Senior Director, Development & Philanthropy

Propel America

6d•$124,000 - $168,000•Remote

About The Position

Propel America is seeking an entrepreneurial, results-driven Senior Director, Development & Philanthropy to lead its philanthropic revenue strategy and growth. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this leader will own the organization’s philanthropic strategy, pipeline, and portfolio across institutional foundations, corporations, family philanthropy, and individual major donors. The role is accountable for securing significant, multi-year philanthropic revenue to advance Propel America’s mission and build a more sustainable organization. This is a highly external, hands-on fundraising role. The Senior Director will personally cultivate, solicit, close, and steward high-value relationships while partnering closely with the CEO on priority funders and prospects. A key priority is diversifying philanthropic revenue, particularly by growing individual and family philanthropy alongside the institutional foundation portfolio. The role leads philanthropic revenue and major gifts, strategy and pipeline development, CEO partnership and executive fundraising, and development team and infrastructure. It includes hiring and managing a Development Coordinator and building the people, systems, data, and operating discipline needed for an effective, scalable development function.

Requirements

7–10+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, philanthropy, fundraising, external affairs, or a related field.
Demonstrated track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing six- and seven-figure gifts from institutional funders, corporations, family philanthropy, and/or individual major donors.
Experience owning a significant fundraising portfolio, pipeline, and revenue target.
Experience developing and executing strategies across both institutional and individual philanthropy.
Strong executive presence and ability to build trusted relationships with senior philanthropic decision-makers.
Experience partnering closely with a CEO, founder, or senior executive on major-donor and fundraising strategy.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex organizational strategies and outcomes into compelling investment opportunities.
Strong pipeline management, prospect qualification, forecasting, and CRM discipline; Salesforce or a similar platform is preferred.
Experience managing and developing staff while building effective systems and operating practices.
Comfort using technology and AI to improve prospect research, relationship management, and development workflows.
Strong strategic judgment, initiative, and ability to operate effectively in a growing and evolving organization.
Deep commitment to Propel America’s mission and the young adults and communities it serves.

Nice To Haves

Experience in healthcare, workforce development, or related sectors.

Responsibilities

Personally cultivate, solicit, close, and steward a portfolio of institutional foundations, corporations, family foundations, and individual major donors.
Lead the full fundraising cycle, from prospect identification and cultivation through solicitation, negotiation, close, renewal, and stewardship.
Secure six- and seven-figure gifts, with an emphasis on significant multi-year commitments.
Build Propel America’s individual and family philanthropy strategy and expand and diversify its major-donor base.
Deepen existing funder relationships to drive renewals, increased investment, and long-term partnerships.
Provide strategic oversight and final approval of grant submissions.
Translate annual and multi-year financial needs into fundraising targets, pipeline requirements, and portfolio strategies.
Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of high-potential institutional, corporate, and individual prospects.
Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategy when revenue or pipeline performance is off track.
Partner with organizational leaders to translate Propel’s strategy, workforce solutions, employer partnerships, and Fellow outcomes into compelling investment opportunities.
Partner with Workforce Partnerships and market leaders to identify regional philanthropic opportunities.
Represent Propel externally with funders, philanthropic leaders, and other strategic audiences.
Develop strategies for priority funders and prospects with the CEO; determine where CEO involvement can advance relationships or solicitations, and coordinate next steps and follow-through.
Ensure the CEO’s philanthropic portfolio is prioritized against organizational fundraising goals and opportunities.
Hire, manage, and develop the Development Coordinator, establishing ownership of grant administration, donor tracking, reporting, and stewardship workflows.
Maintain disciplined Salesforce data, pipeline forecasting, portfolio management, and revenue reporting.
Leverage technology and AI to strengthen prospect research and fundraising productivity.
Partner with the CEO and COO to align fundraising forecasts, grant budgets, and organizational financial needs.
Collaborate across Workforce Partnerships, Solutions Design, Finance, and other teams to ensure philanthropic commitments align with Propel’s strategy and delivery capacity.
Work closely with regional staff to set regional fundraising targets and review grant applications.