Development

Due to a high volume of applicants, we are currently not reviewing new candidates for this position (1/30/25).

Summary

SFFILM seeks a highly organized and motivated Seasonal Development Assistant to support the Development team during our busiest fundraising season. This temporary role is ideal for someone passionate about nonprofit arts organizations, with strong administrative skills and a desire to contribute to SFFILM’s mission of celebrating film as an art form and a transformative force in society.

The Seasonal Development Assistant will provide administrative and logistical support for donor engagement, special events, data management, and communication efforts. This role is instrumental in ensuring the success of fundraising initiatives such as the 2025 San Francisco International Film Festival and SFFILM’s annual fundraising campaigns like membership.

Application review begins January 8th, 2024 and preferred start date is early February, 2025, with an end date in early May. Salary range for this position is $21 – $23 per hour.

SFFILM currently supports a hybrid-remote schedule, with an average of 3 days per week in the San Francisco offices at 455 Ninth St in San Francisco, as well as time onsite throughout the Bay Area supporting SFFILM events. This position will require some night and weekend availability leading up to the 2025 SFFILM Festival (April 17 – 27).

Key Responsibilities

• Administrative Support:
  • Maintain accurate donor and prospect records in the CRM database (Salesforce experience a plus).
  • Assist in generating and tracking donor acknowledgment letters.
  • Support team with calendar management and meeting preparation, including taking minutes and coordinating follow-ups.
• Event Support:
  • Assist with logistics for donor events, receptions, and screenings as well as in-home donor cultivation events.
  • Manage RSVP lists, send confirmations, and prepare materials for events.
  • Provide onsite or event support, including greeting guests, supporting volunteers, and troubleshooting issues.
• Donor Communication:
  • Assist in drafting and editing donor emails and other communications.
  • Help with assembling personalized holiday mailings or year-end appeal materials.
• Data Management:
  • Support the accurate entry of contributions into the database.
  • Run reports as needed to support development campaigns and event planning.
• Other Duties:
  • Perform other tasks as assigned to ensure the Development team meets its goals.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in development, fundraising, or event planning is preferred but not required.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Google Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) required; familiarity with Donor Perfect or similar CRM is a plus.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Enthusiasm for SFFILM’s mission and a passion for film and the arts.

Supervision

This position reports to the Director of Development.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.

We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

Development Systems and Capacity Building

Summary

SFFILM’s Development Department is seeking a motivated intern with a passion for nonprofit capacity building and film/media. This internship offers the chance to play a vital role in strengthening our fundraising systems, leading to greater long-term sustainability for the organization.

As a Development Intern, you’ll report directly to the Development Director, assisting in the creation of essential documents like operating plans, individual prospect strategies, and research materials that will expand the department’s capacity in 2024 and beyond. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to reports and analyses of current operations, support the creation of templates for fundraising efforts, and prepare for the 2024 Doc Stories Festival, October 17-21, and SFFILM’s largest annual fundraiser, Awards Night, on December 9th.

This internship provides valuable exposure to nonprofit management, operational planning, and the film/media industry. The opportunity is based in the Bay Area, requires 8-10 hours per week (availability to work out of the SFFILM SOMA offices Tuesdays and/or Thursdays is essential), and runs from September through December 13, 2024 2024, with potential extension.
Application Review will begin September 4th

Opportunities and Outcomes:

• Volunteer Support & Management: Assist in organizing and managing fundraising volunteers, contributing to assignments, training materials, and tracking prospect interactions.
• Development Operations and Planning: Gain hands-on experience in all aspects of annual and long-term fundraising, including campaign reports, targeted prospect lists, and Film Festival fundraising proposals.
• Cultivation and Stewardship: Help design and create a donor-centric funding model, supporting the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of individual donors with template documents that make them feel valued by SFFILM.

Qualifications:

• Energetic, detail-oriented team player with strong organizational and writing skills.
• Ability to multitask, follow through on tasks, and work under deadlines.
• Comfort interacting with a diverse range of people, including patrons, filmmakers, sponsors, and event staff.
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Interest in public policy, nonprofit management, or related fields.
• Commitment of 8 hours per week (generally two days a week).

Benefits:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of event production and nonprofit management.
• Build a resume and network within the film industry.
• Enjoy a complimentary 1-year SFFILM membership, with access to screenings and events.
• Receive class credit (if applicable) and valuable work samples.
• Unpaid, but with excellent film perks!

Join SFFILM this Fall and make a meaningful impact while gaining invaluable experience in the world of film and nonprofit development.

Overview

SFFILM seeks a fundraising professional who is a creative thinker with strong organization, writing, and project-management skills to join the Development department and lead the design and implementation of foundation and government fundraising strategies. A successful Senior Grants Manager will be able to work both independently and collaboratively, and will bring experience with all aspects of institutional stewardship, proposal writing and management, grant execution, tracking and reporting to the role.

The Senior Grants Manager works closely with the Development, Executive, and Senior Leadership teams at SFFILM to grow, manage, and sustain a portfolio of foundation and government partnerships. Under the supervision of the Director of Development, and in partnership with the Development team and other SFFILM staff members, this role will identify new prospects, steward ongoing relationships, and secure and coordinate grants for both operational and program support.

Application review begins January 4 and preferred start date is late January 2024. Salary range for this position is $65,000.00–$75,000.00 and benefits include full monthly premium for Health, Medical, PTO/Sick Leave and expanded annual paid holiday schedule.

SFFILM currently supports a hybrid-remote schedule, with an average of 3 days in the San Francisco offices, as well as time onsite throughout San Francisco supporting SFFILM events.

Responsibilities

Lead Foundation Fundraising:

• Direct and execute foundation and government fundraising strategy and relationship management for the organization.
• Direct solicitation and management of a portfolio of 25-50 prospects, including external meetings and site visits.
• Grow the pipeline of new foundation funders and implement moves management strategies to increase current levels of giving, with a focus on gifts of $100K+.
• Steward and manage established foundation relationships to maximize engagement, renew giving, and present new opportunities.
• Develop SFFILM’s working knowledge of the Foundation’s programs and priority funding areas and remain abreast of current research, activities, and trends in the philanthropic sector.
• Maintain regular communication with other Foundation professionals through direct contact and professional networks in the philanthropic space.

Grant Writing and Project Management:

• Write and submit all foundation and government grant applications, proposals, acknowledgements, and reports.
• Communicate and support SFFILM departments in meeting all programmatic grant deadlines and ensuring that initiatives are executed as planned.
• Work closely with SFFILM’s Executive team to create project budgets, provide financial reports to supporters, and ensure the financial and legal fulfillment of all awarded grants; support reconciliation of institutional giving budgets and actuals on a monthly basis.
• Monitor grants for legal, financial, and program compliance including but not limited to ensuring that grant requirements are correctly documented in the grant files and database and to assure full compliance with internal controls and legal requirements.
• Oversee and manage timeliness of grantmaking and payment preparation to smooth the flow of grants.
• Manage, lead, and implement continuous improvement initiatives ensuring solutions align with strategic goals.
• Monitor grant budgets from various fund types and work with Finance staff to ensure proper fund and grantmaking budget administration.
• Work with finance to generate reporting required for compliance and financial statement audits.
• Work with coordinator to track statistics and information that communicate SFFILM’s impact across its program areas and direct coordinator in collaboration with SFFILM staff members to facilitate the collection and use of this data.
• Manage and work closely with Communications on recognition of sponsors and foundation in communications and analysis of impact of communications (views, click-throughs, etc.)
• Supervise coordinator in assisting with grant management, data collection, CRM maintenance, board docket production and preparation.
• Participate in weekly substantive check-ins with Development Director and bi-weekly meetings with Executive Director and Finance team.
• Participate in meetings of SFFILM’s Development Department, as well as frequent interdepartmental meetings.
• Foster a culture of learning related to the field of philanthropy and grants management.

Qualifications

• Two to four years of direct experience in grant writing and foundation and government relations management with demonstrated success in closing five- to six-figure gifts.
• Ability to execute against a robust grants portfolio, including family foundations, institutional partners, and government funders.
• Exceptional writing skills and ability to efficiently create targeted and tailored funding narratives in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in financial reporting and budget management, especially in restricted funding.
• Capable of inspiring support from a variety of constituent groups internally and externally.
• Desire to be hands-on in a role that requires a high level of engagement with programs.
• Extensive donor database experience is highly desired.
• Strong sense of fundraising ethics and respect for confidentiality of donor information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally with volunteers, colleagues, and donors.
• Strong work ethic, professional manner, and ability to represent SFFILM.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignments when faced with many deadlines and competing requirements.
• Experience with non-profit organizations is highly desirable.

SFFILM is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in both its internal management and external programming. Since 2018, the organization has actively been working in collaboration with two Advisory Boards focused on accessibility and inclusivity and officially began work with a DEI consultant in 2019 to further invest in and build on that work. Candidates are invited to discuss their interest and involvement in DEAI practices in their cover letter, and ask us more about our DEAI process in their interview.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.