Director of Development

About SFMade

SFMade works to support local manufacturers throughout the region so that they can thrive, innovate, and create good jobs to help build a more diverse and sustainable economy in the Bay Area. We foster a thriving ecosystem where manufacturers can flourish, creating quality jobs that benefit families and individuals in our community. Our network of nearly 800 local manufacturers in San Francisco, Marin, San Jose, and the East Bay sustains more than 10,000 jobs.

When manufacturing remains local and rooted in our neighborhoods, it opens up equitable opportunities, strengthens our economy, and brings a new kind of vibrancy to our communities.

About the Role

The Director of Development is a key member of SFMade’s leadership team, participating in strategic decisions that advance the organization’s mission, impact, and longevity. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position reporting directly to the CEO.

The Director of Development is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to maintain and grow SFMade’s current annual budget of $2.1 million. Funding sources include city, state, and federal grant programs, foundation and corporate grants, major gifts, individual donors, and special events. The CEO is an active partner in development, providing direct support on strategy, donor cultivation, and implementation.

This role works closely with a Salesforce administrator and collaborates across the organization with programs and marketing, but otherwise leads all development activities and record-keeping independently. The Director of Development attends occasional Board meetings to provide updates, share donor cultivation strategies, and support Board giving.

This is an exciting moment for SFMade as we move into the next chapter of our growth. The Director of Development will play a central role in helping us reimagine what is possible — expanding our funding base, deepening our community partnerships, and building the philanthropic infrastructure to match our ambitions. We are looking for someone who brings not just technical fundraising skill, but creative vision, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine belief that what we do next can be bolder than what we have done before.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual fundraising plan to meet the organization’s revenue goals across all funding streams.

• Ensure continuity and growth of government grant funding from city, state, and federal sources, managing agency relationships and compliance requirements through the full grant lifecycle, including applications and follow-up reporting.

• In collaboration with the CEO, build and maintain a prospect list and cultivation strategy for major gift donors, targeting gifts at the six-figure level.

• Develop and grow relationships with foundation and corporate funders, identifying new prospects and stewarding existing partners.

• Bring creative vision and innovative thinking to donor campaigns, partnership development, and fundraising strategies — including new formats, collaborations, and community-facing initiatives that reflect the dynamism of the sector we serve.

• Plan and execute special events that engage donors and raise funds for the organization.

• Work with the Board to achieve 100% participation in annual giving and support Board members in their own fundraising efforts.

• Collaborate with program staff to develop compelling donor communications, impact reports, and marketing materials that translate SFMade’s work into narratives that resonate with funders.

• Monitor and analyze fundraising data in Salesforce to evaluate performance, track pipeline, and adjust strategies as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.

• Eight or more years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a demonstrated track record of personally closing major gifts.

• Experience managing government grant programs, including city, state, and federal sources, with an understanding of compliance and reporting requirements.

• Experience building or significantly expanding a major gifts program, not just maintaining an existing one.

• A track record of creative campaign development and partnership building that goes beyond traditional fundraising approaches.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling grant applications, donor communications, and impact narratives.

• Experience with Salesforce or comparable fundraising CRM.

• Ability to work effectively as a department of one, with a high degree of initiative, organization, and follow-through.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a CEO, Board members, program staff, and volunteers.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in a lean, fast-moving nonprofit environment.

• A genuine commitment to SFMade’s mission and belief in the dignity and economic value of manufacturing work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the San Francisco and Northern California philanthropic landscape, including relevant foundations, corporate giving programs, and city agencies such as the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

• Existing relationships with funders active in economic development, workforce development, or small business ecosystems.

• Knowledge of or experience in manufacturing and skilled trades.

• Familiarity with San Francisco city government grant processes and agency relationships.

Compensation and Location

• Salary range: $120,000 to $130,000, depending on experience

• Competitive benefits package (medical and vision insurance, unlimited PTO policy, flexibility, etc.).

• SFMade is located in San Francisco. This is a hybrid role. Candidates based in the Bay Area are strongly preferred.

Join Us

SFMade is entering an exciting new phase of organizational growth. We are looking for a fundraising leader who is not just skilled at executing a development plan, but who brings bold ideas, collaborative energy, and a genuine belief that local manufacturing can transform communities. If you are energized by the opportunity to help shape what comes next for an organization doing meaningful work — to reimagine campaigns, forge new partnerships, and build something lasting — we want to hear from you.