Senior Philanthropy Officer

Evidence Action•San Francisco, CA

1d•$130,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

Evidence Action is seeking a Senior Philanthropy Officer to lead major and principal gift fundraising in the San Francisco Bay Area, securing gifts of $100,000 and above. This new role reports to the Associate Director of Philanthropy and is part of a small, high-performing Growth team. The position is remote, with a strong preference for candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is open to candidates elsewhere on the West Coast. The role involves travel within and to the Bay Area, as well as travel for relevant donor meetings, conferences, and team gatherings. The Senior Philanthropy Officer will build Evidence Action’s donor presence and pipeline in the Bay Area and technology community, acquire and manage major and principal donors, and work closely with the CEO and other executive leaders on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The officer will test new donor-engagement approaches and help shape the organization’s Bay Area and technology philanthropy strategy. The role also uses prospect research, wealth screening, Salesforce data, KPIs, dashboards, and emerging AI tools to prioritize prospects, manage the donor portfolio, track goals, and improve fundraising effectiveness. The officer will develop donor communications and bring program staff into conversations where their expertise can strengthen relationships.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in fundraising, business development, or a related field.
At least 3 years of direct donor-relationship management experience.
Experience closing six-figure gifts or a strong track record of upgrading donors and soliciting transformational gifts.
Demonstrated success acquiring new donors and building a pipeline through networking, introductions, and prospecting.
Ability to engage confidently with founders, executives, and philanthropists and earn the trust of donors who expect rigor and results.
Ability to work independently, bring fresh ideas, and adapt approaches while contributing to a small, collaborative team.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex global health programs into a compelling case for giving.
Ability to use data to make decisions, set priorities, and measure progress; comfort with KPIs, dashboards, and goals.
Ability to manage a large donor portfolio with discipline and use CRM systems such as Salesforce to maintain follow-through.
Commitment to global health and evidence-based, cost-effective giving.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the employer cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of a U.S. employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Private-sector experience in sales or business development with C-suite clients.
Curiosity about AI tools and eagerness to use them in fundraising.

Responsibilities

Build Evidence Action’s presence and donor pipeline in the Bay Area and technology community.
Identify, cultivate, and secure new major and principal donors, including six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals and families.
Build relationships with philanthropic advisors, wealth managers, donor networks, and other connectors who can introduce new prospects.
Partner with the CEO and other executive leaders on donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Represent Evidence Action at donor meetings, events, and gatherings across the Bay Area, including on short notice.
Test new approaches to donor engagement, including small donor gatherings, collaborative pledges, and peer-to-peer giving, and help shape Bay Area and technology philanthropy strategy.
Manage a portfolio of existing major donors, developing individual strategies to retain donors and grow their giving, including upgrades to transformational gifts, and build toward a portfolio of 50–75 donors.
Solicit and steward gifts made directly and through donor-advised funds and family foundations.
Involve program staff in donor conversations when their expertise can deepen relationships.
Write proposals, impact reports, and briefing materials that clearly communicate Evidence Action’s work to sophisticated, results-oriented donors.
Partner with the prospect research team to identify and prioritize high-capacity prospects using wealth-screening tools and AI-powered research.
Set and track pipeline, acquisition, and revenue goals using Salesforce KPIs and activity dashboards.
Experiment with AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Maintain complete and accurate records of donor activity and moves management in Salesforce.