Director of Philanthropy
About The Position
Rancho Cielo is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved and at-risk youth by providing education, vocational training, counseling, and life skills development. In partnership with John Muir Charter School, we support students in earning their high school diploma while preparing them for success in their careers and lives. Rancho Cielo Youth Campus is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Philanthropy to lead and grow the organization’s major gifts, planned giving, endowment, and capital funding efforts. This role is responsible for building strong relationships with high-capacity donors, developing long-term giving strategies, and securing significant and multi-year gifts that support the organization’s long-term financial sustainability and growth. The Director of Philanthropy will partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer to identify, cultivate, and steward major donors and will work in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer on endowment growth, capital project funding, and long-term revenue strategy. This position focuses on major donors and long-term funding, while working collaboratively with Development, Marketing, and Grants to ensure a coordinated and effective fundraising strategy.
Requirements
- 7–15+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, major gifts, or philanthropy
- Proven track record of securing major gifts
- Experience working with senior leadership and/or boards
- Strategic thinker with ability to build and grow programs
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Experience with donor CRM systems
- Bachelor’s degree required
Nice To Haves
- Experience with planned giving, endowment, or capital campaigns preferred
- CFRE or advanced degree preferred
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts
- Develop tailored donor strategies and gift proposals
- Conduct donor meetings and presentations in partnership with the CEO
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of major gift prospects
- Increase average gift size and multi-year commitments
- Develop and implement a planned giving program
- Promote legacy giving opportunities (bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, IRA gifts)
- Establish and grow a Legacy Society
- Partner with donors and advisors on planned gift strategies
- Work with Finance to support endowment growth and long-term funding strategies
- Identify and cultivate donors for capital projects
- Develop and present naming opportunities
- Structure multi-year pledges and capital gifts
- Support fundraising efforts tied to campus improvements and program expansion
- Identify and prepare high-capacity donor opportunities for the CEO
- Develop briefing materials and donor strategies
- Coordinate donor meetings, follow-ups, and stewardship activities
- Support the CEO in closing major and transformational gifts
- Contribute to overall fundraising strategy and donor pipeline development
- Establish goals, metrics, and accountability for major gifts and planned giving
- Collaborate with Development (events, sponsorships, annual giving), Marketing (communications, donor messaging), Grants (foundation strategy), and Finance (endowment, pledge tracking, financial planning)
- Strengthen donor stewardship practices and fundraising processes
- Collaborate on endowment growth strategy, major gift agreements and pledge structures, multi-year revenue forecasting, capital project funding strategies, and naming opportunities and financial modeling
- Ensure alignment between fundraising strategy and financial sustainability goals
- Assess current donor base and identify major gift opportunities
- Build and manage a major donor portfolio
- Launch or expand planned giving / Legacy Society program
- Identify capital project funding opportunities and naming strategies
- Develop donor pipeline, strategy, and reporting metrics
- Establish strong partnership with CEO, CFO, and Development team
- Increase major donor engagement and gift activity
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
