The Spark program is seeking a Development Director to lead fundraising efforts to support the program's expansion. The Development Director will be responsible for raising $1.75 million in 2011 and shaping Spark's development strategy. Key responsibilities include creating a fundraising strategy, managing donor relationships, coaching staff, and developing Spark's national fundraising infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have nonprofit development experience and a passion for Spark's mission of reducing dropout rates through youth apprenticeships.

1. Job Description: Development Director
San Francisco, CA
Position Overview
Spark has experienced tremendous growth in the past three years, and places a strong focus on
sustainable, well-managed financial support to ensure the program’s stability and success. We are
seeking a Development Director to lead Spark through the next phase of its growth, providing funding to
support Spark’s national expansion. The Development Director will be responsible for raising
approximately $1.75 million in 2011, shaping the organization’s development strategy and building the
foundation for further growth in the coming years. This position is based in San Francisco (though
candidates based in Chicago or Los Angeles will also be considered) and will include occasional travel to
Spark’s offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and eventual sites beyond. The Development Director will be a
critical member of our senior management team, reporting directly to the Executive Director and
meeting regularly with the organization’s major individual and institutional donors.
Organization Profile
Spark (www.sparkprogram.org) is an award-winning, growing youth apprenticeship program. Spark
works to reduce the high-school dropout rate with a unique apprenticeship approach, focused on at-risk
middle-school students. In partnership with public schools in underserved communities, Spark creates
one-on-one apprenticeships in real workplaces, where youth explore careers and develop the skills and
motivation to succeed academically. Funded by a number of major foundations, including the Packard
Foundation, Cowell Foundation, as well as leading companies like Genentech and Gap, Spark is
demonstrating a powerful new approach to the high-school dropout crisis, one that draws in new
resources by turning workplaces into learning places.
Spark has managed rapid growth in the past two years, moving from a local to statewide organization,
with a 2011 budget of approximately $1.6 million. This year, Spark is beginning its first growth outside of
California, with a launch in Chicago. This growth is guided by a core management team and an
experienced Board of Directors, drawing together leaders from the business, education, and
philanthropic communities.
Spark was awarded the prestigious Draper Richards Fellowship in 2008, given to five early-stage non-
profits from around the world with the highest potential for “broad social impact.” In January 2010,
Spark won the Ashoka Fellowship, one of the top honors for social innovation worldwide. With this and
other support, Spark is building a foundation for national scale.
Spark’s Core Values:
• Self-Actualization: Empowering people to confidently pursue their interests and live their
values, driven by intrinsic motivation.
• Community: Fostering connections among people and organizations to meet individual and
shared goals.
• Democracy: Collaboratively involving all stakeholders in decision-making.
• Transparency: Encouraging honest communication and actively seeking feedback for
understanding and growth.
• Positivity: Planning for and expecting the best from every situation and person, and finding the
opportunities in each challenge.
Spark Program 251 Rhode Island St, Ste 205 Tel: 415-626-5470 Page 1
www.sparkprogram.org San Francisco, CA 94103 Fax: 415-354-8491

2. Responsibilities:
• Create & Lead Fund Development Strategy: Craft a comprehensive fundraising strategy to
enable sustainable growth, including individual, foundation, and corporate donors, and
exploring potential government support in future years. Ensure that Spark’s development team
reaches fundraising goals of approximately $1.75 million in 2011, growing to over $2.5 million
per year by 2013.
• Lead External Relationships with Current & Potential Donors:
o Lead relationship-building strategy and activities with major individual donors,
personally developing relationships with key donors and prospective donors, and
coaching senior staff to do the same. Continually build Spark’s pipeline of potential
supporters, building on referrals from Board members, current advocates, and research.
Drive individual giving from $285,000 in 2010 to over $500,000 in 2011.
o Lead institutional donor cultivation, supervising grantwriting activities and supporting
key relationships, driving institutional (corporate and foundation) giving from $775,000
in 2010 to over $1m in 2011, as Spark adds additional geographies.
o Lead Spark’s fundraising launch into new markets, focused on Chicago in 2011, and an
expected east-coast launch during 2012-2013 school year.
o Oversee and support Development and Communications Manager in putting on Spark’s
signature fundraising events.
• Coach Internal Leaders: Coach senior staff (specifically, Managing Directors for each region) and
Board members on how to effectively fundraise, helping them to identify potential donors,
expand boards, cultivate potential donors, and steward ongoing donors. Work closely with the
Executive Director in developing his donor pipeline.
• Lead the Development Team: Lead the Development team, building on its culture and
productivity as a positive, cohesive, highly functioning group.
o Manage two full-time staff – the Development and Communications Manager and
Grants Manager, both based in San Francisco.
o Support eventual hiring of development staff in remote offices.
• Develop National Strategy & Fundraising Infrastructure:
o Work closely with other members of Spark’s executive management team to craft
overall organizational strategy and goals.
o Communicate with colleagues across the organization to integrate development and
program activities and ensure that commitments are properly fulfilled.
o Working with other senior leaders in the organization to support Spark’s media and
public relations strategy.
Spark Program 251 Rhode Island St, Ste 205 Tel: 415-626-5470 Page 2
www.sparkprogram.org San Francisco, CA 94103 Fax: 415-354-8491

3. Qualifications: All candidates should have a passion for Spark’s mission, demonstrated effectiveness as
a leader, and excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Additional qualifications
include:
• Minimum three years non-profit development or business development experience, preferably
in an education environment; for-profit experience welcomed;
• Minimum two years experience in managing a team of direct reports;
• Minimum two years work experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization;
• History of dedicated volunteer activity and/or commitment to non-profit organizations;
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute major gift activities, including the ability to ask for and
close gifts of $100,000 and above;
• Positive initiative and mature judgment;
• Results-driven;
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage complex projects, competing priorities
and tight deadlines;
• Highly internet savvy, with experience in online donor management as well as with Word and
Excel.
• Able to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, asking questions and using listening
skills to encourage prospects and donors to talk about themselves and their activities;
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people;
• Legally eligible to work in the United States; no sponsorship provided;
• Comfortable giving and receiving honest, constructive feedback, and acting as a coach or
mentor to staff.
To be successful as a member of the Spark team, you will also:
• Have a passion for Spark’s mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit
organization
• Thrive in a fast-paced, creative and fun environment
• Have a sense of humor, even under stress
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction
Compensation & Benefits
• Salary: Commensurate with experience.
• Health Benefits: Full health coverage is provided, including medical, dental, and vision, with
premiums paid 100% by Spark, and subsidized premiums for dependents.
• Retirement Benefits: Spark offers a Simple IRA plan and will match retirement contributions
dollar-for-dollar up to 3% of salary.
• Learning Benefits: Spark staff and students are fellow learners, and the organization highly
values the staff’s personal learning pursuits. To that end, there are several opportunities for
staff to “walk the talk” and experience the excitement of being a Spark student:
Spark Program 251 Rhode Island St, Ste 205 Tel: 415-626-5470 Page 3
www.sparkprogram.org San Francisco, CA 94103 Fax: 415-354-8491

4. o Annual Paid Sabbatical: One week of paid time off each year, in addition to other paid
time off, for the pursuit of a personal learning opportunity. The sabbatical includes a
learning stipend to support expenses related to the learning experience.
o Personal Apprenticeships & Flexibility for Volunteer Opportunities: Spark strongly
supports its staff in pursuing personal apprenticeships or volunteer activities, and will
provide flexibility in schedule, including the use of some work hours, to ensure that staff
can pursue learning and volunteering opportunities important to them.
o Professional Training Account: To pursue your choice of professional training
opportunities, including workshops, conferences, books, etc.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Spark has a unique flexible time-off policy, which empowers staff to
collaboratively determine and schedule time off as needed. Rather than setting and tracking
specific numbers of days off, Spark staff may take time off based on the status of their work-
related goals and results within the organization. This policy is part of Spark’s focus on a
balanced and healthy life for staff.
• Non-monetary compensation: The opportunity to be an integral member of an energetic,
innovative, hard-working and rapidly growing team, within an organization that has the
potential to significantly change American middle-school education.
Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Target
start date in May 2011.
Contact:
Please send a cover letter and resume by email with "Development Director " in the subject line to Chris
Balme, Executive Director, at cbalme@sparkprogram.org.
Spark is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of
age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.
Spark Program 251 Rhode Island St, Ste 205 Tel: 415-626-5470 Page 4
www.sparkprogram.org San Francisco, CA 94103 Fax: 415-354-8491