Vice President, Major Gifts & Institutional Giving - Northern California

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Lead and Grow Philanthropic Revenue – 70% 

• Serve as the lead strategist and relationship manager for a portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and family foundations with the capacity to make transformational or 'big bet'—six- and seven-figure—investments. 

• Partner with the Executive Directors and local Boards to develop and execute a multi-year fundraising plan with a focus on long-term revenue growth, major gifts, and new donor acquisition. 

• Identify and engage prospective supporters by building a robust top-of-funnel pipeline, leveraging regional networks, corporate champions, and cross-sector partnerships. 

• Conceptualize and execute intimate cultivation and thought leadership events to introduce new prospects to City Year’s work and deepen engagement with existing supporters. 

• Collaborate with national major gifts, communications, foundation, and corporate teams to position Northern California as a strategic priority region within City Year’s national portfolio. 

• Advance City Year’s digital storytelling and thought leadership presence in the region, partnering with Communications to craft tailored, compelling content that inspires philanthropic engagement. 
   

Strengthen Internal Strategy, Capacity, and Systems – 15% 

• Partner with City Year’s national Individual Giving and Development teams to ensure local strategies are aligned with broader organizational goals. 

• Support, coach, and advise local development staff and site leadership on fundraising best practices, moves management, and donor engagement. 

• Ensure systems, workflows, and tools (Salesforce, dashboards, calendars) are optimized to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and forecasting. 
   

Drive Donor Stewardship, Visibility, and Regional Engagement – 15% 

• Design and lead a year-round regional stewardship and engagement strategy, tied to local impact moments and national campaigns. 

• Represent City Year at regional convenings, donor events, and other external opportunities to elevate visibility and build strategic partnerships. 

• Work with Marketing and Communications to tailor City Year’s national messaging for local audiences and deploy regionally relevant content and storytelling tools. 
   

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE 

You are a mission-driven, entrepreneurial leader with a deep understanding of philanthropy, fundraising, and strategic business development. You thrive at the intersection of vision and execution—identifying opportunities, building authentic relationships, and converting interest into impact. 
 
You bring a strong track record of securing major gifts, cultivating new supporters, and growing revenue in dynamic, high-capacity markets. You’re a creative storyteller and a relationship-builder at heart—with the presence and communication skills to inspire stakeholders from boardrooms to classrooms. 
 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• 8+ years of relevant experience, with a strong record in fundraising, business development, or nonprofit leadership. 

• Demonstrated success securing major gifts at the $100K+ level and managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and/or institutional donors. 

• Proven ability to identify and engage new donors, design compelling cultivation experiences, and grow a top-of-funnel pipeline. 

• Familiarity with Bay Area and Silicon Valley philanthropic networks, with strong regional relationships preferred. 

• Experience working within complex or matrixed national organizations. 

• Excellent communication, strategy, and project management skills. 

• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms to manage pipeline, forecasting, and donor insights. 

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and an asset-based approach to fundraising and community engagement. 

• Willingness to travel across Northern California and to national convenings (~30%). 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• This is a hybrid position based in Northern California, with in-person donor and event engagement across the region. 

• City Year offers a competitive benefits package including paid vacation, parental leave, health coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and professional development support. 

• Salary Range:  

TO APPLY 

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and fit for the role. 

City Year is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workforce. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including persons with disabilities and veterans.