TITLE: Director, Development – Sharks Foundation
POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Exempt
LOCATION: San Jose, CA
REPORTS TO: Executive Director, Sharks Foundation & Head of Community Impact
Posting Dated: September 9, 2025
Pay Range: The pay range for this role is $116,000 - $125,000 annually.
Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
Position Overview
The Director, Development is a leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the Sharks Foundation’s comprehensive fundraising and revenue strategy. This position will drive the strategic growth and diversification of the Foundation’s financial resources, ensuring long-term sustainability and expanded impact.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Sharks Foundation & Head of Community Impact, the Director will lead all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, special events, and donor engagement. This individual will work closely with internal teams, donors, and external partners to secure new funding opportunities, steward existing supporters, and elevate the Foundation’s visibility within the philanthropic community.
The Director, Development will directly manage two full-time team members, as well as a team of part-time 50/50 Raffle sellers, and collaborate across Sharks Sports & Entertainment (San Jose Sharks, San Jose Barracuda, Sharks Ice) to achieve ambitious fundraising goals, aligning all efforts with the organization’s broader community impact strategy.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership:
- Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy with clear short-, medium-, and long-term goals to expand and diversify revenue streams.
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure fundraising effectiveness, ensuring accountability and alignment with the Foundation’s mission.
- Oversee the creation and management of the Foundation’s fundraising budget, ensuring financial sustainability and strategic resource allocation.
- Regularly report to the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Community Impact leadership on fundraising progress, financial performance, and strategic opportunities.
- Provide leadership and supervision to direct reports, fostering a high-performance culture, ensuring effective performance, professional development, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Stay informed on fundraising trends, best practices, and innovations within the nonprofit and sports philanthropy sectors.
- Revenue Growth and Relationship Management:
- Lead major gift cultivation and solicitation efforts, securing five-figure and above commitments from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
- Build and nurture relationships with donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners, ensuring long-term financial support and engagement.
- Develop and oversee corporate partnership and sponsorship programs, working closely with Sharks Sports & Entertainment’s Corporate Partnerships and Premium Sales teams.
- Expand the Foundation’s grant portfolio, identifying and securing funding from local, regional, and national foundations.
- Cultivate relationships with Sharks and Barracuda players, coaches, and significant others, fostering their active involvement in fundraising events, campaigns, and donor engagement initiatives.
- Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to develop compelling donor engagement materials, impact reports, and storytelling campaigns.
- Work closely with the Sr. Manager, Operations to ensure fundraising efforts align with programmatic impact and community engagement.
- Event and Campaign Execution:
- Oversee the planning and execution of marquee fundraising events, ensuring a high return on investment and donor engagement.
- Align fundraising events with the Foundation’s community impact programs, creating synergy between giving and program execution.
- Identify and implement innovative fundraising campaigns, including peer-to-peer fundraising, online giving, and donor engagement activations.
- Represent the Foundation at networking events, donor meetings, Sharks/Barracuda games, and industry conferences to elevate its philanthropic presence.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field. Master’s degree or advanced certification preferred.
- 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in the nonprofit sector (or equivalent), with direct leadership experience in fundraising and development.
- Management experience required
- Proven track record of securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and driving revenue growth.
- Experience in a nonprofit entity closely aligned with a for-profit organization is preferred.
- Strong expertise in major gifts, corporate partnerships, grant writing, annual giving, and fundraising events.
- Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and project management skills with a focus on results-driven fundraising.
- Highly skilled in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with the ability to inspire and engage high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting compelling fundraising proposals and donor correspondence.
- Strong budget management and financial acumen, ensuring alignment between revenue and program needs.
- A goal-oriented, self-starter with a proactive mindset and entrepreneurial approach to identifying new funding opportunities.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while effectively managing multiple projects and deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in sports philanthropy, entertainment, or corporate social responsibility (CSR).
- Familiarity with the Bay Area’s philanthropic landscape, including donor networks, foundations, and corporate giving programs.
- Knowledge of marketing, public relations, and brand-building strategies as they relate to fundraising.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand and utilize a computer for extended periods of time
- Communicate via phone and email with a variety of individuals
- Ability to bend at the waist, reach overhead and lift up to 15 lbs with or without accommodation
- Physically navigate stairs and catwalks at SSE facilities during normal work hours and events with or without accommodation
- Ability to work occasional extended hours including nights, weekends, holidays (all with advance notice)
- May be required to travel to other company locations
- May be required to attend conference, events, and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation (base salary and variable incentive plan)
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts (all LGBTQ+ friendly)
- Pretax Transportation Benefit
- 401K (pre-tax and Roth options)
- Generous Paid Time Off Policy
- Minimum of 10 Paid Holidays and Wellness Days per year
- Complimentary or discounted sports and concert tickets
- Other League & partner discounts
- Central office location in downtown San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley; convenient access to Caltrain, VTA, major freeways and free parking
- An inclusive culture which values diversity of background and a passion to improve our SSE’s commitment to change with impact on our community and industry
- Potential for flexible scheduling and telework opportunities
- Access to on-site Volta EV charging stations on non-event days
This position is not eligible for U.S. work authorization sponsorship.
Summary:
Born in 1991, Sharks Sports and Entertainment (“SSE”) has grown into a multi-faceted organization that includes the SAP Center, the NHL San Jose Sharks, the AHL San Jose Barracuda, the Tech CU Arena, three Sharks Ice facilities, and the non-profit Sharks Foundation. Additionally, we are growing our organization through expansion in the Bay Area and surrounding communities in Northern California.
We work and play in the Bay Area, and are deeply influenced by the technology, innovation, diversity, and commitment to excellence that surrounds us. Our culture is transforming to reflect those values, with an eye towards a pioneering, forward-thinking, and inclusive environment in sports and entertainment.
We live, work, and innovate by a set of Pioneering Principles:
T – Team success is more important than individual success
E – Exceptional experience is non-negotiable in everything we do
A – Appreciate others for their diversity and opinions
M – More risk leads to more rewards and expands our comfort zones
T – Trust that all teammates have the best intentions
E – Empower all teammates to make informed decisions
A – Always say what you really mean and do what you say
L – Lead by showing the respect to others you expect from them
We strive to unite people through a shared love of ice sports, entertainment, and our hometown. We are #TealTogether.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
Here at Team Teal, we recognize and celebrate that individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent well beyond any list of required skills and qualifications – in fact, we believe diversity of backgrounds and skills, combined with passion, are the most important keys to meaningful innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Sharks Sports and Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), physical or mental disability, military service or veterans’ status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
Notice to Recruiters and Agencies
SSE recruits candidates directly, rather than through third-party recruiters or agencies. Under no circumstances will SSE pay a fee for candidates submitted or presented without a signed recruiting agreement in place between SSE and the recruiter or agency prior to the submittal; any submittal must be for requisition specifically and individually assigned in writing by SSE’s HR department. In the case of candidate(s) submitted or presented to SSE by a recruiter or agency without a signed agreement AND written assignment by SSE Human Resources, SSE explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) with no financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
