Vice President of Development in Orange, California at Project Access Inc

Project Access is transforming lives in affordable housing communities across America. With over 120 Resource Centers in 17 states and a team of 145+ dedicated professionals, we connect, engage, and empower more than 27,000 children, families, and seniors each year through four key initiatives:

Economic Stability – Building pathways to financial independenceEducation for Youth & Families – Creating opportunities for lifelong learningHealth & Wellness – Promoting healthy, thriving communitiesCommunity Building – Fostering connections that strengthen neighborhoods

We're not just providing services - we're creating tangible, life-changing impact in communities nationwide. See our success stories at www.project-access.org/success-stories.

The Opportunity:

Project Access is seeking a Vice President of Development to lead the next chapter of growth for our national fundraising operation. Working in close partnership with the CEO & President, the VP of Development will be responsible for achieving ambitious strategic fund development goals as our organization continues to expand, with a $1.8M annual fundraising target spanning corporate giving, grants, individual giving, special events, and campaigns.

This is an opportunity for a self-directed, strategic thinker who thrives operating independently and can move fluidly between big-picture vision and hands-on execution. You'll act as both a doer and a thought leader, driving measurable revenue growth across a diversified funding portfolio that includes an 80% fee-for-service model through developers and 20% traditional fundraising, within a $13M operating model.

In this role, you will lead a focused turnaround and growth strategy, prioritizing:

Improving national gift opportunities and grant success ratesRebuilding momentum in corporate givingReengaging lapsed donorsGrowing and developing the development departmentReestablishing and strengthening our brand

If you're energized by the challenge of building something bigger, and want your strategic vision to directly shape the future of an organization making a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

Lead & Develop Our Team

Lead, coach, and develop a team of four direct reports: the Annual Giving Manager, Director of Community Relations, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Volunteer & Community Partnerships ManagerIn your first 30 days, assess the department's strengths and needs and build a scalable revenue infrastructureFoster a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement through regular coaching and clear goal-settingModel collaborative leadership by working across departments and building strong partnerships with Operations, Programs, and Finance

Drive Revenue Growth

Own strategic oversight of all revenue streams — individual gifts, events, foundation and government grants, corporate giving, CRA partnerships, planned giving, bequests, and endowmentsDevelop and execute a donor roadmap, including a 90-day revenue recovery plan and a three-year growth strategy with defined milestonesSegment and reengage lapsed donors, and pursue larger transformational giftsBuild a major gifts program from the ground up, targeting 15-20 new major donors annually ($5K+ capacity)Launch a monthly giving program and reinstate our Planned Giving ProgramCreate a donor recognition society with tiered recognition and exclusive cultivation eventsSupport Board Give/Get fulfillment and cultivation, lead in-kind contribution strategy, and partner with our technology team to grow PA Connect app licensing and enterprise revenueEnsure our CRM and donor database are set up to support our success, and oversee giving history and statistical reporting

Overhaul Grant Strategy

Shift toward fewer, higher-probability grant applications and build a 6-month grant pipelineDevelop compelling, funder-specific case statements around affordable housing, digital equity, and resident servicesPrioritize multi-year grant commitments to build sustainable revenue

Rebuild Corporate Giving

Design a year-round corporate engagement strategy with tiered partnership packagesAudit existing relationships and re-engage lapsed or reduced corporate donorsGrow the Adopt-A-Center program and secure event sponsorships

Elevate Our Brand

Develop and execute a national brand and marketing strategy that positions Project Access as the leader in embedded resident services within affordable housingOversee marketing and communications to ensure consistent, compelling storytelling across all 17 statesServe as a spokesperson and advocate, raising Project Access's public profile

Steward Our Donors

Lead a year-round stewardship program focused on relationship-building, not transactional asksLead our signature annual campaigns, including Spread the Joy, and develop event committees to secure sponsorships and attendees

Engage Our Board & Volunteers

Equip and motivate the Board to identify, cultivate, and solicit donors, driving toward 100% Board giving participationOversee volunteer strategy, ensuring volunteers are effectively recruited and deployed to support fundraising goals

Provide Strategic Leadership

Translate organizational goals into actionable fundraising plans with clear accountability metricsOwn key performance metrics: 75%+ donor retention, 25-30% grant success rate, 85%+ corporate renewal rate, and 4:1 minimum ROI on eventsOversee development budget lines and participate in the annual budget processCollaborate on annual reports and donor-facing communications that showcase our impact

Who you are

Essential Experience

7-10 years of progressive professional fundraising experience with demonstrated success across grants, corporate, major gifts, and events5+ years managing development teams, including marketing, communications, and/or volunteer functionsProven track record of personally securing six-figure gifts and managing a major gifts portfolioExperience developing grant strategies with measurable improvement in success ratesSuccess building corporate partnership programs with multi-year commitmentsExperience building or significantly growing an individual giving programExperience operating in a collaborative development environment and leading high-performance teams

Key Strengths & Qualities

Exceptional communicator: You write compelling grant proposals, craft inspiring solicitation letters, and deliver presentations that move donors to actionStrategic thinker: You analyze data, identify patterns, and turn insights into actionable fundraising strategiesRelationship builder: You function effectively with donors, volunteers, board members, and colleagues at all levelsSelf-directed leader: You exercise initiative, work independently, and keep stakeholders informedTeam champion: You inspire staff and Board members alike to reach new levels of performance, building high-performing teams through coaching, mentorship, and by celebrating accomplishments

Technical Skills

Proficiency with donor databases and CRM systemsExperience managing external contractors and vendors, including event planners and freelance professionalsData-driven approach to analyzing donor files and fundraising performance

Preferred

Experience working with nonprofits serving low-income populations, affordable housing, or social servicesKnowledge of planned giving programs

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management, or related fieldValid Driver's License with clean driving record and current automobile insuranceAbility to pass background check

The details:

Work location: Hybrid, based near our corporate office in Orange, CA — primarily remote, with the flexibility to come into the office as neededWork schedule: This is a full-time, exempt position; Monday through Friday and may include non-traditional hours (evenings and occasional weekends)Reports to: CEO & PresidentTravel: Approximately 50% nationwide travel to meet and tour donors and funders, attend and participate in speaking engagements, and visit Project Access Resource Centers.Annual compensation: $145,000-$155,000, plus performance bonus. Placement within the salary range is determined by a combination of factors including experience, and qualifications.Benefits:Health insurance, dental insurance, long-term disability, term life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additionally, the following voluntary benefits are available at 100% employee cost: vision insurance, voluntary life insurance, pet insurance, and supplemental benefits.Safe Harbor 401(k) with 4% company match.Paid time off + 14 paid holidays

Project Access, Inc. is an at-will and equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an equitable and inclusive workplace. We value diversity in all its forms and actively seek to build a team that reflects the richness of our community. Our hiring practices are designed to identify and welcome talented individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, cultural background, religious beliefs or practices, gender identity or expression, relationship status, age, neurotype, physical or sensory abilities, sexual orientation, military service history, or any other aspect of their identity protected by law. We believe that a diverse team leads to better ideas, more innovative solutions, and a stronger community impact. Our goal is to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their unique perspectives and skills.

Project Access participates in E-Verify

The pay range for this role is:145,000 - 155,000 USD per year(Corporate Office - HQ)