Development Officer

Job Announcement

Development Officer

Watsonville, CA

Full-Time Position

Position open until February 28, 2025

About Farm Discovery and Live Earth Farm:

Live Earth Farm, established in 1996, is a 150 acre diversified, organic, family farm overlooking the Pajaro Valley in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. We run a year round CSA with about 600 members, growing over 50 different fruits and vegetables surrounded by a native landscape of redwoods and oak woodland. Our produce is directly marketed through local farmer’s markets, restaurants, a thriving web store, and our weekly CSA program.

The education programs at Live Earth Farm began with the farm in 1996. Farm Discovery at Live Earth was formally established as a nonprofit organization in 2007 to compliment and expand the educational programs at Live Earth Farm. FD hosts more than 3500 children and families on the farm each year for farm based, hands-on learning opportunities through 10 different programs and partnerships. Learn more about us at farmdiscovery.org 

Farm Discovery has a consistent track record of solid financial standing, and we’re on a growth trajectory. We are now looking for a new person to join our team and take a leadership position to drive development for our farm and food programming forward into our next decade of work. You should be ready to hit the ground running, raising new grant and major donor funding in your first year, with an eye toward innovation to take Farm Discovery to the next level shortly after. 

General Description of Development Officer Position

The Development Officer will provide vital support to the Executive Director. The position is a long term, full time salaried position with potential to grow for the right person, invested in the sustainability of Farm Discovery. This position will grow Farm Discovery’s budget over the next three years, lead fundraising campaigns and events, manage grant calendar, submissions, reporting and research, with supervision by the Executive Director.

The person in this position will mentor and manage a full Development Associate focused on Individual Donors and a 25% Development Associate supporting grants and corporate relationships as well as work collaboratively with education staff and is responsible for daily decision-making.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Fundraising

• Direct fundraising portion of program events and lead fundraising events – including phone calls, e-mail and letters for securing sponsorships, soliciting donations, volunteer recruitment, and event coordination.
• Act as a friendly ambassador, advocate and asker welcoming the public & upholding the mission of Farm Discovery and Live Earth Farm
• Lead development outreach to local and regional agricultural and business communities to further develop relationships to help sustain Farm Discovery programs.
• Facilitate corporate volunteer partnerships, including recruitment, management and stewardship of volunteers as they relate to corporate giving.
• Support Farm Discovery Executive Director in researching, initiating, developing and maintaining relationships with donors, grantors and sponsors.
• Oversee administration of Farm Discovery grant and donor database (Salesforce software), including researching new opportunities and recruitment and training of volunteers to assist.
• Manage grant submissions including calendar, development and writing of narratives, work plans, and budgets, reporting, research and check-ins with Executive Director and Assistant Director of Education on goals and objectives.
• Grow 6 figure grant pipeline.
• Research, identify, develop & maintain Major Donor Relationships.
• Research, identify, develop & maintain Sponsor & Corporate Partner Relationships
• Supervise and execute marketing and outreach to promote campaigns, programs & events at Farm Discovery
• Supervise and execute fundraising components of events. 
• Communicate with the Farm Discovery team about all campaigns, goals and objectives
• Supervise communication with grantors, donors, sponsors and volunteers to answer questions, coordinate payment, recognize contributions and provide tax documentation.
• Create and maintain annual fundraising plan with quarterly updates for Director and Board.
• Manage donor and supporter electronic and print communications using mail merge, e-communications programs and tracking communications in the Farm Discovery database. 
• Co-create annual report with Executive Director & Operations Manager.

Development Administration

• Use computer word processing, spreadsheet, and database software to prepare reports, memos, and documents, oversee and support training of junior staff and volunteers.
• Oversee preparation of outgoing mail, including organizing volunteer support for large mailings.
• Supervise coding and filing of materials according to the established procedures.
• Update and ensure the accuracy of the organization's databases.
• Back-up electronic files using proper procedures.

Financial Management

• Supervise coding and filing of materials according to established records management procedures.
• Work with staff and volunteers to coordinate and ensure the integrity of the processing of donations.
• Assist with financial reports as required.
• Month end/quarterly duties as required.

Provide Board Support

• With the Executive Director, prepare supporting development reports and materials for distribution.
• Ensure the timely distribution of material to the Board.

Provide Broad Support

• Facilitate programs and events when additional staff are needed.
• Jump in where needed to support all programs, events, and the back-end operations to keep these running at the level of excellence our clients and customers expect.

Preferred:

• Bilingual Spanish speaker.
• Experience and understanding of Latinx culture.
• Farming gardening and/or nutrition experience, skills, and/or passion.
• Familiarity with area agricultural business and philanthropic sectors.

Work Setting

• Shared office environment in the Education Facility on our organic farm. Some of the work can be done remotely and on own schedule, minimum 3 days a week on site required.
• This is a 40+ hours per week, full time position, and 1-2 weekend events a month, year-round and especially spring, summer and fall. Farm Discovery office hours are 8-4 Monday through Friday.

Duration

The position will be filled in winter 2025. We are most interested in hiring someone willing to make a long term, multi-year commitment. We are looking for someone who wants to grow with our nonprofit over the years.

Position Details

This is a 40+ hour per week, full time position with paid vacation, sick time, and holidays. Salary $65-70k, commensurate with experience plus a benefits stipend and retirement plan. In addition, the farm will provide produce, and fresh eggs as available.

Application Procedure:
*Please fill in the following form: https://forms.gle/hgwhxkuUVPM8dn3U8

the form will require the following two items to be uploaded within it:

• A cover letter that shares the unique skills you bring to the table and includes the date or range of timing you are interested/available to start
• A resume with at least two professional references

We will begin reviewing and accepting candidate material immediately.