Pasadena Humane: Chief Philanthropy Officer

THE OPPORTUNITY

Pasadena Humane has partnered with Black Swan Direct in its search for a dynamic and dedicated Chief Philanthropy Officer to lead its annual fundraising efforts and campaigns to further expand the organization’s lifesaving impact.​

The Chief Philanthropy Officer is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing the annual fundraising plan in support of Pasadena Humane’s mission and strategic plan. This position provides both strategic expertise and operational support in all areas of development, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, direct mail, grants, corporate giving, and fundraising events. They develop dynamic fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship strategies to deepen donor relationships and expand the base of support to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the organization.

The Chief Philanthropy Officer leads and manages the Philanthropy Division, building and developing a talented staff to support both strategic fundraising goals (nearly $10 million for 2025) and operational needs.

The Philanthropy Division includes the Senior Director of Philanthropy, the Philanthropy Coordinator, Philanthropy Operations Coordinator, Philanthropy Assistant, and a newly created Major Gifts Officer position.

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The Ideal Candidate:

• Is an experienced, compassionate, and collaborative fundraiser with a commitment to the mission of Pasadena Humane.
• Has demonstrated success in raising philanthropic support.
• Understands and embraces a philosophy of building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Has exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong personal integrity, and an ability to build effective relationships with a variety of personalities and demographics among donors, volunteers, trustees, and employees.
• Demonstrated track record of multitasking with positive results.
• Has excellent organizational skills and is detail-oriented; adapts well to change.
• Has strong oral and written communication skills and a thorough understanding of Pasadena Humane’s programs and services.
• Has demonstrated success in creating and promoting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace environment.
• Upholds the mission of Pasadena Humane throughout their work.

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Requirements & Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of advancement experience and experience in the areas of donor stewardship, relationship building and extensive experience in major gifts strategies. Minimum 5 years experience in building and leading successful philanthropy teams.
• Experience in animal welfare or animal shelter preferred.​
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in communications or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certified in planned giving, CFRE, ACFRE, or CAWA preferred.
• Understanding of fundraising and a demonstrated knowledge of development, marketing and communications.
• Extensive demonstrated success with securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Experience with major gift fundraising including identification of prospects, formulating cultivation plans, personally soliciting and securing major gifts and conducting an effective stewardship program.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; sensitive to the needs of donors, volunteers and peers.
• Team player who inspires collaboration and functions decisively, but also has the ability to work independently. Ability to motivate staff to reach development goals.
• Superior organizational skills; confident self-starter and finisher, paying close attention to detail and follow through.
• Highly comfortable with public speaking, giving presentations, and face-to-face donor solicitation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a solid foundation in composing donor stewardship materials.
• Flexible, energetic, creative, with a strong work ethic, a sense of humor and the ability to work in intense settings responding to many agendas and needs.
• Proficient in computer applications including Microsoft suite and email, including competency with donor CRM databases.
• Strong sense of professional judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Active listening skills are a must.
• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Strong sense of professional judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able to model Pasadena Humane’s Core Values of Learning, Integrity, Collaboration, and Kindness.
• Must interact positively with supervisor, management, coworkers, volunteers, and the public to promote a team effort and maintain a positive and professional approach.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must have a positive attitude and sense of humor.

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THE POSITION

Chief Philanthropy Officer

The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) is responsible for providing leadership, planning, directing, and implementation of the fundraising efforts of Pasadena Humane. They are responsible for contributing to the on-going stability of the organization through the efforts of the Philanthropy Division while serving as an integral member of the Executive Team which collaborates to set goals, monitor work and evaluate results of Pasadena Humane’s objectives. They ensure fundraising requirements are met and in line with the needs and the mission of Pasadena Humane while overseeing the development of objectives, activities and goals relating to funding the Annual Fund and other funds and campaigns as needed. The development program consists of, but is not limited to Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, Corporate Giving and Special Events.

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Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, oversees and manages Pasadena Humane Philanthropy Division and fundraising programs.
• Collaborates with the Executive Team to set overall organizational policies and priorities and strategic plan.
• Contributes to the building of a culture of philanthropy at Pasadena Humane.
• Create fundraising strategies that allow for cultivation of meaningful and philanthropic relationships with external audiences including donors, prospects and key influencers.
• Develop and implement an annual development plan to meet funding needs of Pasadena Humane.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations.
• Supervise development and implementation of strategies for Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, Corporate Giving and Special Events.
• Promote diversification and growth of donor base with an emphasis on major gifts and planned giving.
• Assess fundraising potential of special projects through cost/benefit analysis.
• Play a lead role in fundraising efforts, including grant writing and donor visitation.
• Oversee gift processing and donor relations ensuring that the acknowledgement program is timely, accurate and consistently recorded.
• Creates and ensures the writing of and the proper implementation of divisional policies, procedures and programs.
• Responsible for the implementation, management, supervision, training, terminations, evaluation and general productivity of the workforce of all Division of Development employees.
• Ensures all team members meet or exceed the expectations of the organizations mission and values.
• Work with administration on purchasing, ensuring inventory control, and budget creation, analysis and forecasts. Act as vendor liaison for projects.
• Ensure a positive, educational approach to customer service with a goal of educating the public and keeping animals in homes as appropriate. Promote positive relations with the general public, volunteers and staff while promoting Pasadena Humane's programs, policies and philosophies. Address customer complaints.
• Uphold Pasadena Humane’s mission and contribute to building a culture of philanthropy.
• Ensure a safe working environment and actively participate in Pasadena Humane safety programs.
• Participate as needed in special department projects.
• Work as a team member with other departmental managers.
• Represent Pasadena Humane at outside meetings, act as a liaison with other organizations and contractors/partners as needed. Make presentations and speak publicly about Pasadena Humane.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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Expectations and Working Conditions

• Must come to work regularly and on time. Must be able to work according to the needs of the department schedule, including early hours, weekends, and holidays. Evening and weekend event participation is required.
• Fast-paced environment. Employees are exposed to numerous animals (live and deceased), including those with uncertain dispositions. They are required to act in a safe and responsible manner.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; talk or hear and/or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

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Salary & Benefits

• $175,000 - $215,000 annually.
• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 6% match annually.
• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Paid time off (18 days, plus six paid holidays, floating holidays and birthday day off).
• Commuter Plans with Pasadena Humane contribution.
• Continuing education opportunities for qualified employees.
• Shelter and other employee discounts.

Relocation expenses negotiable for the successful candidate.

Pasadena Humane is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy not to engage in discrimination against any individual or harassment of any person seeking employment with our organization on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, genetic information, or status as a covered veteran including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, This policy applies to all employment practices including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, merit increase, salary, training and development, demotion, and separation. This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable state and Federal laws. Federal law requires proof of citizenship or “alien right to work” status Pasadena Humane maintains a drug free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing.

Procedure for Applications, Nominations, and Inquiries

Black Swan Direct has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Pasadena Humane. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled.

To view the full opportunity prospectus, please visit www.BlackSwanDirect.com/current-searches.

Candidates should submit, in confidence, a resume and cover letter. All communications, nominations, applications, and inquiries concerning this search should be directed to Rich Anderson at Black Swan Direct.

Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. Black Swan Direct does verify academic credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an offer.