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program assistant
Rocking the Boat
Posted on Mar 18, 2026
Organizational Background
Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool project for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of over $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves roughly 5,000 community members annually. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counseling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants. At the invitation of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and with the endorsement of the India Basin Waterfront Park Project Executive Team, Rocking the Boat is replicating its youth development program model in the new India Basin Waterfront Park in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, opening its doors in fall 2024.
Position Summary
The Rocking the Boat San Francisco Development Manager is primarily a writing position, responsible for supporting the San Francisco Executive Director in raising funds for the organization’s youth development activities as well as necessary capital acquisitions and improvements. Program areas for funding include a year-round after-school and summer program in traditional wooden boatbuilding, comprehensive student support services, and a public rowing program.
Responsibilities
- Developing appeal and thank you letters to individuals and letters of inquiry, grant proposals, project budgets, and reports to foundations, corporations, and public agencies in collaboration with program staff and outside partners
- Coordinate with New York-based development team to share resources, written content, and information about fundraising ideas and opportunities
- Tracking proposal and report deadlines, being attentive to new RFPs
- Ensuring that all donors receive written acknowledgements in a timely fashion
- Collaborating with Communications Director to produce printed and web-based promotional materials including website content, bi-monthly e-blasts, and fundraising event-specific e-blasts
- Maintaining integrity of Salesforce donor database
- Supporting San Francisco Fundraising Committee Members on fundraising strategies and prospective donor outreach
- Identifying and researching prospective individual and institutional donors
- Supporting major donor development
- Organizing cultivation events
There is opportunity for this to be a hybrid position.
Qualifications
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proofreading skills, accuracy, and attention to detail
- Five years of nonprofit fundraising experience
- Proactiveness
- Responsiveness
- Ability to multi-taskHighly organized and flexible
- Creativity
- Salesforce proficiency is a plus
- Knowledge of youth development and familiarity with San Francisco donor community helpful
Rocking the Boat offers
- Full time salaried position: $75,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience
- Full benefits package including health insurance and 401(k) with generous employer match
- 33 days paid time off including official holidays (plus 40 hours Sick Leave)
- Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to youth development and empowerment
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility at Rocking the Boat
Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility of all applicants and employees. The organization strives not only to accept but to affirm and celebrate all identities. Race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and veteran status are not barriers to employment at Rocking the Boat. Candidates should feel welcome to communicate any special needs or requirements to be accommodated throughout the hiring process.
To apply
To apply please send a detailed cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications along with a current resume to Christopher Childers, San Francisco Executive Director at chris@rockingtheboat.org with San Francisco Development Manager as the subject.