Chief Philanthropy Officer

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As Second Harvest embarks on this exciting and ambitious next chapter, the organization is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven leader to serve as its next Chief Philanthropy Officer (“CPO”). The CPO will play a central role in advancing Second Harvest’s mission, positioning the organization to continue to meet rising need in the years ahead as well as the transition to our new campus in early 2028. The CPO is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive philanthropy and engagement strategy that supports annual and long-term revenue goals. Specifically, this includes exceeding a revenue goal of ~$15M annually (~$12M individual, corporate, planned giving and grants, and ~$2M events, peer to peer, and CRM), and partnering with the Marketing team to achieve their ~$5M annual revenue goal. In addition, this leader will partner across the organization to support a Capital Campaign that is expected to kick off mid-2026 with a goal exceeding $75 million. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the CPO is a key member of the senior leadership team. Leading a team of 28 (with five direct reports including: Director, Community Engagement; Senior Director, Corporate Engagement; Director, Business & Donor Analytics; Director, Development Operations; and External Affairs Assistant), the CPO oversees all fundraising programs, donor engagement, stewardship, donor data and analytics, revenue generating events, volunteer engagement, and community engagement initiatives. The role strengthens the organization’s presence and reputation within the community, deepens stakeholder relationships, and advances a culture of philanthropy and service that fuels mission impact. This position requires an individual who enjoys and is particularly skilled in interfacing with a high volume of donors, with the ambition to maximize untapped opportunities, as well as attract new supporters aligned to the organization's work and mission. The CPO partners closely with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and internal leaders to cultivate a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization and ensure sustainable revenue growth.

Requirements

Deep knowledge of, and credibility within, the fundraising and philanthropy field, grounded in progressive leadership experience across multiple forms of giving.
A strong personal orientation toward ambitious fundraising, including comfort engaging at the highest levels of donor investment.
High analytical and financial literacy, with the ability to interpret data, assess trends, and connect insights to strategy.
Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and follow-through, paired with a results-oriented mindset.
Genuine passion for philanthropy and belief in the power of fundraising to advance mission and impact.
A people-centered leadership style rooted in trust, integrity, and respect for others.
Strong judgment, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, enabling clarity and confidence in complex environments.
A deep commitment to developing, mentoring, and empowering others to do their best work.
The ability to influence, motivate, and inspire teams and partners through example and shared purpose.
A collaborative orientation that values transparency, shared decision-making, and collective success.
A big-picture thinker with the ability to balance vision with action.
Entrepreneurial and self-directed, bringing high energy, initiative, and ownership to their work.
Agile and curious, eager to learn, adapt, and evolve in response to changing conditions.
A creative and innovative thinker who continuously imagines new ways to engage donors and supporters.
Comfortable navigating ambiguity while maintaining focus, momentum, and accountability.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, building authentic trust with diverse stakeholders.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, paired with the ability to translate complexity into clarity.
Comfort integrating data into persuasive narratives.
A consultative, collaborative approach that strengthens partnerships across teams, leadership, and the Board.
The ability to bring people together, aligning relationships around shared goals and values.
Genuine passion for Second Harvest’s mission, values, and impact.
A strong sense of purpose and the ability to bring the mission to life in ways that inspire others.
A personal commitment to equity, transparency, and community-centered practices.
The highest standards of integrity, ethics, and accountability.
Respect for diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives, fostering an inclusive and values-driven culture.

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of the Development function, including strategy, financial oversight, and team management.
Develop and lead a multi-year philanthropy strategy with annual KPIs aligned to organizational priorities and growth objectives, ensuring strong integration across all aspects of external affairs, including fundraising, community engagement, marketing, and financial planning.
Creatively diversify revenue streams—taking smart, strategic risks to unlock new funding opportunities.
Serve as strategic advisor to the President & CEO on philanthropy, volunteer, and community engagement trends, risks, and opportunities.
Inspire, engage, and retain donors and volunteers engaged in Second Harvest’s work and mission.
Plan and carefully manage the philanthropy budget, so that resources are allocated accurately, efficiently, and effectively to assure adequate support for Second Harvest’s mission.
Recruit, develop, and empower the Development team to reach new levels of success.
Drive performance management, a strong results orientation, and healthy team culture through effective objective-setting, coaching, action-plan monitoring, and evaluation of outcomes.
Partner closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure collaboration and seamless execution of all areas of brand management, marketing, communications, and public relations.
Collaborate with organizational leaders on capital campaign or comprehensive campaigns.
Collaborate with and support Second Harvest senior leadership team, staff, board members, and advisory committee members with respect to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
Serve as development liaison to the Strategic Partnership and Program Committee.
Personally steward a portfolio of major/transformational donors and prospects, providing comprehensive, timely, and innovative stewardship.
Ensure that all stakeholders have a consistently positive experience with Second Harvest by making sure communication and engagement is appropriate, timely, and on brand.
Oversee database accuracy and analysis that delivers actionable insights to target supporters.
Lead the strategic direction, oversight, and alignment of volunteer and community engagement across the organization, including donor events – positioning the organization as a thought leader and essential community partner.
Use analytics, data, and donor feedback to improve community engagement, volunteer, and event strategy/outcomes.
Ensure volunteers are effectively recruited, trained, managed, and stewarded as key ambassadors and supporters.
Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, civic groups, faith-based organizations, and local businesses – strengthening community partnerships, visibility, and trust.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance (Second Harvest Food Bank covers 100% of the employee-only contributions for each)
Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer funding
100% employer paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
403B Retirement Plan (After 1 Year, Second Harvest provides up to 3% contribution match and a 5% base contribution of the employee’s compensation, length of service vesting)
12 Sick Days Accrued/Year & 15 Vacation Days Accrued/Year (accruals increase according to length of service schedule) and 10 Paid Holidays

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