Bonsai Leadership Group is pleased to partner with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) to identify its next Business Development Director. |

ABOUT JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE
Founded in 1929, JACL is the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American and Pacific Islander civil rights organization. Its mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. Its leaders and members work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community. JACL helped lead the Japanese American redress movement, which culminated in the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Today, the organization advances civil and human rights through policy advocacy, community education, and chapter-driven engagement. Learn more about JACL at jacl.org and pacificcitizen.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Business Development Director plays a central role in securing the resources that protect civil rights, preserve legacy, and position JACL for its second century of impact, beginning with its centennial in 2029. With JACL’s development function at an early stage, this leader has a rare opportunity to build and shape the strategy, systems, and relationships that will sustain JACL for generations.

Reporting to the Executive Director and working alongside the National Board, the Director will lead JACL’s national fundraising and membership growth strategy, strengthen and diversify revenue, convert member engagement into sustained philanthropic investment, and advance a culture of philanthropy aligned with JACL’s civil rights mission. The Director will be supported by one direct report, the Membership Program Manager.

JACL seeks a strategic builder and relationship-driven fundraiser with strong marketing instincts. This is someone who can articulate why JACL matters in a shifting philanthropic landscape and turn that story into compelling cases for donors, sponsors, and members, while honoring JACL’s history, values, and multigenerational community.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR
JACL is building its development function with intention. Success in year one is measured by clarity, momentum, and a strong foundation rather than immediate revenue at scale. JACL’s leadership is committed to giving this leader the space to learn the organization and build relationships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Revenue Strategy and Planning

• Build and execute a multi-year revenue strategy that grows and diversifies JACL’s funding streams, with clear targets, budgets, and accountability for the development function’s contribution to annual revenue goals.

• Partner with the Finance Director on revenue forecasting, regularly assessing pipeline performance and adjusting projections.

Major Gifts and Individual Giving

• Lead JACL’s major gifts program, personally managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, closing five- and six-figure gifts, and growing the portfolio year over year.

• Work with board members and chapter leaders to identify members and prospects with capacity for greater giving.

• Convert members and qualified prospects into mid-level and major donors through a compelling case for support and structured moves management.

• Build stewardship systems that strengthen retention, increase lifetime giving, and deepen engagement.

• Grow JACL’s Legacy Planning Program, building a pipeline of bequests and estate gifts.

Institutional Funding

• Build JACL’s institutional fundraising strategy across foundations, corporations, and strategic partners.

• Manage the full grant lifecycle, from prospect research and proposal development through reporting and renewal.

• Design, price, and secure sponsorships and corporate partnerships for the biennial National Convention and other special events, ensuring they reflect JACL’s values, generate revenue, build long-term engagement, and raise JACL’s visibility

Chapter and Board Engagement

• Develop national fundraising campaigns, toolkits, and resources that help chapters grow local giving in step with national revenue goals.

• Partner with the National Board’s Planning and Development and Membership Committees on fundraising strategy, prospect donor identification, donor recognition, and related policies.

• Equip National Board members to participate confidently in fundraising through clear expectations, coaching, and engagement strategies, building a culture where philanthropy is shared across chapters, board, and staff.

Membership Growth and Marketing

• Lead membership growth strategy, including designing and marketing membership benefits that attract new members and retain current ones.

• Develop clear, compelling messaging that communicates JACL’s relevance and impact to donors, members, sponsors, and partners.

• Align fundraising, membership, and marketing campaigns across communications channels, including the Pacific Citizen, JACL’s national semi-monthly newspaper.

• Use donor and member insights to test, refine, and scale acquisition, renewal, and annual giving campaigns.

Data, Systems, and Reporting

• Maintain JACL’s CRM (YourMembership), data integrity, and reporting standards, and leverage prospect research tools to strengthen donor qualification and pipeline development.

• Establish clear pipeline stages, performance metrics, and accountability rhythms across the development function.

• Use CRM data and trend analysis to guide donor segmentation, resource allocation, and course corrections.

• Produce revenue dashboards and reports that inform decision-making by the Executive Director and National Board.

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead, coach, inspire, and develop the Membership Program Manager, setting clear performance expectations and aligning responsibilities with annual revenue goals.

• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
While candidates can come from a range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate for the Director role will exhibit many of the following attributes and experiences.

• 5+ years of progressive fundraising, business development, or membership growth experience in national nonprofits, advocacy or civil rights organizations, membership associations, or similarly complex environments.

• Proven history of personally cultivating and closing five- and six-figure gifts and growing a major gifts portfolio over time. Experience with planned giving or legacy programs is a strong plus.

• A builder’s track record: has created or rebuilt a development function, including strategy, CRM and data integrity, pipeline management, and reporting, with the discipline to build a strong foundation before scaling.

• Hands-on and resourceful, comfortable doing the work directly with a small team and thriving in an organization at an early stage of growth.

• Skilled at developing marketing messaging, campaigns, and value propositions that grow membership, attract donors, and position a mission for new audiences, including in a challenging philanthropic climate.

• Experience leading institutional fundraising, including foundation grants and renewals, and event sponsorships.

• Strong revenue forecasting skills, with experience partnering with finance leadership to build realistic projections.

• Excels in partnering with an Executive Director and board to engage prospects, activate networks, and share ownership of fundraising results.

• Clear, adaptable communicator who builds trust across a multigenerational, nationally distributed community of staff, board, chapter leaders, volunteers, donors, and partners, grounded in a commitment to JACL’s civil rights mission.

LOCATION
This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, CA (preferred) or Los Angeles, CA. When not traveling, the Director works onsite at least three days per week, at JACL’s national headquarters in the heart of Japantown or at the Pacific Citizen office in Los Angeles.

SCHEDULE & TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS
The role requires up to 25% travel to attend donor meetings, National Board meetings, special events, and conferences. As a national, chapter-driven organization, JACL’s work often happens outside traditional business hours, and the Director must be available for evening and weekend meetings. This flexibility is a core part of stewarding relationships and advancing JACL’s mission at the national level.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $135,000 annually, with an anticipated starting salary dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

In addition, JACL offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:  

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match

• 13 days of paid vacation and 13 days of paid sick leave

• 13 paid holidays plus 2 half-day holidays

• Paid administrative leave between Christmas and New Year’s Day

SHARE YOUR INTEREST
Bonsai Leadership Group is exclusively managing this national search. To be considered, please submit your resume and a compelling cover letter describing your interest in this role by joining the talent pool here.

All expressions of interest, nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential. 

If you are a person with a disability and require assistance sharing your interest in this role, please contact us at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of this search.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Japanese American Citizens League is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.