About the Organization:
Youth Speaks is a multi-faceted BIPOC-led and staffed organization that understands that the power, insight, creativity, and passion of young people change the world. Founded in 1996 in San Francisco, Youth Speaks is the leading nonprofit presenter of Spoken Word performance, education, and youth development programs in the world.
MISSION & VISION
Youth Speaks creates spaces that challenge young people to develop and amplify their voices as creators of societal change.
Youth Speaks envisions a world in which young people are heard, honored, and connected through creative ecosystems of interdependence and care.
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Director of Advancement (DA) is a senior leadership position that plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organization’s long-term financial sustainability strategy. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the DA will set ambitious yet achievable fundraising goals, drive philanthropic innovation, and cultivate authentic relationships that sustain and grow the organization’s $4M+ annual budget.
The DA serves as both strategist and executor: a visionary leader who can set bold targets while also guiding day-to-day development operations. The DA is a member of the Strategy Team (Executive Team) and works in close partnership with other department heads, including Arts Education, Narrative Change & Field Building, and Communications.
This position requires a deep passion for youth voice, the arts, and equity. The DA must have a proven track record in fundraising, a nuanced understanding of both institutional philanthropy and individual donor cultivation, and the ability to motivate staff, board members, and external partners to advance the mission of Youth Speaks.
Fundraising Strategy & Execution
- Define and implement an ambitious, multi-year fundraising strategy focused on individual giving, foundations, and government sources.
- Identify $750K in new annual revenue within the first two years, positioning Youth Speaks for long-term sustainability.
- Lead annual fundraising planning, forecasting, and progress-to-goal conversations.
- Ensure the organization’s systems (databases, CRMs, donor management platforms) are accurate, efficient, and aligned with best practices.
Leadership & People Management
- Supervise and coach two full-time Advancement staff: Director of Grants & Foundations and Strategic Partnerships Manager.
- Build an Advancement culture that is collaborative, transparent, and rooted in shared accountability.
- Partner with the HR Manager on hiring, onboarding, and professional development.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations using Culture Amp and provide clear feedback through coaching and courageous conversations.
- Foster a department culture that values joy, creativity, and shared learning.
Board Engagement
- Serve as staff liaison to the Board Development Committee.
- Provide fundraising strategy, reports, and goal updates at board meetings.
- Support the Executive Director and Board Chair in cultivating new trustees and committee members.
- Partner with the Board to establish and maintain clear “give/get” expectations.
- Develop board toolkits, event invitations, and cultivation opportunities that deepen trustee engagement.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Manage a personal portfolio of 30+ institutional funders and individual donors, with responsibility for six- and seven-figure gifts.
- Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors and prospects through storytelling, events, and personalized stewardship.
- Translate program outcomes into compelling donor communications, impact reports, and narratives.
- Partner with the Communications team to ensure consistency between donor messaging and broader organizational communications.
Events & External Engagement
- Lead planning and fundraising strategy for Youth Speaks’ annual gala.
- Coordinate a yearly funder briefing for 20–30 local and national partners.
- Collaborate with program staff to design revenue-generating strategies for public events, workshops, and digital platforms.
- Identify 3–5 speaking opportunities annually for the Executive Director and other senior leaders that elevate Youth Speaks’ national visibility.
- Serve as host for donor and fundraising events, representing Youth Speaks with confidence and authenticity.
Corporate Partnerships
- Cultivate corporate sponsorships that align with Youth Speaks’ mission and values.
- Oversee creation of sponsorship proposals, benefit packages, and fulfillment of recognition commitments.
- Leverage corporate interest in volunteerism, DEI initiatives, and youth engagement to expand partnerships.
Board Development
- Serve as staff liaison to the Board Development Committee.
- Provide fundraising strategy, reports, and goal updates at board meetings.
- Support the Executive Director and Board Chair in cultivating new trustees and committee members.
- Partner with the Board to establish and maintain clear “give/get” expectations.
- Develop board toolkits, event invitations, and cultivation opportunities that deepen trustee engagement.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of at least 7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising.
- Demonstrated success leading individual giving and institutional fundraising efforts, including securing multi-year six- and seven-figure gifts.
- Experience managing a team and coaching staff toward success and professional growth.
- Proven ability to engage and mobilize boards of directors in fundraising.
- Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—with the ability to craft compelling donor messages and present persuasively.
- Familiarity with fundraising databases such as Network for Good, Salesforce, or Submittable.
- Experience managing departmental budgets of $500K+.
- Commitment to racial equity, cross-cultural communication, and youth empowerment.
- Residency in or willingness to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area, with ability to attend bi-weekly in-person meetings.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience raising $5M+
- Experience working in corporate philanthropy
- Experience managing public-private partnerships
- Professional experience working in arts and culture institutions
- Experience with public funding (i.e., San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Governor's Office)
- Experience developing plans for earned income/revenue
- Speaks at least one language in addition to English
OUR FUNDRAISING PHILOSOPHY & READINESS
We recognize that the traditional nonprofit business model has been built and sustained by an inequitable economic system of extractive capitalism. A major focus over the last two years has been to innovate Youth Speaks’ quarter-century of impacts while creating a visionary operating budget that is also sustainable.
To Apply
Please email your cover letter, resume, and at least 3 professional references to employment@youthspeaks.org with the subject line “Director of Advancement.” This position will remain open until filled.
EEO/AA
Youth Speaks is an equal-opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Job applicants and staff shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions.
Youth Speaks will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.
*No phone calls, please. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only candidates for interviews will be contacted.
