Development Operations Coordinator

ABOUT US:

The Surfrider Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots coastal conservation organization. We are dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. We have achieved many critical victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship. Since 1984, Surfrider’s appeal is not only our strong reputation and track record of success, but also the lifestyle and values we embody.

By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Surfrider Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Development Operations Coordinator. This position reports to the Associate Director of Development, East Coast and provides support for the Major Gifts program and two national events as well as donor salon events throughout the year. The Development Operations Coordinator is responsible for helping to maintain and optimize the fundraising database and other systems, assisting with prospect research, and providing general administrative assistance to the Development department.

The ideal candidate is a confident professional with an abundance mindset and a desire to grow a rewarding career in the field of fundraising. This role will be a part of an exciting, fast-growing non-profit organization and will work as part of a dynamic fundraising team to oversee and optimize the operations that are crucial to a thriving development effort.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Development Operations Coordinator is responsible for supporting Development department processes to increase funding revenue. The Coordinator interfaces with key stakeholders on the Development team, including major gift officers, grants personnel, and the events manager; as well as staff in gift processing and CRM administration. Candidates should possess exemplary project management and communication skills, outstanding attention to detail, eagerness to excel in all responsibilities listed below, and capability to grow within their role at Surfrider Foundation.

• Oversee gift and pledge data entry and processing, timely donor acknowledgments, and stewardship systems within the department’s CRM system (Salesforce)
• Proactively identify ways to improve use of Salesforce to better support fundraising goals, and work with the IT team to implement improvements.
• Oversee systems for prospecting, research, and pipeline development.
• Oversee various digital giving portals.
• Run reports for major gifts campaign meetings and prospecting initiatives.
• Conduct research on donors and prospects, producing accurate donor profiles for use by major gift officers, board members, and the CEO.
• Assist in completion of donor proposals, reports, and periodic updates.
• Assist with development and donor events and duties as requested. Some pre-scheduled events and travel may be required.
• Provide necessary logistic and administrative support, including responding to donor phone calls and emails, and organizing and preparing materials and mailings.
• Assist with day-to-day department operations.

LOCATION AND HYBRID WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must reside within a reasonably commutable distance to Surfrider Foundation Headquarters in San Clemente, California.
• 2 days/week to be worked in the Surfrider office, 3 days/week to be worked from home office. Schedule modifications are per the discretion of the supervisor. Flexibility is required regarding the days of the week in office to accommodate needs such as event preparation.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree, plus 2+ years of experience in development field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• High level of organization.
• Project management experience.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Attention to detail, data integrity, and confidentiality.
• Strong experience with database operations. Demonstrated critical thinking skills to analyze data and understand its relationship to overall fundraising objectives.
• Comfortable working on a MAC platform.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM such as Raisers Edge.
• Familiarity with Adobe CS / CC is a plus.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to present ideas and plans clearly and effectively.
• Eagerness to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented, and goal-driven environment.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Category Level: Coordinator

Salary Range: Minimum $48,000 – Maximum $71,760

How Does the Surfrider Foundation Establish Salary Ranges?

The Surfrider Foundation researches, evaluates, and compares like-sized non-profit organizations to establish ranges for each position level to ensure that employees are justly compensated. The established range takes multiple factors into account; experience, educational background, scope and complexity of work, special skills, added value to the organization, geographic cost-of-living, inflation/current market demand, equity, and more. The Surfrider Foundation prides itself on a high rate of retention, with 32% of staff having been employed with the organization for 10+ years. Please keep in mind that the maximum end of our ranges also account for longevity and tenure within the role.

BENEFITS: 

Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.

Retirement: 401(k) plan offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).

Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Rollover unused days to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.

Sick time Accrual: 12 sick days/year

Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2025

Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!

Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.

Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

TO APPLY:

Please send cover letter (including your salary requirements) and resume via the application portal link below::

Click here to apply!

Email: careers@surfrider.org

Deadline for receiving resumes: Monday, March 3, 2025

Phone inquiries and walk-ins will not be accepted – thank you for understanding.

JEDI COMMITMENT:

The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working towards a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.

The Surfrider Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class.

To learn more about our Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, please visit: https://www.surfrider.org/pages/diversity-equity-inclusion