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Annual Fund Manager
California Trout Inc
San Francisco, CA, USA
USD 70k-90k / year
Posted on Jan 16, 2026
Job Title: Annual Fund Manager
Reports To: Director of Development
Location: California (Remote or Hybrid)
Compensation: $70,000 - $90,000
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Job Overview
The Annual Fund Manager plays a critical role in growing CalTrout's annual giving program and cultivating a strong base of loyal, engaged donors. This role is responsible for managing gifts below $2,500 and serves as the primary steward and strategist for CalTrout's broad donor community, including members, monthly donors, and long-time supporters.
This position focuses on donor acquisition, retention, and upgrading, with a particular emphasis on understanding what motivates and resonates with annual fund donors. The Annual Fund Manager leads multi-channel fundraising campaigns, builds and evolves a donor loyalty program, and manages CalTrout's gear shop as an integrated engagement and revenue channel.
The Annual Fund Manager works closely with the Senior Development Manager to ensure a thoughtful and seamless pathway for donors who demonstrate readiness to transition into mid-level and major giving. This role collaborates extensively across the organization, partnering with communications, programs, events, operations, and regional staff to deliver a consistent and compelling donor experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Annual Fund & Membership Growth
- Develop and execute strategic annual giving campaigns to increase donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades, with a focus on gifts below $2,500.
- Lead CalTrout's annual fund strategy, including appeals, renewals, and seasonal campaigns.
- Oversee and grow the monthly giving program, ensuring strong retention, engagement, and clear value for recurring donors.
- Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to create compelling, donor-centric messaging across direct mail, email, social media, and digital channels.
- Support donor segmentation and targeting efforts to tailor outreach based on donor behavior, interests, and giving history.
- Donor Stewardship & Pipeline Development
- Design and implement a donor loyalty program that recognizes and deepens engagement among annual fund donors and long-time supporters.
- Develop donor engagement journeys that prioritize meaningful connection, consistency, and long-term value rather than transactional giving.
- Partner with the Senior Development Manager to identify annual donors who show capacity and interest in mid-level or major giving and support smooth handoffs.
- Work with the Donor Relations Manager, the Community and Partnerships Manager, and the portfolio manager as needed to create accessible and mission-aligned donor engagement opportunities, including events, briefings, and volunteer experiences.
- Campaign & Data Management
- Lead and implement multi-channel fundraising campaigns, including year-end giving, Giving Tuesday, spring appeals, and other targeted initiatives.
- Oversee peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, including campaign setup, promotion, participant engagement, and performance tracking.
- In collaboration with the Database Administrator, analyze donor data and trends to inform strategy, test new approaches, and continuously improve results.
- Track and report on KPIs, campaign performance, donor retention, and engagement metrics.
- Gear Shop Management
- Supervise and mentor the Development Associate, providing ongoing feedback, support, and professional development opportunities.
- Ensure the Development Associate effectively supports donor stewardship, event logistics, gift processing, and database management.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement within the development team.
- Collaboration of Cross-Team Coordination
- Work closely with the Director of Development and Senior Development Manager to align annual fund strategies with broader individual giving goals.
- Collaborate with communications, programs, events, operations, and regional staff to ensure consistent donor messaging and experience across touchpoints.
- Support corporate matching gift efforts, workplace giving, and other annual-fund-adjacent opportunities.
- Partner with board members, staff, and volunteers to amplify annual giving efforts and donor engagement.
Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, marketing, business, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Experience:
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in annual giving, membership management, or donor relations, ideally within an environmental or conservation-focused organization.
- Demonstrated success managing fundraising campaigns and growing donor participation and revenue.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in CRM software, digital fundraising platforms, donor analytics tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong project management skills with experience in multi-channel fundraising campaigns.
- Soft Skills:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate mission and impact into donor-relevant language.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
- Highly collaborative, organized, and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic Thinking – Ability to plan, execute, and refine annual fund strategies that support long-term organizational goals.
- Donor-Centered Curiosity – An innate curiosity about what motivates, inspires, and resonates with annual fund donors, paired with a willingness to test, learn, and iterate.
- Communication Skills – Strong written and verbal communication skills that connect donor values to CalTrout's mission and impact.
- Creative Thinking – A proactive, creative, and solutions-oriented approach to donor engagement and fundraising challenges.
- Listening & Empathy – Ability to listen deeply to donor needs and perspectives and reflect those insights into engagement strategies.
- Fundraising Knowledge – Solid understanding of annual fund best practices, stewardship principles, and ethical fundraising standards.
- Goal Orientation & Resilience – Results-driven with the persistence to navigate challenges and sustain momentum.
- Project Management – Strong organizational skills to manage overlapping campaigns, timelines, and collaborations.
- Collaborative Approach – Comfort working across departments and with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Mission-Driven Focus – Genuine commitment to CalTrout's conservation mission and the ability to communicate its urgency and impact with authenticity.
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.
California Trout (CalTrout) is a highly recognized and effective 501(c)3 conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco. For over 50 years, CalTrout has championed a remarkable number of initiatives focused on solving complex resource issues that balance the needs of fish and people. CalTrout has six regionally based offices located in key geographies where wild fish influence local communities. Our professional staff drives innovative, science-based solutions that work for the diverse interests of fish, farms, commerce and the community. CalTrout is backed by a passionate Board of Directors, along with highly committed donors and a strong membership base.
In 2021, its 50th anniversary year, CalTrout has completed a three-year strategic plan and has launched a $5M Impact Fund campaign. CalTrout is making a significant investment in growing its fundraising team. This expansion offers a distinct opportunity to join a powerful team of dedicated conservationists and to play a meaningful role making California a better place for future generations.
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.