Director of Philanthropy

We are seeking a Senior Director of Philanthropy to serve as the chief architect of fundraising strategy across multistate operations. This role will develop and execute comprehensive development initiatives spanning local, regional, national, and international funding streams whilst positioning our organisation as a philanthropic leader in the youth health equity space.

The ideal candidate will bring proven success in multistate fundraising, exceptional relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups, and a commitment to youth-centred, equity-focused work. This position requires someone comfortable navigating sensitive health topics with nuance and professionalism, particularly in conservative contexts.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas whilst pursuing national and global funding opportunities
• Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation
• Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources
• Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international markets
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels whilst maintaining cohesive mission-driven messaging
• Lead high-quality stewardship that builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for the organisation's work

Foundation & Government Grants

• Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance
• Build relationships with local, national, and international programme officers, agencies, and grant-making bodies
• Collaborate with programme staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievable

Campaigns & Events

• Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national/international appeal
• Lead capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross-border support
• Coordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and context

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levels
• Provide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivation
• Present regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all markets

Cross-State & Cross-Border Coordination

• Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnerships
• Share fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organisational priorities and investment decisions
• Collaborate with communications team to produce donor-centred materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrable success in multistate, national, and/or international development work
• Proven track record securing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and leading large-scale campaigns
• Strong grant writing, prospect research, and donor cultivation expertise

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification
• Experience working in or strong familiarity with Arkansas, particularly leveraging local connections for philanthropic work
• Previous experience in youth development, health equity, public health, or related mission-driven sectors
• Demonstrated success navigating politically or culturally sensitive funding environments
• Bilingual capabilities or experience working across international contexts

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills across cultures and sectors
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Proficiency with donor management software (e.g., NEON, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce)
• Ability to work effectively across diverse teams, states, and countries
• Strategic thinker with strong organisational and project management skills

Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven, equity-focused, and committed to youth voice and youth leadership
• Comfortable discussing comprehensive sexual health education and youth development in professional contexts
• Supportive of evidence-based approaches that provide young people with information to make informed decisions about their health
• Able to communicate with nuance and professionalism in diverse cultural and political contexts
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and globally minded
• Comfortable travelling throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, the U.S., and internationally for donor engagement
• Adaptable to both established and emerging programme contexts

Benefits

• Base Salary: $82.5k - $90k (Slightly negotiable for the right candidate)
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Flexible work arrangements with remote work options
• Generous paid time off policy
• Paid holidays

Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

Retirement plan with employer contribution

Flexible work arrangements with remote work options

Generous paid time off policy

Paid holidays