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Director of Development
Full-time
San Francisco, CA, USA · New York, NY, USA
USD 150k-160k / year
Posted on Aug 4, 2026
Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a global nonprofit on a mission to restore ocean health by unleashing the power of next-generation leaders, bold innovation, and collective action. We work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, policy, and community, supporting early-stage ocean solutions and mobilizing our worldwide network to turn ideas into impact.
2026 marked our twelfth year of growing influence and over a decade of bold action to protect ocean health and build climate resilience.
Context and moment
SOA has been successful with foundation funding and has a team in place for this work. Now, we are looking to hire an individual with experience independently identifying, cultivating, and closing individual gifts.
Enter the Director of Development
The Director of Development will design a fundraising approach for individual giving, develop prospects, cultivate relationships, and close gifts. This role will report to the CEO and will play a key role in building our growth trajectory and philanthropic community.
We are currently prioritizing cultivating relationships and closing individual gifts over developing advanced processes, systems, engagement plans, events, and infrastructure. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports, thus the focus on independently closing.
Accountabilities
● Cultivate, solicit, close, and steward six- and seven-figure gifts.
● Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy to grow unrestricted and
restricted support (who to approach and how), with a primary emphasis on accelerating unrestricted funding.
● Recommend strategies to approach and engage major donors and family offices.
○ Develop messaging for donors and simple and clear collateral for them.
○ Translate the organization’s mission and impact into attractive and honest
narratives.
○ Build donor relationships rooted in trust, inspiration, and impact.
○ Be present, informed, and engaged for various small salons and dinners with
donors.
● Build and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors.
○ Identify and pursue new donor networks and funding opportunities.
○ Leverage CEO and Board networks and introductions where possible.
Qualifications
● Previous success independently identifying, cultivating, and closing six and seven figure
gifts
● Previous success developing differentiated fundraising strategies (who and how)
● Experience building with executive leadership and boards
● Experience building the pitch and collateral
● An ability to build trusted relationships
● An ability to listen to donor interests and needs
● An ability to make a clear and direct ask
● Excellent communication skills
● An ability to collaborate with program teams to understand the work
● Strong and organized execution
● Interest in mission-driven work
Preferred
● Experience fundraising for ocean, climate, environmental, or social impact sectors
Location and compensation
● Locations (NYC, Bay Area).
● Remote flexibility.
● 150,000 - 160,000 USD. Title is negotiable.
To Apply
Apply early as applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.
Please submit the following to information@soalliance.org:
● Subject line should read: Full Name_Director of Development.
● A cover letter helping us understand your ideas and interest and a resume.
SOA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply.
Sustainable Ocean Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.