management.
• Oversee high-quality branding and production of marketing materials.
• Develop compelling narratives communicating the organization's impact.
• Ensure public relations efforts to…