Senior Philanthropy Officer

Scouting America Orange County Council•Santa Ana, CA

19h

About The Position

The Senior Philanthropy Officer is a front-line fundraising professional for Scouting America's Orange County Council, responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and corporate donors. The role provides strategic leadership to the Fund Development department and directly supervises development staff, including the Special Event Manager. It formulates and executes the Annual Development Plan across major and principal gifts, planned giving, annual giving campaigns, and events to support the Council's mission of preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetime. The position manages an active portfolio of 75 donors and a cultivation pipeline of 100 qualified prospects, guiding prospects through a required 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process. It requires regular donor visits and tailored communications, disciplined Blackbaud CRM documentation within 24 hours of every donor interaction, direct solicitation, customized gift proposals, stewardship, and collaboration on major and principal gift strategies. The officer also hosts donors at Council events, pursues corporate sponsorships, and completes personalized follow-ups within five business days. Event planning, logistics, budgeting, and operational execution are explicitly outside the role's scope. The position reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works regularly with the Scout Executive/CEO, Fund Development staff, donors, prospects, sponsors, foundation representatives, the Executive Board, and volunteer fundraising committee leadership. Success is measured by portfolio and pipeline health, donor conversion and revenue, CRM compliance, event cultivation and follow-up, and weekly reporting. The role also requires the ability to lift and move 50 pounds and the ability to listen to and follow directions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public relations, or a related field.
At least two years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, major gift cultivation, donor relations, or equivalent sales or relationship management experience.
Demonstrated track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major and principal philanthropic gifts.
Advanced proficiency with CRM platforms and disciplined data management.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a donor-focused mindset and professional presence.
Strong organizational and portfolio management skills to oversee a combined portfolio and pipeline of 175 constituents.
Proven leadership and supervisory skills, including coaching development team members and managing department plans.
High integrity, discretion, and financial stewardship.
Ability to lift and move 50 pounds.
Ability to listen to and follow directions.

Nice To Haves

Five years of relevant experience preferred.
Experience managing a portfolio of 50 or more donors.
Experience with event-based donor cultivation and corporate sponsorship solicitation.
Professional experience with Scouting America or youth-serving nonprofit organizations.
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential or active pursuit of the credential.
Blackbaud CRM experience is strongly preferred.
Self-starter who is loyal, honest, hardworking, and dependable; works well with others; is detail-oriented; and is responsible with company equipment and property.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership to the Fund Development department and directly supervise development staff, including the Special Event Manager.
Formulate and execute the Annual Development Plan covering major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, annual giving campaigns, and events.
Lead weekly Development Team meetings and review donor interaction reports, pipeline progress, and portfolio KPIs.
Maintain an active portfolio of 75 donors and a cultivation pipeline of 100 qualified prospects.
Move prospects through the 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process, convert prospects to active donors, replenish the pipeline, and develop re-engagement strategies for stalled prospects.
Conduct donor visits, calls, and tailored touchpoints aligned with donors' philanthropic motivations and connection to Scouting.
Record all donor and prospect interactions in Blackbaud within 24 hours and document the required interaction details, next steps, cultivation stage, and gift discussions or proposals.
Make direct, mission-aligned solicitation asks and develop customized gift proposals and corporate sponsorship opportunities.
Collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer and Scout Executive/CEO on major and principal gift strategies.
Provide timely gift acknowledgments, donor recognition, tailored impact updates, and stewardship intended to support retention and giving upgrades.
Invite, coordinate, and confirm donor and prospect attendance at Council events; identify and solicit corporate sponsorships; host donors; and complete personalized follow-ups within five business days.
Log event interactions in Blackbaud within 24 hours.
Participate in Development Team meetings with current KPI data, collaborate on donor introductions and joint solicitations, and pursue professional development in major gift fundraising.
Prepare and present weekly donor interaction reports and KPI dashboards.
Ability to lift and move 50 pounds.
Listen to and follow directions.