Senior Philanthropy Officer

Position Summary

& Purpose The Senior Philanthropy Officer serves as a front-line fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and corporate donors on behalf of Scouting America's Orange County Council. This position provides strategic leadership to the Fund Development department and directly supervises the development team.

The role is responsible for constructing and executing the Annual Development Plan across major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, annual giving campaigns, and events to ensure a robust, sustainable donor pipeline that directly funds the Council's mission of preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetime.

As a donor champion and relationship builder, this position applies a disciplined, non-optional donor cultivation methodology. While the Senior Philanthropy Officer is strictly excluded from managing event logistics, venue coordination, or operational execution, they leverage Council events to host donors, secure corporate sponsorships, and advance relationships within a growing portfolio of committed philanthropic partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide overarching 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 to review donor interaction reports, pipeline progress, and portfolio KPIs.

Donor Portfolio & Pipeline Management: Maintain an Active Donor Portfolio of 75 active donors (defined as any individual, family, or corporate entity with a documented gift in the current or prior fiscal year and an ongoing engaged relationship). Maintain a Cultivation Pipeline of 100 qualified prospects across the 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process.

Drive intentional prospect movement toward first gifts and sustained giving, convert prospects to active status, continuously replenish converted prospects to maintain the 100-count pipeline, and build re-engagement strategies for stalled prospects. Donor Cultivation Process & Methodological Discipline: Enforce the 10-Step Donor Cultivation Process as the mandatory framework for all prospect and donor relationship management.

Conduct regular in-person donor visits, calls, and tailored touchpoints aligned with each donor's unique philanthropic motivations and connection to Scouting. Mandatory CRM Management (Blackbaud 24-Hour Rule): Adhere to strict Blackbaud CRM record-keeping standards as a non-negotiable professional requirement. Enter all donor and prospect interactions into Blackbaud within 24 hours without exception, including in-person meetings, site visits, phone/video calls, substantive emails, event contacts, handwritten notes, thank-you cards, and introductions.

Document required elements for every entry: date/time/location, attendees present, purpose/context, key discussion points/donor sentiment, next steps with assigned deadlines, current cultivation step, and gift discussions or proposals presented. Solicitation, Major Gifts & Gift Closure: Make direct, confident, and mission-aligned solicitation asks to qualified prospects.

Develop and present customized gift proposals and corporate sponsorship opportunities. Partner collaboratively with the Chief Operating Officer and Scout Executive/CEO on high-level major and principal gift strategies. Stewardship & Retention: Maintain high donor retention rates through consistent, meaningful stewardship, ensuring all donors receive timely gift acknowledgments, recognition, and tailored impact updates.

Identify opportunities to systematically upgrade donor giving levels over time. Event-Based Cultivation & Corporate Sponsorships: Personally invite, coordinate, and confirm attendance of active donors and key prospects at Council events, including the annual We Change Lives Gala, sporting events, and major fundraising occasions.

Identify corporate sponsorship opportunities aligned with donor interests, make tailored sponsorship requests, serve as a host at events, and conduct personalized thank-you and next-step follow-ups within 5 business days. Log all event interactions in Blackbaud within 24 hours. Team Collaboration & Professional Growth: Actively participate in all Development Team meetings prepared with current KPI data.

Collaborate on cross-portfolio donor introductions, support colleagues on joint solicitation strategies, and pursue continuous professional development in major gift fundraising best practices. Role Boundaries & Out-of-Scope Clarifications To maintain focus on major gift cultivation and relationship stewardship, the following activities are strictly outside the scope of this role: Planning or coordinating special events.

Venue, vendor, or event logistics management. Event budgeting or financial reconciliation. Run-of-show or day-of event operational execution. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Demonstrated track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing philanthropic major and principal gifts. Advanced proficiency in Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, with strong preference for Blackbaud CRM experience and disciplined data management.

Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with an authentic, donor-focused mindset and professional presence. Strong organizational and portfolio management skills to oversee an active combined portfolio/pipeline of 175 constituents. Proven leadership and supervisory skills to coach development team members and manage department plans.

High level of integrity, discretion, and financial stewardship.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public relations, or a related field required. Experience: Minimum of two (2) years, 5 years preferred, of experience in nonprofit fundraising, major gift cultivation, donor relations, or equivalent sales/relationship management experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of 50+ 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 preferred. Working Relationships This position regularly interacts with: Chief Operating Officer (Direct Supervisor).

Scout Executive / CEO. Fund Development team staff and Special Event Manager (Direct Reports). Active Donors, Cultivation Prospects, Corporate Sponsors, and Foundation Representatives. Executive Board of Directors and volunteer fundraising committee leadership. Success Measures (Key Performance Indicators) Portfolio Health: Active maintenance of 75 Active Donors and 100 Cultivation Pipeline prospects.

Pipeline Conversion & Revenue: Rate of prospect conversions to Active Donor status and total dollars secured across major gifts, planned giving, annual campaigns, and corporate sponsorships. CRM Compliance: 100% adherence to the 24-Hour Blackbaud CRM documentation rule for all donor touchpoints. Event Performance: Confirmation rates of hosted donors/prospects at Council events, sponsorship dollars secured, and 100% completion of post-event follow-ups within 5 business days.

Reporting Discipline: Weekly preparation and presentation of donor interaction reports and KPI dashboards at Development Team meetings. Required

• Ability to lift and move 50lbs
• Can listen and follow directions
• Self-starter, loyal, honest, hardworking, and dependable
• Works well with others
• Detail Oriented
• Responsible with company equipment and property New to Orange County Council, Scouting America? Check out our website to learn more about who we are: About Us
• OC Outdoor Adventures Equal Opportunity Employer Scouting America, Orange County Council is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to disability or any other protected status.