Vice President of Philanthropy

Trillium Family Services • Portland, OR

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Philanthropy provides strategic and hands-on leadership for Trillium Family Services’ comprehensive philanthropy program. Working closely with the CEO, Foundation Board, Board of Trustees, and leadership team, the VP develops and executes philanthropic strategies to grow sustainable revenue, deepen donor engagement, strengthen fundraising capacity, and align philanthropic investment with Trillium’s mission and strategic priorities. The role combines strategic leadership with direct relationship-based fundraising, including personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding key donors and prospects and leading major fundraising initiatives and campaigns.

The VP serves as the senior staff partner to the Trillium Foundation Board, in collaboration with the CEO, helping strengthen the Board’s role in advancing philanthropy and supporting effective committee and Board engagement. The VP oversees the full philanthropy function, including major and annual giving, institutional giving, corporate and foundation relations, donor engagement and stewardship, advancement services, volunteer engagement, and philanthropy team leadership.

The role is based at Trillium’s administrative offices in Portland, Oregon, and is full-time and on-site. Compensation is dependent on experience. The position offers an opportunity to deepen philanthropic relationships, strengthen the Foundation Board, build fundraising capacity, and increase investment in Trillium’s work with children and families across Oregon.

Requirements

• Proven track record leading successful fundraising and development programs, building donor relationships, and securing significant charitable gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that generate sustainable philanthropic growth.
• Experience working effectively with CEOs, executive leadership, boards, foundation boards, volunteers, and community partners.
• Strong major-gift fundraising experience, including personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors.
• Experience leading and developing fundraising professionals and building the people, systems, and practices needed for long-term success.
• Strong understanding of foundation and corporate relations, grant development, sponsorships, annual giving, planned giving, and/or campaign fundraising.
• Strong leadership, relationship management, written and verbal communication, strategic planning, fundraising, financial, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use fundraising data, metrics, and reporting to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Proficiency with donor databases and fundraising technology.
• High integrity, professionalism, discretion, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and represent Trillium with warmth, credibility, and professionalism.
• Ability to perform the position’s essential functions; reasonable accommodations may be available. Contact HR for details about physical demands.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a comprehensive philanthropy strategy aligned with Trillium’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Set, monitor, and achieve fundraising goals focused on revenue growth, donor retention, donor engagement, and long-term philanthropic capacity.
• Partner with the CEO, Foundation Board, Board of Trustees, and executive leadership to identify philanthropic priorities and opportunities.
• Develop strategies for major gifts, annual giving, foundation and corporate relations, sponsorships, planned giving, special events, campaigns, and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Provide fundraising, campaign, pipeline, and performance reports to the CEO, Foundation Board, and Board of Trustees.
• Personally cultivate and manage relationships with key donors and prospects and secure significant charitable investments.
• Oversee prospect and portfolio management practices, including donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Guide, coach, and support staff and volunteer leaders involved in donor relationships and fundraising.
• Strengthen a culture of donor engagement and stewardship throughout the organization and connect donor interests with Trillium’s programs and impact.
• Lead institutional philanthropy strategy, including foundation and corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and other institutional funding opportunities.
• Oversee grant development and submission strategies and supervise contracted grant-writing or development support as appropriate.
• Build and maintain relationships with foundations, corporations, community leaders, and strategic partners.
• Serve as senior staff partner to the Trillium Foundation Board in collaboration with the CEO; strengthen Board participation in fundraising, donor cultivation, stewardship, and community outreach.
• Partner with Foundation Board leadership on effective committees, clear goals, and meaningful participation, and support Board members as ambassadors and philanthropic champions.
• Create structures, tools, and strategies that help Board members use their networks and relationships for the organization.
• Oversee advancement services and strengthen systems and processes supporting fundraising success.
• Ensure effective donor data management, reporting, prospect tracking, gift processing, and fundraising analytics.
• Use donor data and performance metrics to inform strategy, evaluate results, and guide decisions; provide leadership for fundraising technology and systems.
• Maintain operational practices supporting donor experience, fundraising performance, compliance, and organizational accountability.
• Lead, supervise, and develop the philanthropy team through clear expectations, collaboration, professional development, coaching, and performance management.
• Foster accountability, teamwork, innovation, and excellence.
• Manage the philanthropy department budget, resource allocation, financial projections, and operational priorities.
• Partner across the organization to build understanding of philanthropy and strengthen readiness for fundraising.
• Represent Trillium’s philanthropic priorities and impact in the community with the CEO, Board members, and philanthropy staff.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with donors, prospective donors, foundations, corporations, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as an ambassador for Trillium’s mission, values, and impact, maintaining ethics, confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion.
• Complete required training and comply with applicable organizational policies and requirements.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible.
• Comprehensive employer-paid healthcare benefits for eligible employees.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% employer match.
• Paid training and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• Meaningful, mission-driven work serving children, youth, and families throughout Oregon.
• Collaborative and purpose-driven workplace.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed