Director of Advancement

J3 Foundation (J3) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to give kids the foundation they need for a lifetime of reading success. J3 strives to equip 4th graders in communities with fewer resources with the tools they need to help them reach grade-level literacy and foster positive self-image, self-confidence, a supportive community, a new love of reading, and an identity as a reader.

Launched in 2018, the program was created in response to the alarming data showing that 4th-grade students in under-resourced schools who have fallen behind in their reading level have a greater chance of being incarcerated or on public assistance as young adults. J3 is committed to changing that narrative by providing reading intervention programs and after-school reading clubs to students in Los Angeles County, and eventually in other cities across the country.

J3 Foundation (J3) seeks an advancement leader to partner with the Executive Director, Founders, and Board of Directors to trailblaze our next chapter of growth, impact, and sustainability. The Director of Advancement is responsible for oversight of the development workstream, team and consultant management, and development and execution of a strategic fundraising plan. The Director will carry a donor portfolio, partner closely with senior leadership and board members to advance the organization’s fundraising, and ensure cohesion and stability across the portfolio.

J3 is in an important growth period. Building on our network of reliable individual donors and growing fee-for-service revenue, the Director will play a pioneering role in strengthening our bench of individual, foundation, and corporate donors to grow our $2M+ annual budget.

Major Gifts & Donor Engagement

- Serve as a lead frontline fundraiser—both as an independent lead and in partnership with the Executive Director, Board, and Founders—cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors, foundations, and corporate partners

- Manage institutional giving in partnership with the grant writing consultant, including proposal development, compliance, and reporting

- Lead donor engagement strategies—including campaigns and cultivation events—that strengthen relationships and raise J3’s visibility as a literacy leader

- Expand and diversify J3’s donor base to reflect a financially sustainable organization

Development Strategy & Leadership

- Design and implement a multi-year fundraising plan to grow and diversify revenue

- Partner with the Executive Director and board to build a strong culture of philanthropy and support them as active fundraisers

- Forecast revenue and provide strategic guidance on opportunities for scaling and long-term sustainability

- Translate J3’s student outcomes and district partnerships into compelling donor cases for support

Team, Systems & Visibility

- Manage Advancement staff/consultants (currently a part-time Communications Manager and Development Consultant) and lay the groundwork for future team growth

- Establish strong systems for donor stewardship, reporting, and recognition using J3’s CRM

- Directly manage the Communications Manager to ensure consistent, donor-centered storytelling that elevates J3’s profile locally and nationally

- Serve as a member of the Leadership Team, ensuring advancement strategies align with program and operations priorities

- Deep commitment to educational equity and J3’s mission

- 7+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership capacity

- Demonstrated success securing both institutional and individual support, including major gifts

- Track record of closing five- and six-figure gifts and engaging board members as fundraisers

- Experience managing staff and laying the foundation for team growth

- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate program outcomes into compelling donor narratives

- Ability to balance strategy with execution; thrives as both a leader and a doer