Senior Philanthropy Officer

Scouting America Orange County Council•Santa Ana, CA

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. 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, using the mandatory 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process. It requires regular donor visits and tailored outreach, direct solicitation, customized gift proposals, strong stewardship, and disciplined Blackbaud CRM documentation of all donor interactions within 24 hours. The officer collaborates with senior leadership on major and principal gift strategies and hosts donors, cultivates relationships, and secures corporate sponsorships at Council events. The role is not responsible for planning or coordinating special events, venue or vendor logistics, event budgeting or reconciliation, or event-day operations. The position reports to the Chief Operating Officer and directly supervises development staff, including the Special Event Manager.

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 philanthropic major and principal gifts.
Advanced proficiency with constituent relationship management platforms and disciplined data management.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and a donor-focused professional presence.
Strong organizational and portfolio management skills to oversee a combined portfolio and pipeline of 175 constituents.
Leadership and supervisory skills to coach development staff and manage department plans.
High integrity, discretion, and financial stewardship.
Ability to lift and move 50 pounds.
Ability to listen and follow directions.
Self-starter who is loyal, honest, hardworking, and dependable.
Works well with others.
Detail-oriented.
Responsible use of company equipment and property.

Nice To Haves

Five years of relevant experience is 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.
Experience with Blackbaud CRM is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead 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 to 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 toward first gifts and sustained giving, convert prospects to active donor status, replenish the pipeline, and develop re-engagement strategies for stalled prospects.
Apply the mandatory 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process to prospect and donor relationship management.
Conduct in-person donor visits, calls, and tailored touchpoints based on donors’ philanthropic motivations and connection to Scouting.
Record all donor and prospect interactions in Blackbaud within 24 hours, documenting the specified interaction details, next steps, cultivation stage, and gift discussions or proposals.
Make direct, mission-aligned solicitation requests to qualified prospects 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.
Steward donors through timely acknowledgments, recognition, and tailored impact updates; identify opportunities to upgrade giving.
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.
Collaborate on donor introductions and joint solicitation strategies, participate in team meetings with current KPI data, and pursue professional development in major gift fundraising.
Meet portfolio, pipeline conversion, revenue, CRM compliance, event follow-up, and reporting performance measures.