Sr Advisor - Area Development

At ALSAC you do more than make a living; you make a difference.

We like people who are different…because we're different, too. As one of the world's most iconic and respected nonprofits, we know what it's like to stand out. That's why we're looking at you. Your background, perspective, and desire to make an impact set you apart. As we work to help St. Jude cure childhood cancer, we're calling on the game-changers, innovators and visionaries to join our family. Not just for the kids of St. Jude, but also for you. Because at ALSAC, we develop and celebrate our employees. So, bring your whole, authentic self and become part of our shared mission: Finding cures. Saving children.

Job Description

As a Sr. Advisor Area Development at ALSAC, you manage a blended portfolio of leadership annual donors, corporate partners, high-value volunteers, event committees, and strategic fundraising initiatives throughout Southern California. The Sr. Advisor Area Development is responsible for driving revenue growth through donor cultivation, sponsorship engagement, volunteer leadership development, fundraising events, stewardship activities, and cross-functional collaboration in support of ALSAC's mission. This role supports key Southern California fundraising initiatives, including Evening of Hope and other high-value donor and volunteer engagement opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Creative Visionary

In collaboration with area leadership, develop and execute iconic signature event experiences that transcend expectations, from intimate gatherings to grand galas. Provide strategic leadership for complex, high-revenue fundraising events, donor cultivation experiences, and volunteer-led initiatives. Drive recruitment, engagement, and stewardship of high-profile volunteer leaders, event committees, and corporate partners while ensuring fundraising goals are achieved.

2. Organizational Pro

Manage multiple fundraising initiatives and projects autonomously with exceptional attention to detail. Coordinate event planning, sponsorship development, volunteer management, donor engagement, and stewardship activities while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.

3. Cultivate Relationships with Purpose

Utilize your exceptional interpersonal and relationship development skills to recruit, engage, and steward corporate partners, individual donors, sponsors, committee members, and volunteer leaders. Through strategic communication, personal visits, fundraising activations, and cultivation opportunities, establish relationships that extend beyond transactions and foster long-term philanthropic investment.

4. Collaborate for Impact

Partner across enterprise functions, including Development, Marketing, Event Production, Data Strategy, Volunteer Engagement, Finance, and Philanthropic Advisory teams to execute fundraising strategies and ensure alignment with organizational goals and donor engagement best practices. Monitor KPIs, assess outcomes, and recommend strategic adjustments to maximize impact.

5. Empower Fundraising Initiatives

Leverage your fundraising expertise to inspire and empower volunteers, leadership committees, sponsors, and donors. Provide motivation, direction, training, and resources through personal visits, strategic communications, and engagement opportunities to help achieve fundraising and relationship development goals.

6. Strategize for Growth

Develop and implement innovative cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management strategies that strengthen engagement and philanthropic support among leadership annual, corporate, and major donor prospects. Identify opportunities to increase revenue growth and deepen stakeholder engagement.

7. Champion Donor Relationships

Manage a blended portfolio of 75-100 leadership annual donors, corporate partners, high-value volunteers, event committee members, and donor prospects. Build, maintain, and advance relationships through strategic cultivation, stewardship, sponsorship engagement, and revenue-generating opportunities designed to increase donor retention and philanthropic investment.

8. Collaboration

Collaborate closely with Development and Philanthropic Advisory teams to strengthen donor and volunteer relationship management strategies. Ensure alignment across stewardship, financial analysis, prospect management, and fundraising initiatives to maximize organizational impact and donor experience.

9. Data-Driven Impact

Utilize donor data, engagement insights, and fundraising analytics to inform strategic decision-making, stewardship plans, and portfolio management. Leverage data systems to create personalized donor experiences and optimize fundraising outcomes.

10. Elevate Our Presence

Represent ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in all interactions with donors, volunteers, sponsors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders. Serve as a trusted ambassador who advances the organization's mission and reinforces its commitment to excellence.

Qualifications and Experience

Strategic Fundraising Event Leadership

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, high-revenue fundraising events, including galas, golf tournaments, dinners, and volunteer-led initiatives generating $1M+ in annual revenue. Proven ability to oversee strategic planning, fundraising execution, sponsorship development, volunteer engagement, and revenue performance.

Compelling Communication

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly, build consensus, influence stakeholders, and inspire action among donors, volunteers, sponsors, and community leaders.

Relationship-Based Fundraising

• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and managing relationships with leadership annual donors, corporate partners, major donor prospects, and volunteer leaders. Proven ability to implement moves management strategies that drive donor engagement and revenue growth.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Project Management

• Experience navigating multiple stakeholders and coordinating efforts across fundraising, marketing, volunteer engagement, event planning, production, finance, and other enterprise teams. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain momentum across multiple initiatives.

Experience in Philanthropy

• Strong background in relationship-based fundraising, committee engagement, corporate partnerships, board development, strategic planning, and execution of premier fundraising events. Experience developing donor engagement strategies and volunteer leadership programs that drive fundraising success.

Senior Leadership Presence

• Demonstrated leadership capability with a strategic mindset focused on revenue growth, volunteer leadership development, donor engagement, sponsorship expansion, and innovative fundraising solutions.

Corporate Sector Relationships

• Ideally possess established relationships within the corporate sector and a proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsors and donors.

High-Value Volunteer Leadership

• Proven ability to recruit, inspire, engage, and steward influential volunteer leaders, executive committees, corporate partners, boards, and community stakeholders. Experience managing complex volunteer structures and committee-driven fundraising efforts.

Education and Travel

• Six or more years of relevant experience in fundraising, development, sales, business development, customer relationship management, or a related field. Bachelor's degree preferred. Travel 15%-20%, including nights, weekends, and periodic travel to Memphis, TN.

Driver's License

• A valid driver's license is required for this role.

This position will be based at our Territory Office in Los Angeles, CA and will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

To comply with pay transparency laws, ALSAC is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is an estimate offered in good faith and considers the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At ALSAC, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is 78k - 113k.

Benefits & Perks

The following Benefits & Perks apply to Full-Time Roles Only.

We're dedicated to ensuring children and their families have every opportunity to enjoy life's special moments. We're also committed to giving our staff excellent benefits so they can do the same.

• Core Medical Coverage: (low cost low deductible Medical, Dental, and Vison Insurance plans)
• 401K Retirement Plan with 7% Employer Contribution
• Exceptional Paid Time Off
• Maternity / Paternity Leave
• Infertility Treatment Program
• Adoption Assistance
• Education Assistance
• Enterprise Learning and Development
• And more

ALSAC is an equal employment opportunity employer.

ALSAC does not discriminate against any individual with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or other protected status.

No Search Firms:

ALSAC does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All resumes submitted by search firms to any ALSAC employee or ALSAC representative via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without being contacted and approved by our Employee Experience team and without a valid written search agreement in place will result in no fee being paid if a referred candidate is hired by ALSAC.