Director of Philanthropy

Position Overview

The Director of Philanthropy provides strategic and operational leadership for comprehensive fundraising programs at organization, with primary responsibility for major gifts, grants, donor stewardship, and fundraising operations and events. This role is essential for securing sustainable revenue and building strong relationships with donors to advance the hospice's mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability
• Establish annual and multi-year fundraising goals, metrics, and forecasts in partnership with executive leadership
• Create effective and sustainable financial structures that support the organization's overall mission

Major Gifts & Donor Relations

• Lead a disciplined moves management program for all major gift prospects and donors
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors while coaching and mentoring development staff to meet performance goals
• Develop personalized donor engagement plans and organize recognition events
• Ensure consistent use of donor strategies, contact plans, proposal development, and stewardship across the team
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations to increase donor retention and secure significant contributions

Grants Management

• Provide strategic oversight of the grants program, including foundation, corporate, and government funding
• Supervise grants staff and ensure timely, high-quality proposals, reports, and compliance with funder requirements
• Align grant seeking with organizational priorities
• Collaborate with finance, program, and clinical leaders to ensure accurate budgeting, reporting, and impact measurement

 Event Strategy & Execution

• Plan, develop, and oversee all fundraising events.
• Manage third-party fundraisers and community-led philanthropy-related events.
• Oversee all event logistics including venue selection, catering, audiovisual needs, vendor management, and volunteer coordination.
• Develop and implement event strategies to optimize attendance, fundraising revenue, and community engagement.
• Create innovative event concepts to engage donors, honor hospice families, and attract corporate sponsors.
• Manage event budgets, sponsorship development, and revenue tracking.
• Evaluate event success through ROI analysis, participant feedback, and key performance metrics.
• Ensure all events align with organizational brand, mission, and donor engagement goals.

Fundraising Operations & Database Management

• Oversee fundraising operations including donor database management, gift processing, acknowledgments, reporting, and reconciliation
• Ensure data integrity in systems such as Donor Perfect and Monday for tracking donor activities.
• Manage the fundraising budget efficiently and lead the database and gift processing team
• Use data and analytics tools, including prospect research platforms like Windfall, to inform strategy, identify high-capacity donors, and monitor progress
• Maintain and update the donor database to ensure data integrity and accurate reporting

Community Engagement & Communication

• Represent the organization at donor meetings, community events, and fundraising initiatives
• Collaborate with communications staff to develop compelling cases for support and demonstrate donor impact
• Create clear communication materials for donors, stakeholders, and the public
• Build partnerships with local communities and businesses to enhance the organization's visibility and volunteer cultivation for events.

Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular pipeline, revenue, and performance reports to the Executive Director, CEO, and Board committees
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards, donor intent, and organizational policies
• Use metrics to evaluate the success of philanthropic programs and refine strategies for future initiatives

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, fundraising, or related field required
• Extensive fundraising experience, preferably in healthcare or hospice settings

Technical Skills

• Experience with donor database systems such as Donor Perfect, Raiser's Edge, or Salesforce
• Proficiency with prospect research tools like Windfall
• Advanced knowledge of data analytics and reporting

Core Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Advanced organizational abilities and attention to detail
• Demonstrated success in setting standards of excellence
• Strong leadership skills and ability to mentor staff
• Proven ability to build and maintain long-term relationships
• Passion for nonprofit work and hospice mission

Working Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is generally performed in an indoor professional office environment and will involve travel to donor meetings.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Physical Activities:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervises

Philanthropy staff, grants coordinator and philanthropy and event planning committees.