How to apply for Director, Development

About Youth Organize! California

Youth Organize! California (YO! Cali) is a statewide network and hub that builds the strategic, professional, and socio-emotional power of young people and youth organizers across California. They cultivate transformative youth organizing to generate long-term community transformation, strengthen the youth organizing ecosystem, and invest in sustainable leadership pathways. Working here means being part of a bold, multi-issue movement that centers the voices and experiences of the most impacted young people, with a deep commitment to liberation, healing, and justice.

About the role

The Director of Development is a full-time, remote position reporting directly to the Associate Director, Strategy & Partnerships. This key strategist is responsible for advancing YO! Cali's fundraising strategy and donor relationships to ensure the organization's mission and long-term sustainability. The role leads the design and execution of annual and multi-year development plans, manages a portfolio of major donors, oversees grant strategy and reporting, and guides external communications that support fundraising and storytelling.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with the Associate Director to align on fundraising priorities, drafting a grant proposal or report, and having a one-on-one call with a major donor to cultivate a relationship. You might also collaborate with the communications team to develop a storytelling piece for a fundraising campaign, and review data on donor engagement to inform strategy. The work is remote and flexible, but deeply collaborative and mission-driven.

Who Youth Organize! California is looking for

• Demonstrated experience in fundraising strategy and execution, including major donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, ideally within a youth organizing, social justice, or movement-building context.
• Strong grant writing and management skills, with a track record of securing and reporting on grants from foundations and other institutional funders.
• Ability to develop and implement multi-year development plans, set and meet ambitious fundraising goals, and analyze data to inform strategy.
• Excellent communication and storytelling abilities, with experience creating compelling narratives for external audiences and aligning communications with fundraising efforts.
• Commitment to and understanding of youth organizing, transformative justice, and the liberation of marginalized communities, with a collaborative and relational approach to work.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with fundraising in a youth organizing or social justice context—be specific about campaigns you've led and their outcomes.
• Demonstrate your ability to build and maintain relationships with major donors, including examples of how you've cultivated, solicited, and stewarded gifts.
• Show your grant writing and management expertise by detailing grants you've secured, their amounts, and the impact they had on the organization.
• Emphasize your familiarity with the California funding landscape, including foundations and donors that support youth organizing and movement work.
• Articulate your personal alignment with YO! Cali's mission and values, particularly their commitment to youth leadership, healing, and justice—this is a values-driven organization.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific experience developing and executing successful fundraising strategies, including major gifts and grants, that resulted in significant revenue growth.', 'Your ability to manage a portfolio of major donors and build authentic relationships that lead to sustained support.', "Your understanding of the youth organizing ecosystem in California and how you would leverage that knowledge to advance YO! Cali's mission.", "Your commitment to social justice and how your personal and professional values align with YO! Cali's vision of liberation, healing, and justice."]

Research before applying

• Explore YO! Cali's website to understand their programs, network members, and recent initiatives, especially those related to youth organizing and leadership development.
• Research the California youth organizing landscape, including key funders, networks, and issues that are central to the movement.
• Look into the backgrounds of YO! Cali's leadership team and board to understand their priorities and perspectives on fundraising and development.
• Review YO! Cali's recent annual reports or financial statements (if available) to get a sense of their budget size, funding sources, and growth trajectory.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach developing a multi-year fundraising strategy for YO! Cali, considering its statewide network and commitment to youth leadership?
• Describe a time you successfully cultivated a major donor relationship from identification to solicitation. What was the outcome and what did you learn?
• What experience do you have with grant writing and reporting, particularly for foundations that fund youth organizing? How do you ensure compliance and impactful reporting?
• How would you integrate storytelling and external communications into fundraising efforts to amplify the voices of young people and organizers?
• How do you navigate the challenges of fundraising for a movement-building organization, especially when funding priorities may not always align with grassroots needs?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic language about fundraising without connecting it to youth organizing or social justice—this role requires a deep understanding of the context.
• Do not focus solely on dollar amounts raised without demonstrating how you built relationships and engaged donors in a mission-driven way.
• Avoid overlooking the importance of storytelling and communications in fundraising—this role explicitly includes guiding external communications.
• Do not neglect to mention your commitment to youth leadership and how you would center young people in development efforts.