Are you ready to join a team dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of children living with autism in the Bay Area? At The Helix School, we're on a mission to transform young lives while advancing the state of the art in neurodiversity whole child development. Our method is the difference. We create a fabric of services that tightly integrates therapy and academics. If this sounds like something you are ready to be a part of, read on.

Our Values:

• Quality of life is our bottom line.
• Children with neurodiversity, primarily with an autism diagnosis, deserve to grow to their full potential.
• Being small and focused enables us all to develop and learn more.
• Being tightly integrated and highly coordinated is at our core.
• Meeting our children at their level builds trust.
• Our student’s and parent’s voices matter.
  

Our Purpose:

How do you change the trajectory of a child? At Helix, we're not here to simply educate; we're here to unlock and nurture a child’s boundless potential. Our vision and mission are built upon the foundation of providing a transformative education experience. We craft a tailored, evidence-based, and integrated curriculum that caters to each child's developmental stage, sensory processing differences, and emotional-regulatory needs.

Our Team:

Join our extraordinary team of passionate educators, occupational and speech therapists, behavioral experts, and mental health professionals who are committed to creating a brighter future for our students. We believe in the power of collaboration and support, ensuring every child's journey is unique and celebrated.

Job Summary:

As the Development Director, you will be critical in advancing Helix’s mission by designing, implementing, and managing comprehensive fundraising strategies. We are looking for someone who someone who can effectively raise funds, engage various donor communities, and ideate on new ways to grow support. The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of proven experience in nonprofit fundraising, a deep understanding of donor cultivation and stewardship, and a track record of successfully securing significant financial support. You will work closely with the Executive Director to develop and execute fundraising initiatives that align with Helix’s objectives. This position is part of the Leadership Team

Key Responsibilities:

• Fundraising Strategy: Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan that includes individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, events, and focusing on sustainable revenue growth.
• Donor Cultivation: Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with current and prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Grant Writing and Management: Oversee the grant-seeking process, including researching funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
• Major Gifts: Create and manage a major gifts initiative, including identifying and cultivating major donors, developing customized solicitation strategies, and securing major gifts.
• Board Engagement: Collaborate with the Board of Directors to engage them in fundraising efforts, providing support and guidance to board members in their roles as ambassadors and fundraisers.
• Fundraising Events: Plan and execute fundraising events, including galas, donor receptions, and community outreach events, to raise awareness and financial support for the organization.
• Marketing and Communications: Work closely with the Social Media Consultant and Marketing Consultant to develop fundraising materials, donor communications, and marketing strategies that align with fundraising goals.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the annual fundraising budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and tracking of expenses.
• Data Management: Oversee the maintenance and accuracy of donor databases and fundraising software to track donor interactions and contributions.
• Reporting and Analysis: Provide regular reports and analysis on fundraising activities, donor engagement, and revenue projections to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

• Other duties as assigned; some travel, as well as evening and weekend work required.

Required Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising and development, including demonstrable results in major gift solicitation.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing and proposal development. Writing samples upon request.
• Proficiency in donor management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Helix School.

Other Requirements:

• High level of attention to detail.
• Strong analytical abilities.
• High degree of integrity and confidentiality.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to do whatever it takes.
• Team player who believes that working hard and having fun go hand-in-hand.
• Unrelenting desire to learn and improve your practice.
• Strong skills in a Mac environment and with Google-based applications, including Gmail, Google Drive, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Will have to go through Livescan process and TB clearance.

Application Process:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents:

• A cover letter expressing their interest, qualifications, and fundraising achievements.
• A current resume
• A list of 3-5 professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission).
•  to Deanna Mayer at deanna@thehelixschool.org. Please include "Development Director Application" in the subject line of your email.

The Helix School does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.  These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring, and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.  We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Job Title:Director of Development

Status:Full-Time Exempt

Start Date:August 1, 2024

Job Location: San Rafael, CA

Reports to:Executive Director

Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Short- & Long-term Disability, 401K (no matching), Paid Vacation

Website: www.thehelixschool.org