Job Description
The Foundation at Hearst Castle is seeking a Development and Membership Manager to grow and steward a strong community of supporters and to expand contributed revenue through membership, annual giving, and donor engagement. Reporting to the CEO, this role is the Foundation’s primary “doer–strategist” for development execution, co-owning the systems, campaigns, and relationships that keep donors and members connected, appreciated, and inspired.
This is a hands-on role in a small, high-profile foundation environment: you will collaborate closely with the CEO, activate Board members and volunteers in the background, and coordinate contractors to deliver a professional, donor-centered development operation.
Key responsibilities
Fundraising strategy and execution (annual giving and membership as the core engine)
Own the annual development workplan and calendar (membership acquisition/renewal, annual appeals, giving days, major donor touchpoints), including goals, segmentation, messaging themes, and performance reporting; draft plans and present progress updates to the CEO and relevant Board committees.
Manage a comprehensive membership program: recruitment, retention, upgrades, benefits fulfillment, donor communications, and member experience improvements.
Plan and execute donor-centered campaigns across mail, email, web, and on-site touchpoints; coordinate with creative/marketing contractors as needed.
Donor stewardship and relationship management
Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects (membership through mid-level; selective major gift qualification) with clear moves-management steps, contact standards, and stewardship plans.
Partner with the CEO on major donor strategy: research, briefing materials, meeting preparation, follow-up, and stewardship execution.
Design and deliver donor recognition and appreciation experiences/events (with on-site requirements for select activities).
Development operations, CRM, and data quality
Serve as internal owner of the donor database/CRM and the development “operating system”: gift entry workflow, acknowledgments, receipting, membership fulfillment tracking, data hygiene, and reporting dashboards.
Coordinate with contractors (e.g., database consultant, web/email vendor) to maintain integrations and improve donor journey automation.
Grants and institutional support
In partnership with the CEO and colleagues, maintain a grants calendar; assemble proposals, budgets, and attachments; coordinate reporting and stewardship for institutional funders.
Contractor coordination and project management
Manage defined scopes of work, timelines, deliverables, and budgets for development-related contractors (e.g., design, email marketing, CRM support, event vendors, grant writer). Maintain quality control and ensure deliverables align with donor standards and brand voice.
Compliance-minded administration within development
Maintain documentation needed for gift acceptance, restricted gift tracking coordination, and donor data privacy practices; coordinate with the CEO, bookkeeper, and CPA as needed.
Establish Planned & Legacy Giving Program
Develop and implement a scaled planned giving program focused on bequests and simple legacy gifts, with potential for future growth.
Collaborate with the CEO to identify prospects, support donor conversations, and advance legacy gift commitments.
Establish and manage a Legacy Society, including donor recognition and stewardship experiences.
Create clear messaging and storytelling to promote planned giving and long-term impact.
Track prospects and commitments in the CRM, ensuring accurate, confidential recordkeeping and reporting.
Coordinate with CEO and external partners (e.g., consultants, designers) to develop materials and ensure best practices.
Required qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Three or more years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with hands-on responsibility for membership and/or annual giving, donor communications, and donor database/CRM use (e.g., segmentation, reporting).
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with deadlines, build systems that stick, and work independently in a small-team environment. High discretion, good judgment, and comfort handling confidential donor information.
Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings/weekends and travel locally for donor engagement and events.
Preferred qualifications
Experience in cultural, historic, parks, museums, tourism-adjacent, or membership-driven organizations.
Experience with Microsoft Office
Experience with event-based fundraising and donor experience design.
Grant proposal coordination experience.
Experience using dashboards/analytics to improve membership retention, conversion, and campaign performance.
Core competencies
Mission-centered relationship building and donor empathy
Deft “player/coach” execution (you do the work; you also make the plan)
Project management and vendor management (scope, timelines, QA)
Data discipline (clean CRM hygiene, accurate reporting, segmentation, testing)
Communication skills (writing, presenting to CEO/Board, donor-facing professionalism)
Integrity, confidentiality, and reliability
Supervision and key relationships
Reports to: CEO, Foundation at Hearst Castle.
Works closely with: CEO, which may include the Board development/membership committee(s); designated fundraising volunteers; and contracted providers supporting finance/accounting, CRM, marketing/creative, grant writing, and event production.
Direct reports: None.
Location and remote policy
Central Coast, California (exact city/worksite: San Simeon, CA).
Hybrid/remote flexibility. Expectation is that some on-site presence will be required for donor cultivation and events; administrative work may be eligible for hybrid scheduling by agreement with the CEO.
FTE and hours
Full-time, exempt. Typical schedule aligned to business hours with evening/weekend work for events and donor engagement.
Salary range and benefits
Salary range (recommended posting range): $71,000-76,000 annually. Benefits: competitive nonprofit benefits package including employer-paid and employer-subsidized health coverage options, paid time off and holidays, retirement plan options (through CalSavers), and professional development support.
Equal employment opportunity statement
The Foundation at Hearst Castle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Application instructions
Email info@foundationathearstcastle.com to submit a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the Foundation’s mission and your relevant experience with membership/annual giving and donor stewardship. Finalists may be asked for: (a) a short writing sample (donor email or appeal letter), and/or (b) a brief work sample such as a membership renewal plan outline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.