Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO)

Position Overview:

As we grow to meet the evolving needs of patrons and the demand for library services, we seek an inspiring and strategic leader to serve as the Foundation's Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO). The CPO will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to grow our base of support, while ensuring that existing donors are thoughtfully stewarded. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CPO will lead a dynamic team to grow individual, corporate, and foundation giving while fostering a culture of philanthropy across SPL as well.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, a skilled relationship builder, and a passionate advocate for libraries and lifelong learning. The position will be a member of SPLF's senior leadership team and collaborate closely with our team of nine professionals. The position will collaborate regularly with SPL's leadership and teams that support library programming. The Foundation's team size necessitates that our candidate both directs and performs the work while being adaptive to change, and we will prioritize candidates with a hands-on approach. Candidates who understand the unique opportunities and challenges of working in a private-public partnership will be closely considered, as will candidates who represent the communities we serve and help enhance our connections to communities where we have opportunity for growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising plan aligned with the Foundation and Library's strategic goals.
• Oversee all aspects of fundraising efforts, including major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, special events, and stewardship events.
• Collaborate with the Foundation CEO, Chief Librarians of SPL, and Board of Trustees to identify fundraising priorities and opportunities.
• Cultivate a culture of philanthropy among staff, board members, and volunteers.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Build and nurture relationships with donors at all levels, prospects, corporate partners, and community stakeholders to increase the profile of the Foundation and demonstrate its impact.
• Maintain a portfolio of approximately 75 to 100 philanthropic donors who advance our mission in significant ways.
• Design and execute personalized cultivation and stewardship plans for donors assigned to portfolios, including those assigned to the CEO and the fundraising team.
• Ensure consistent communication with donors, highlighting the impact of their contributions.
• Develop compelling marketing case documents, collateral materials, and development communications that captivate donors and inspire philanthropic and advocate support.
• Engage and strategize with the Board of Directors to support their attainment of Board-led fundraising goals.

Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of development professionals, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Set clear goals and key performance metrics for the philanthropy team, ensuring accountability and success.
• Serve on the Foundation's leadership team and contribute to building a positive culture that ensures our values are practiced.

Community Outreach

• Serve as a visible and articulate spokesperson for SPLF, building awareness and enthusiasm for its mission.
• Represent SPLF at community events, networking opportunities, and public forums.
• Ability to create mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse community organizations to help expand our reach and impact.

Operations & Reporting

• Oversee the development and management of the annual fundraising budget.
• Monitor and report on fundraising progress and industry trends, providing regular updates to the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Ensure compliance with all ethical and legal standards for fundraising.
• Evaluate fundraising systems and technology to ensure SPLF has the systems in place to support best-in-class fundraising, donor engagement, and compliance.

Qualifications:

• Strategic leader with a proven ability to set and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred, or similar level of skills in sales and relationship development.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success in securing significant gifts, planned gifts, and corporate sponsorships.
• Proven understanding and success in implementing direct mail efforts, digital marketing/fundraising, and mass-distribution campaigns.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices and donor database management systems.
• Exceptional communication skills, with a talent for blending words and visuals to create strong calls to action
• Exceptional relationship skills, with the ability to develop positive relationships that will grow over time.
• Experience working with established and mature volunteer boards, including managing fundraising and/or event committees.
• Passion for libraries, literacy, and lifelong learning.
• Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends in support of donor and board events.