Vice President of Philanthropy

Position Overview

Position: Vice President of Philanthropy

Location: Hybrid – Miami, FL

Reports to: CEO

Compensation: Salary $115K–$140K (DOE) + Medical, dental, and vision plan,retirement account with 50% matching, discretionary board bonus, and robust PTO.

Position Summary

As VP of Philanthropy, you’ll build and lead a multi-disciplinary development team, architect CLEO’s long-term fundraising strategy, and partner with our board and senior leadership to accelerate revenue growth—from major gifts and corporate partnerships to digital campaigns and institutional grants. You will own a $4M+ fundraising portfolio and scale CLEO’s proven playbook nationwide. You’ll build and manage a high-performing team, cultivate transformative partnerships, and embed equity and data-driven rigor into every campaign. Reporting directly to the CEO and partnering closely with the Board Development Committee, you will translate our Vision 2030 into ambitious fundraising strategies that fuel CLEO’s top strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Structure

• Recruit, onboard and manage:
  • Major Gifts & Stewardship Manager
  • Corporate Partnerships Specialist
  • Donor Communications Specialist
• Set clear KPIs, conduct quarterly performance reviews, and foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and accountability.

Major Gifts & Strategic Fundraising

• Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies across a dynamic portfolio of donors and corporate partners
• Cultivate and secure $100K+ gifts and seven-figure multi-year commitments from individual donors, foundations, and impact investors.
• Lead transformational gift prospecting—with the CEO and Board—to expand CLEO’s reach into new regions and sectors.
• Oversee RISE monthly giving and CLEO Collective circles, ensuring conversion, retention, and upgrade strategies.

Corporate & Cause Marketing

• Develop and execute a pipeline of corporate sponsorships and CSR partnerships, targeting $75K+ commitments.
• Serve as the principal liaison to corporations, co-designing cause-marketing campaigns that align with CLEO’s equity and resilience priorities.

Digital & Donor Communications

• Oversee digital fundraising campaigns (peer-to-peer, social appeals, automated drip emails), in partnership with the Digital Communications team.
• Establish and track metrics—cost-per-dollar, conversion rates, donor lifetime value—using Instrumentl or comparable platforms.

Grants Oversight & Compliance

• Supervise grant writer and all grant strategy, writing, submission, and reporting—especially multi-year federal and foundation proposals aligned with Vision 2030.
• Ensure 100% compliance with funder deliverables and steward relationships to secure renewals.

Board & Cross-Team Collaboration

• Serve as staff liaison to the Board Development Committee: deliver quarterly fundraising dashboards and briefing memos.
• Train and activate board members as individual fundraisers—matching them to prospects and co-creating tailored cultivation plans.
• Partner with Communications, Programs, and Policy teams to surface compelling impact stories for proposals and pitches.

National Expansion & Community Engagement

• Identify and cultivate donors in key U.S. markets beyond Florida to fuel CLEO’s national growth strategy.
• Plan and host cultivation events in key markets—both virtual and in-person—ensuring they’re accessible and mission-aligned.

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit development leadership, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, and digital fundraising.
• Proven track record securing $100K+ gifts and multi-year commitments; experience managing $3 million+ annual revenue.
• Expertise designing and running capital campaigns and planned-giving vehicles.
• Deep commitment to climate justice, equity, and community-driven solutions.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills; ability to inspire diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with CRM/fundraising platforms (Razors Edge, Instrumentl, EveryAction, Salesforce, etc.) and analytics tools.
• Demonstrated success partnering with boards and empowering them as fundraisers.

Preferred

• Experience in mid-sized to large nonprofits ($3 million–$10 million budgets) scaling nationally.
• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, fundraising, or related field.
• Familiarity with EveryAction, C3/C4 lobbying tracking, and federal grant compliance.

Why CLEO?

• Mission-Driven Impact: Play a pivotal role in reversing the climate crisis ensuring a livable more sustainable future for all
• Growth & Autonomy: Build your team, influence national strategy, and shape a best-in-class development operation.
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside passionate leaders, expert program teams, and an engaged Board.
• Competitive Compensation: Salary $115K–$140K + Medical, dental, and vision plan, retirement account with 50% matching, and robust PTO.