Okizu
Development Consultant
Okizu - Novato
Work at Okizu
Overview
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Overview
Okizu (oak-eye-zoo) comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole.
The mission of Okizu is to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer to heal through peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs.
Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs since 1982. These programs are the result of a collaborative effort between Okizu and the pediatric oncology treatment centers in Northern California. The specific purpose of Okizu is to operate peer support programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer based on the community-forming nature of an overnight camp experience.
We understand that the financial burden associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and devastating for a family. This provides families, especially those in the low to moderate-income community, with the same opportunity to attend any of our programs that they are eligible for. We are dedicated to serving every child and family in Northern California and Northern Nevada affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, ethnicity, or economic background.
In 2020, Okizu’s 500-acre residential camp facility in Berry Creek, CA was destroyed by wildfire, and we have been operating our programs at rental facilities ever since. In October 2024, we announced the purchase of a new property in Calaveras County which will become the new, permanent home of Camp Okizu. The Development Officer will partner closely with our Executive Director, leadership team, and Board of Directors. If you share our passion for Okizu’s mission, you are energized by this challenge and opportunity and want to work with highly talented staff and thousands of passionate volunteers, we hope you will throw your name in the hat for Okizu’s Development Officer.
The Development Officer (DO) will lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and solicit current and potential donors with the capacity to make transformative gifts. Under the direction of the Executive Director, and in collaboration with other team members, the DO will design, implement, and manage a major and principal gift portfolio and comprehensive program to cultivate, secure, and track private support from individuals, corporations, and foundations with a capacity of $100K. Serve as a member of the development and senior management teams while leading strategy, goal-setting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal level prospects ($100,000+). Oversee discovery efforts to enhance and grow the major and principal gift development pipelines. Maintain knowledge of all priorities within Okizu, utilizing intelligence to lead strategy development for high-level donor-centric solicitations. Provide advice and counsel to the team regarding high-level strategies and collaborative opportunities regarding unit-specific volunteer boards and committees. (Typically a Bachelor’s Degree is preferred. Incumbent will be expected to continue upgrading knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes.
preference for demonstrated success as a creative and effective manager, strategic planning, program implementation, and fiscal management. Exceptional relationship-building skills and a proven ability to expand major donor support and achieve significant growth in both new and existing donor bases.
Demonstrated ability to set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and personally ask for and close gifts. Willingness to travel and work occasional weekend/evening hours. Utilize a creative approach to fundraising projects. A results-driven approach with the ability to multi-task, manage long-term deadlines, and balance short-term recurrent needs, while implementing systems to track progress, measure outcomes, and set clear priorities in a resource-constrained environment.
Experience in preparing comprehensive reports and executive summaries incorporating complex, highly technical information. Strong data analysis skills, including an ability to mine Okizu's database of over 20,000 community members to drive strategic decision-making and define new growth initiatives.
Superior interpersonal skills with donors, board members, potential partners, corporations, foundations, and staff members and an ability to excite and motivate supporters. An ability to work and manage others effectively in a remote work environment.
Excellent writing, public speaking, and communication skills across platforms
Demonstrated computer competency and knowledge of Microsoft Office products as well as familiarity with Arreva Beyond and/or other fundraising software. Excellent writing, public speaking, and communication skills across platforms.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access & Advocacy Statement
Okizu strives to provide diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments throughout our programs – both in person and online – for the entire family affected by childhood cancer. Our programs require intentional work to build opportunities for high quality peer support and mentorship opportunities with others who have similar experiences within the pediatric cancer community.
We provide access to overnight recreation experiences for cancer patients, siblings, and their adults with as few barriers as possible.
Okizu is committed to supporting its staff with comprehensive benefits and incentives including partially subsidized health insurance; vision and dental Insurance plan options; cellular phone provided or partially reimbursed; paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays,); 403(b) retirement fund; and professional development.
The mission of Okizu is to help all members of families affected by childhood cancer to heal through peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs.
Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs since 1982. These programs are the result of a collaborative effort between Okizu and the pediatric oncology treatment centers in Northern California. The specific purpose of Okizu is to operate peer support programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer based on the community-forming nature of an overnight camp experience.
We understand that the financial burden associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and devastating for a family. This provides families, especially those in the low to moderate-income community, with the same opportunity to attend any of our programs that they are eligible for. We are dedicated to serving every child and family in Northern California and Northern Nevada affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, ethnicity, or economic background.
In 2020, Okizu’s 500-acre residential camp facility in Berry Creek, CA was destroyed by wildfire, and we have been operating our programs at rental facilities ever since. In October 2024, we announced the purchase of a new property in Calaveras County which will become the new, permanent home of Camp Okizu. The Development Officer will partner closely with our Executive Director, leadership team, and Board of Directors. If you share our passion for Okizu’s mission, you are energized by this challenge and opportunity and want to work with highly talented staff and thousands of passionate volunteers, we hope you will throw your name in the hat for Okizu’s Development Officer.
The Development Officer (DO) will lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and solicit current and potential donors with the capacity to make transformative gifts. Under the direction of the Executive Director, and in collaboration with other team members, the DO will design, implement, and manage a major and principal gift portfolio and comprehensive program to cultivate, secure, and track private support from individuals, corporations, and foundations with a capacity of $100K. Serve as a member of the development and senior management teams while leading strategy, goal-setting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal level prospects ($100,000+). Oversee discovery efforts to enhance and grow the major and principal gift development pipelines. Maintain knowledge of all priorities within Okizu, utilizing intelligence to lead strategy development for high-level donor-centric solicitations. Provide advice and counsel to the team regarding high-level strategies and collaborative opportunities regarding unit-specific volunteer boards and committees. (Typically a Bachelor’s Degree is preferred. Incumbent will be expected to continue upgrading knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes.
preference for demonstrated success as a creative and effective manager, strategic planning, program implementation, and fiscal management. Exceptional relationship-building skills and a proven ability to expand major donor support and achieve significant growth in both new and existing donor bases.
Demonstrated ability to set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and personally ask for and close gifts. Willingness to travel and work occasional weekend/evening hours. Utilize a creative approach to fundraising projects. A results-driven approach with the ability to multi-task, manage long-term deadlines, and balance short-term recurrent needs, while implementing systems to track progress, measure outcomes, and set clear priorities in a resource-constrained environment.
Experience in preparing comprehensive reports and executive summaries incorporating complex, highly technical information. Strong data analysis skills, including an ability to mine Okizu's database of over 20,000 community members to drive strategic decision-making and define new growth initiatives.
Superior interpersonal skills with donors, board members, potential partners, corporations, foundations, and staff members and an ability to excite and motivate supporters. An ability to work and manage others effectively in a remote work environment.
Excellent writing, public speaking, and communication skills across platforms
Demonstrated computer competency and knowledge of Microsoft Office products as well as familiarity with Arreva Beyond and/or other fundraising software. Excellent writing, public speaking, and communication skills across platforms.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access & Advocacy Statement
Okizu strives to provide diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments throughout our programs – both in person and online – for the entire family affected by childhood cancer. Our programs require intentional work to build opportunities for high quality peer support and mentorship opportunities with others who have similar experiences within the pediatric cancer community.
We provide access to overnight recreation experiences for cancer patients, siblings, and their adults with as few barriers as possible.
Okizu is committed to supporting its staff with comprehensive benefits and incentives including partially subsidized health insurance; vision and dental Insurance plan options; cellular phone provided or partially reimbursed; paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays,); 403(b) retirement fund; and professional development.