Are you an experienced fundraising leader with a passion for making a lasting impact on children and families? Elk Hill offers the opportunity for Virginia's youth and families to transform overwhelming challenges into successful futures.
We are seeking a Chief Philanthropy Officer to steward and lead the fundraising and philanthropic efforts of Elk Hill. These efforts are integral to creating a positive, lasting impact in the lives of Virginia’s youth and families. The CPO will play a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission through relationship-driven philanthropy, strategic fundraising initiatives, and hands-on donor engagement. With an upcoming capital campaign and inaugural fundraising event, the CPO will be responsible for actively fundraising, cultivating major donors, and building a strong, sustainable culture of philanthropy across the organization. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will join an established philanthropy team with a strong foundation, support, and key systems already in place.
For over 50 years, Elk Hill has sustained a culture of commitment, compassion, and flexibility. The ideal candidate will possess these same attributes and will be dedicated to our mission of serving children. Our administrative offices are located on our beautiful 300+ acre campus in Western Goochland County alongside the James River. Our footprint expands from the Harrisonburg area down the I-64 corridor to New Kent County.
We are a company that:
- Has talented, hardworking employees
- Has been serving Virginia families for over 50+ years
- Advocates for mental health issues
- Offers competitive medical, dental and vision benefits
- Offers a generous PTO package, with 12 paid holidays per year for full-time staff
- Offers a 401(k) plan with 5% employer match for full-time staff
- Caters to the work/life balance by offering a hybrid flexible schedule and working environment
- We’re pet friendly!
- Provides a free hot and delicious lunch daily at the Elk Hill Goochland Campus
Primary Functions as the Chief Philanthropy Officer include: Establish, execute and steward short and long‐term fundraising and philanthropic goals & plans aimed at increasing philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations in support of Elk Hill’s ambitious organizational goals.
The Chief Philanthropy Officer will join Elk Hill at an exciting time of growth and impact! The Philanthropy department is actively leading a capital campaign in support of the newly acquired Elk Hill Charlottesville School, providing a unique opportunity to build donor engagement, cultivate transformational gifts, and leave a lasting impact on the future of Elk Hill's services.
Strategic Leadership:
- Steward a culture of Philanthropy at all levels of the agency, including amongst staff, senior leadership, and Board of Directors.
- Assures that the organization’s corporate culture, systems, and procedures support fundraising and Philanthropy and vice versa.
- Ensure a balanced funding mix of donor sources and solicitation programs tailored to the needs of the organization that will enable it to attract, retain and motivate donors and fundraising volunteers.
- Influences decision making within the Leadership Team and Elk Hill programming to advance the finances and mission of the organization.
- Act as the staff liaison to the Philanthropy Committee of the Board of Trustees, encouraging strong work and developing effective board engagement.
- Work with the Philanthropy Committee of the Board and CEO to establish annual goals.
- Evaluates the effect of internal and external forces on the organization and its fund Philanthropy, recommends short- and long-range fund Philanthropy plans and programs that support the organization’s values, mission, and general objectives.
- Provide vital input in short- and long-term strategic and operational planning and positioning within the organization
- Serve as a key member of Elk Hill’s senior leadership team, contributing to overall organizational strategies and representing the priorities of the functions related to philanthropy. Participate in promoting an organizational culture that values long‐term strategic thinking, creativity/innovation, collaboration, and high performance.
- Collaborate with Elk Hill’s senior leadership and board of directors to establish and execute short‐ and long‐term fundraising goals & plans aimed at increasing philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations in support of Elk Hill’s goals. Develop and execute plans and strategies to successfully complete the various goals and campaigns.
- Evaluate progress in achieving financial and management objectives. Identify and align on a set of key metrics to evaluate success; monitor progress on goals; and respond to feedback to improve results.
- Achieve or exceed fiscal‐year organizational annual revenue goals in addition to achieving and exceeding personal portfolio goals.
- Other duties as assigned
Donor Relations and Stewardship:
- Oversee the management and stewardship of existing and new relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation partners, ensuring their needs are met and they are engaged on a meaningful level with Elk Hill. Ensure recognition and stewardship programs are established that enable donors to understand and appreciate the impact their gifts are having.
- Other duties as assigned
Prospect and Portfolio Management:
- Significantly increase the number of individual, foundation, and corporate donor prospects to build a more robust pipeline of major gift donors.
- Communicate, both verbally and through written materials, photographs, and videos, a strong case for support that resonates with the passion and interests of Elk Hill donors and prospects.
- Personally manage a portfolio of 30-50 principal and major gift donors and prospects. Schedule monthly individual meetings to cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward gift commitments across your portfolio.
- Other duties as assigned
Administration & Management:
- Provide general oversight of all of the organization’s Philanthropy activities, manage the day- to-day operations of the Philanthropy function, and monitor adequacy of activities through coordination with staff and volunteer leadership (Board and Philanthropy Committee)
- Attract, retain, lead, motivate, and inspire a strong and cohesive fundraising team and ensure high levels of professionalism, results, and accountability.
- Establish personnel accountabilities for Philanthropy staff and evaluate performance regularly.
- Ensure the sound fiscal operation of Philanthropy function including timely, accurate and comprehensive reporting of charitable contributions income and expense budgets, reporting, monitoring and implementation,
- Ensure that the philanthropy team has the appropriate systems including but not limited to volunteer and donor management, research and cultivation, gift processing and recognition.
- Ensures compliance with all relevant regulations and laws, maintains accountability standards to donors and ensures compliance with code of ethical principles and standards of professional conduct for fundraising executives.
- Participate in the planning, implementation and monitoring of Elk Hill’s annual operating budget, as well as the Philanthropy Departments budgets, goals, and timelines
- Other duties as assigned
External, Community & Partner Relations:
- Serve as an articulate, passionate and visible spokesperson for the agency, and as a prominent face of fundraising throughout the community.
- Provide a best practice approach to Elk Hill’s efforts to effectively communicate the mission, goals and accomplishments to donors, prospective donors and the broader community.
- Lead, manage and coordinate cross departmental resource needs with the Philanthropy, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, social media and Elk Hill’s website.
- Other duties as assigned
CORE COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE:
- A minimum of seven years of fundraising experience in roles demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility.
- Comprehensive management skills and experience are required including but not limited to short and long-term planning, evaluation, directing and motivating staff, oral and written communication skills, marketing and financial management, values clarification, organizational behavior and Philanthropy, and governance.
- Highly effective interpersonal, conversational and presentational skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence and situational awareness.
- Past demonstration as a problem-solver and strategic thinker.
- Proven ability to solicit and secure 5-figure gifts, 6-figure gifts, and/or 7-figure gifts..
- Experience working closely with the CEO, Executive Team and Board Leadership in a complex agency, training and assisting leadership in managing major donor relationships.
- Proven ability to build strong relationships across a wide variety of individuals, groups and foundations.
- Demonstrated success leading strong and productive cross-functional work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff Philanthropy.
- Strong analytic and strategic-thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to create, implement, and monitor complex plans and translate those plans into goals and concrete strategies.
- The capacity to develop and nurture relationships culminating in overall success.
- Membership in a professional fundraising association is expected.
EDUCATION AND/OR CREDENTIALS:
- Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE preferred.
- Valid driver’s license and a good driving record required
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to traverse inside and outside of the worksite, and other locations, including stairs and uneven terrain
- Periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer
- Periods of standing and delivering presentations
- Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Travel to all Elk Hill locations required
- Travel to off-site locations required
Salary range: $80,000-$120,000
Schedule: Hybrid, flexible schedule
Inclusive culture is at the forefront of what we do at Elk Hill, and we enforce respectful communication and cooperation between all. Elk Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. It is the policy of Elk Hill to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Elk Hill. Contact Human Resources for more information.
Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities or actions may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Elk Hill Farm, Inc. reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.
