Job Title: Director of Stewardship and Development
Full time, Exempt
Salary Range: $80,000 to $85,000
Reports to Business Manager/Controller
Hours: Sunday – Thursday work week 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Position Overview:
The Director of Stewardship and Development provides strategic leadership and management of all financial stewardship, fundraising, and endowment activities of First United Methodist Church San Diego. This position oversees a comprehensive program to encourage generosity, grow financial resources, and strengthen the church’s culture of stewardship in alignment with its mission and ministry goals.

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting directly to the Business Manager/Controller and working closely with the Pastoral Team, Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, First United Methodist Foundation and Covenant Circle.

Essential Functions:

1. Strategic Leadership and Planning
• In collaboration with the Lead Pastor, lead the annual stewardship campaign in pledge support for the administration and ministries of the Church.
• Develop and implement a long-range plan for stewardship and development that involves laity and aligns with the Church’s vision and financial goals.
• Provide guidance and support to the Finance Committee on the annual budget development, particularly in pledges, record of giving, special gifts and offerings.
• Collaborate with the pastoral team and lay leadership to integrate stewardship as a core component of spiritual formation and discipleship.
• Explore and pursue in collaboration with the pastoral team and lay leadership new means of funding including grants and digital models.

2. Fund Development and Donor Relations
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with current and prospective donors, encouraging generosity across all generations.
• Oversee major gift initiatives, legacy giving and planned giving programs to grow the Church’s endowment funds.
• Create and maintain donor recognition programs, in collaboration with the Covenant Circle, ensuring gifts are acknowledged in a timely and meaningful manner.
• Serve as staff support to the First United Methodist Foundation in setting the quarterly agenda, investment reports, and creating/updating endowment fund management policies.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of the Dream School of the Arts on strategies for building donor relationships, cultivating gifts, and securing grant funds.
• Maintain good awareness of the shifts in Fundraising, Development and Planned Giving programs and practices.

3. Financial Stewardship and Education
• Develop educational opportunities for the congregation on Christian stewardship, financial management, and legacy giving.
• Provide workshops, materials, and communications that inspire faithful giving as spiritual practice.
• Create and maintain donor recognition programs, in collaboration with the Lead Pastor, ensuring pledges, memorial and special gifts, and weekly giving are acknowledged in a timely and meaningful manner.
• Collaborate with pastoral team and lay leadership to incorporate stewardship themes into worship and church life.

4. Administration and Reporting
• Track giving patterns and trends, providing regular reports to the Lead Pastor and other governance committees.
• Maintain donor and giving records in accordance with confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Maintains database of pledges and record of giving to ensure monthly and annual revenue goals are low, met or exceeded.
• Partner with department directors to ensure proper alignment between program budgets, giving strategies, and ministry needs.

5. Collaboration and Teamwork
• Support and train lay volunteers involved in stewardship and fundraising efforts.
• Work with the Director of Communications to create compelling materials that tell the story of ministry impact and encourage generosity.
• Collaborate with the Dream School of the Arts in writing and supervising grant applications.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for grant writing activities for other ministries of the church by providing guidance and support from researching grant opportunities to post award administrative functions.
• Support and defend the spiritual and theological oversight of the Lead Pastor by maintaining integrity with the vision and mission of the church.

Minimum Qualifications:
• B.A. from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in development, fundraising, or stewardship, preferably within a faith-based or nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success in annual giving, major gifts, and endowment growth.
• Demonstrated success in writing grants.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to cultivate relationships with a diverse congregation and inspire generosity.
• Familiarity with United Methodist polity, theology, and traditions preferred.
• Proficiency with donor management systems, financial software, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong communication skills including prompt follow up and follow through.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently multi-task, prioritize and deal with interruptions while meeting timely deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an environment that values diversity and inclusion.
• Possession of a generous spirit, gracious communications, and kindness for all.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
• Deep commitment to the mission and values of First United Methodist Church of San Diego.
• High integrity, confidentiality and emotional intelligence.
• Strategic thinker with excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• Collaborative, faith-driven and self-motivated.
• Functions in compliance with Ministry Safe Policy of FUMCSD and Workplace Violence Prevention Policies.

Where to Apply:
	https://www.fumcsd.org/our-church/employment/