Job Details
Job Title: Executive Director of the Modesto Junior College Foundation - President's Office - Modesto Junior College
Site: Modesto Junior College
Salary Range/Other: Management Salary Schedule (2025-2026) Range 45: $11,881 to $15,099 monthly or $12,132 to $15,350 monthly with earned Doctorate. New appointees will receive year-for-year credit for prior management experience to a maximum of Step C.
Benefits: The District currently pays for a health options for the employee and dependents. Employees may elect to pay a premium for a higher health option. Vision care and dental insurance premiums for the employee and dependents is District paid. Income protection and life insurance premiums for the employee are also District paid. The estimated cost of District provided benefits (health, dental, vision, and life) is $24,408 annually.
Scope of Assignment
DEFINITION Under administrative direction of the Modesto Junior College President, the Executive Director serves as the chief fundraising officer for Modesto Junior College and the Modesto Junior College Foundation. The Executive Director provides leadership, both directly and through supervision of Foundation staff, for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive development program.
The Executive Director sets ambitious, clear, and achievable goals, and inspires the staff, as well as the Board of Directors to meet and exceed expectations. The Executive Director is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donor prospects (individuals, Foundations, and corporations), gift funds, scholarships, and donor records at all levels of giving. The Executive Director of the Modesto Junior College Foundation will place special emphasis on the cultivation and solicitation of major gift donors and grant-makers capable of giving $10,000 and above.
The Executive Director also collaborates with the Foundation Board of Directors and the MJC President to advance fundraising and community partnership initiatives consistent with the Foundation's mission.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Receives administrative direction from the Modesto Junior College President; may also receive and respond to directives from the Chancellor and/or Modesto Junior College Foundation Board of Directors, as needed. Provides direct supervision over Foundation support staff and various others who may be hired to support Foundation work. Supervises initiatives and events consistent with the Foundation's mission.
Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The Education/Experience, Knowledge and Ability requirements are representative of essential duties. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Education and Experience:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in business, education, public administration, public relations, development management, or related field. Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field coupled with at least five years in development and community relations may be accepted if it is addressed in the applicant's cover letter.
- Experience: Minimum of three years of recent, successful development experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters or Doctorate in business, education, public administration, public relations, development management, or related fields.
- Senior level development experience in a college or university setting.
- Preference is for the Executive Director to have a thorough understanding of best practices in fundraising, with demonstrated success with annual fund, major gifts, alumni relations, estate and planned gifts, corporate and/or Foundation fundraising
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to:
- Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
- Work effectively with persons of diverse backgrounds and experience.
- Exhibit leadership in management and planning; train, supervise, and evaluate staff, work cooperatively with others.
- Exhibits proficiency and accuracy with Microsoft Office Suite, database-related software applications, and other office equipment required.
- Familiar with college services and programs.
- Familiar with current issues involving college advancement and fundraising programs, activities, and events.
- Principles in the principles and practices of business management and strategic planning and development processes.
- Knowledgeable about state and federal laws, codes, and regulations affecting fundraising and development programs.
- Proficient in Foundation operations including legal, financial, government regulations, and board development.
- Proficient in principles and techniques of grant management, fiscal accountability and budgeting.
- Proficient in principles of management practice and leadership including effective human resource management.
- Proficient in principles of revenue and expenditure management within an approved annual budget.
- Knowledgeable in District organization and the applicable policies and procedures related thereto.
Desirable Qualifications:
.
Desirable Professional Characteristics:
.
Example of Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Fundraising
- Identifies annual and long-term fundraising goals and directs, manages, and implements all private gift fundraising activities to achieve those goals on behalf of the Modesto Junior College Foundation.
- Major Gifts
- Initiates major gift solicitations.
- Identifies major prospects and assures appropriate cultivation takes place.
- Develops and cultivates relationships with established and prospective donors to enable solicitation of six-to-seven-figure gifts.
- Annual Fund and President's Circle Gifts
- Establishes goals for unrestricted and restricted donations to the Annual Fund.
- Responsible for ensuring these goals are met through direct mail, online, personal solicitation programs, and other appropriate means.
- President's Circle
- Establishes and, over time, maintains and modifies the criteria, benefits, and activities of the President's Circle of donors to ensure meaningful connections between the college and influential benefactors.
- Recruit and retain members of the President's Circle. Organize and lead events exclusive to the President's Circle.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants
- Collaborate with the MJC Grant Writer and college leaders to develop proposals to corporate and Foundation grant makers in seeking unrestricted annual and restricted gifts.
- Oversees grants or portions of grants dedicated to college activities that benefit from small grant support.
- Planned Giving
- Conducts solicitations for the Foundation's Planned Giving program. Provides tax deduction and investment policy information, for prospective planned giving donors. Responsible for marketing and the cultivation of prospective planned giving donors.
- Alumni Relations
- Develops and implements a strong, well-constructed alumni engagement and giving program that grows each year and helps engage prior students with the College.
- Campus Fundraising Leadership
- Works with vice-presidents, deans, directors, faculty, staff and students from the college's various units; provides counsel to their fundraising efforts; builds college awareness and inspires community engagement and strategic alliances through an integrated college advancement plan and promoted in publications to support giving.
- Scholarships
- Lead the MJC Scholarship Committee.
- Oversees the student scholarship application process.
- Cultivates and sustains relationships with scholarship donors.
- Coordinates and hosts scholarship ceremonies.
- Board Administration
- Provides staff support for all Foundation committees.
- Supervises staff to provide all reports and minutes of meetings to the committees and the Board of Directors.
- Ensures that all meeting materials, including written reports, as necessary, are provided for committees and the Board of Directors.
- Prepares materials for Board of Directors meetings, or supervises the preparation and presentation of Board materials, such as financial statements and balance sheets.
- Works to ensure that the talents of Board Members are fully applied to meeting fundraising and organizational objectives.
- Financial Administration
- Supervises the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of complex budgets and financial record keeping for campaigns and general gifts.
- Recommends, prepares, and justifies the annual operating budget of the Foundation to the Foundation Board and submits budgets to the college's Business Services Office.
- Provides the Board with monthly budget reports.
- Reviews and acts upon monthly reports as prepared by the Business Services Unit.
- Prepares for and oversees response to annual auditors, including addressing any audit findings or fiscal concerns.
- Asset Management and Administration
- Supervises asset investments. Orchestrates the selection of fund advisors through the formal Request for Proposal process. Maintains regular contact with advisors.
- Reports on performance of investments to the Foundation's Finance Committee.
- Data Management
- Has overall responsibility for accuracy and integrity of donor and prospect information within the Foundation's database.
- Designs and utilizes information systems and reports to enhance and improve information and decision-making for program management.
- Personnel Administration
- Facilitates the hiring process and supervises and evaluates Foundation personnel.
- Performs ongoing review of program and personnel performance.
- Conducts formal personnel performance reviews as scheduled by Human Resources according to applicable contracts.
- Events, Public Relations, Publications
- Represents Modesto Junior College and the Foundation to a variety of external organizations and constituencies.
- Attends many Modesto Junior College events as well as other community events where the college and Foundation benefit from having a presence.
- Supervises Foundation publications.
- Supervises Foundation staff in coordinating fundraising events and activities.
- Commencement
- Serves as a member of the MJC Commencement Committee.
- Leads the Distinguished Alumni Award segment of the annual MJC Commencement Ceremony. This includes recruiting, screening, and preparing the Distinguished Alumni honoree(s) for recognition at the ceremony.
- Long-range Planning
- With the Board of Directors, develops long-range mission, goals, and strategic plan for Foundation growth, staff enhancement, board development, and program development.
- Works closely with faculty, deans, and administrators to more fully integrate the Foundation, its fundraising activities, and the use of its endowment proceeds into academic and student services program planning, where designated, each year.
- Performs other duties as identified by the Foundation Board of Directors and MJC President, consistent with the Foundation's mission.
Licenses and Certificates
Licenses and Certificates:
- Possession of a valid California Driver License or the ability to independently travel to and from the college and community sites is expected.
Physical and Mental Standards
Physical and Mental Standards:
- Mobility: ability to sit for long periods, move about an office, stand occasionally, reach above and below desk level
- Dexterity: fine manipulation sufficient to operate a keyboard, handle individual papers, write and take notes
- Lifting: occasional lifting of papers, files, equipment and material weighing up to 50 pounds
- Visual Requirements: close vision sufficient to read files, documents, and computer screens and do close-up work; ability to adjust focus frequently
- Hearing/Talking: ability to hear normal speech, speak and hear on the telephone, and speak in person
- Emotional/Psychological Factors: ability to make decisions and concentrate; frequent contact with others including some public contact; frequent deadlines and time-limited assignments
* Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
- Work is generally performed in a standard office environment
- Work will require evening and weekend hours
Additional Applicant Information
Applications are accepted online only at:
https://www.yosemite.edu/recruitment/employmentopportunities/
Select Job Openings, Select Search Jobs, Select Job Title, Create an account and Apply to this job.
SELECTION PROCEDURES
Only online application packets will be accepted including:
- YCCD Administrative online application, including contact information for at least three professional references .
- Resume
- Personal letter of interest
- Unofficial Transcript
Applications will be reviewed by a screening committee which will select candidates to be interviewed.
Those applicants selected for personal interview will be notified by email or phone. In accordance with Board policy official offers of employment will be made only by the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor/Human Resources, YCCD. Final appointment is subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees.
Federal law requires the District employ only US citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. Written verification of employment eligibility is required.
BACKGROUND CHECK: A background investigation of new employees is required, including reference checks and a state criminal history report. Employment will not begin until the history check has been cleared by Human Resources. The cost for the criminal history report will be the responsibility of the successful candidate.
The District may hire more than one applicant from this applicant pool.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
The Yosemite Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
It is the policy of Yosemite Community College District (Modesto Junior College and Columbia College) not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability in its educational programs and its employment practices. YCCD BP 3410 Nondiscrimination can be found at: https://www.yosemite.edu/trustees/board_policy/3410%20Nondiscrimination.pdf
Title IX Sexual Harassment regulations define Title IX Sexual Harassment to include four terms "as defined in" the Clery Act and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking.
In accordance with 34 C.F.R. §§ 100.6(d), 104.8, and 106.9; and 28 C.F.R. § 35.106, the following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504/Title II policies:
District Title IX/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Yosemite Community College District
2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto, CA 95358
Open Date: 09/15/2026
Close Date: 10/13/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Organization
On behalf of everyone at the Yosemite Community College District Office, Modesto Junior College and Columbia College, we welcome you to our District. All of our employees throughout the District are dedicated to excellence in serving our students. Even with all the fiscal issues that we are facing within the State of California, our staff has been working miracles with continuously reduced budgets. We continue to serve our students well, and provide them with great opportunities and a quality education. As the Chancellor, I am very proud of their efforts and dedication.
One of my greatest challenges is to ensure the educational quality and fiscal stability of our institutions. One way this is accomplished is through long-range planning. There are many exciting things on the horizon for the Colleges of the YCCD - especially with all the construction and completion of our Measure E building projects. We are very grateful to the community for your support of these efforts. Students will benefit for years to come; we extend to you heartfelt thanks.
The Mission of the Yosemite Community College District is: "The YCCD is committed to responding to the needs of our diverse community through excellence in teaching, learning and support programs contributing to social, cultural and economic development and wellness." We take this mission statement seriously; it is the one key element that we base all our efforts on - it is our charge to provide excellent, meaningful service to the community.
As educators, we always focus on offering life-changing opportunities for our students; that is our business. One of the most enjoyable experiences in my 30 year higher education career has been witnessing lives changing right before my eyes as students graduate or achieve their educational goals. When they go on to create successful lives for themselves, their families and their communities I know we have done our job! This is the reward of the work that we collectively do at the Yosemite Community College District. I most cordially invite you to become more involved in our dynamic educational community called the YCCD.
Most sincerely,
Joan E. Smith, Ed.D.
Columbia College is a dynamic institution of learners and creative thinkers dedicated to high standards of student success. We prepare students to be fully engaged in an evolving world by offering comprehensive and high quality programs and services. Columbia College is committed to a culture of improvement through measuring student learning across the institution. We strive for excellence, foster a spirit of professionalism and embrace diversity.
Modesto Junior College, one of the oldest community colleges in the state, was organized in 1921 to serve the first junior college district established under a State Legislature Enabling Act. Modesto Junior College was established to meet the needs of the community. Today the college strives to maintain the same objective—that of dedication and service to the community.
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!