Ocean Job Board
0
Organizations
0
Jobs
Development Officer
California Trout Inc
Sales & Business Development
Los Angeles, CA, USA
USD 80k-90k / year
Posted on Jun 5, 2025
Job Title: Development Officer – Southern California
Reports To: Director of Development
Location: Los Angeles Area (Remote or Hybrid)
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary: $80,000 - $90,000
Job Overview:
The Southern California Development Officer is a key frontline fundraiser responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors in Southern California. With a focus on both mid-level ($2,500–$9,999) and major gifts ($10,000+), this role will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, employing strategic, metrics-driven approaches to build long-term philanthropic relationships.
The ideal candidate is curious, motivated, and highly relational with the ability to listen deeply, connect authentically, and turn shared values into enduring support for CalTrout’s mission. This is a high-impact role suited for someone eager to build relationships and grow a regional donor base through creativity, follow-through, and strategy.
Roles & Responsibilities:
• Manage a portfolio of 75–100 donors and prospects in Southern California, with a heavy emphasis on qualification. This includes identifying capacity and inclination, building relationships from early engagement, and strategically cultivating toward mid-level ($2,500–$9,999) and major gifts ($10,000+).
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies to meet or exceed established metrics (e.g., visits, proposals, renewals, upgrades). Provide quarterly progress reports to the Director of Development.
• Conduct regular donor meetings (virtual and in-person), using storytelling and tailored messaging to articulate CalTrout’s mission, conservation impact, and giving opportunities.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through proactive outreach, research, and collaboration with staff and partners. Expand the donor pipeline by uncovering untapped relationships and cultivating interest in CalTrout’s mission.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all donor interactions, plans, and outcomes in CalTrout’s CRM (Neon). Use data to inform next steps and ensure seamless team collaboration and reporting.
• Draft personalized proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications in partnership with the Development and Communications teams.
• Organize and plan key donor events in Southern California in collaboration with regional program staff and the Development Events Manager. Represent CalTrout at events, site visits, and gatherings, serving as a warm and professional ambassador.
• Partner with conservation staff and program leads to stay informed and build strong internal relationships that support donor strategy and storytelling.
Skills & Qualifications:
• 3–5 years of experience in individual giving, major gifts, or relationship-based fundraising, ideally in a mission-driven nonprofit setting
• Ability to create and execute donor strategies that align with organizational goals and meet clear performance metrics
• A natural sense of curiosity and the drive to understand what motivates donors
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; able to build rapport and long-term relationships with a diverse donor base
• Highly motivated and proactive, with a track record of taking initiative and following through
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to convey impact in a compelling and clear way
• Familiarity with donor CRMs (preferably Neon); data-savvy and detail-oriented
• Strong organizational and time management skills; able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Experience planning and executing donor-focused events
• Passion for environmental conservation and CalTrout’s mission; familiarity with California’s ecosystems or fly fishing is a plus
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout Southern California and occasionally to Northern California; occasional evening and weekend work is required
Benefits: California Trout offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience; health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan with matching, generous holidays, PTO benefits, and sabbatical leave.
Why Join CalTrout?
At CalTrout, you will have the opportunity to lead groundbreaking conservation efforts that directly impact California’s natural ecosystems and communities. As the Associate Director of Donor Engagement, you’ll help shape the future of California’s rivers, fisheries, and watersheds, working alongside a dedicated team and innovative partners to achieve lasting environmental change.
Diversity: CalTrout does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.