Director of Philanthropic Partnerships

Organization Description:

Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA spans three Bay Area counties, encompassing iconic sites like Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.

The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors, and educators, working to connect people to parks in support of our vision: Parks for All Forever. Join Us!

Position Description:

The Director of Philanthropic Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for driving corporate, foundation, and government fundraising strategies, managing a collaborative team, and securing transformational support for the Parks Conservancy’s priorities. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role oversees two direct reports, the Director of Institutional Giving and the Director of Government Grants, and leads efforts to design, implement, and scale a comprehensive institutional fundraising strategy across corporate engagement, foundation relations, and government grants.

This position offers a unique opportunity to expand the Parks Conservancy’s institutional giving program, increasing impact through innovative partnerships, multi-year strategic funding initiatives, and deeper collaboration with the Park Projects and Conservation branch and Community and Youth branch. The Director will play a key role in shaping the future of institutional and governmental philanthropy at the Parks Conservancy, ensuring strong alignment with organizational goals while positioning the organization for long-term growth and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Design and implement a multi-year philanthropic partnerships strategy to increase funding across corporate, foundation, and government sources, with a goal of doubling institutional revenue over the next four years.
• Manage and mentor the Director of Institutional Giving and Director of Government Grants, setting performance goals and supporting professional development.
• Up-level current institutional giving with an emphasis on corporate philanthropy, integrating innovative fundraising approaches and leveraging community partners.
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and senior leadership to ensure alignment between restricted and unrestricted funding strategies, supporting the organization’s overall revenue goals.
• Partner with internal teams to elevate the Parks Conservancy’s visibility within the philanthropic and corporate sectors, fostering relationships that drive transformational impact.
• Implement complex, cross-functional grant management systems that enhance collaboration between programs and finance staff, ensuring streamlined tracking, compliance, and reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance team to forecast potential revenue streams with accurate probabilities, supporting sustainable financial planning.
• Integrate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) principles into fundraising efforts by developing and implementing community-centered fundraising and equitable grantmaking strategies that ensure philanthropic partnerships reflect and support the diverse communities served by the Parks Conservancy.

Institutional Giving & Foundation Relations

• Oversee a diverse grant portfolio and lead the team in managing the full lifecycle of institutional fundraising, including prospect identification, solicitation, proposal development, and stewardship.
• Lead the Philanthropic Partnerships team in working closely with program and finance teams to ensure successful grant management, compliance, and reporting for government and foundation grants.
• Work cross-functionally to guide strategy for developing, maintaining, and expanding relationships with key foundation funders; creating multi-year funding strategies; and positioning the Parks Conservancy as a leader in climate resilience and social justice.
• Lead efforts to identify new funding sources, cultivating and securing six- and seven-figure institutional gifts that advance strategic initiatives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the local philanthropic landscape, leveraging relationships and funding trends to drive institutional support and strategic partnerships.

Corporate Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

• As the lead for corporate engagement, develop and manage a philanthropy strategy, cultivating relationships with companies to secure sponsorships, cause-marketing partnerships, and employee engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer and Community Engagement teams to build corporate programs that support park stewardship and environmental sustainability efforts.
• Create customized corporate giving opportunities, ensuring alignment between corporate social responsibility (CSR) priorities and the Parks Conservancy’s mission.
• Drive innovative revenue-generating initiatives, exploring emerging trends in impact investing, sustainability partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations.

Government Grants & Public Funding

• Oversee and support the Parks Conservancy’s government grants strategy, ensuring alignment with funding priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Along with the Director of Government Grants, partner with the government affairs team to identify new public funding opportunities and advocate for investments in national park projects.
• Work cross-functionally to guide strategy in developing compelling proposals for major public funding opportunities, ensuring compliance with government grant requirements
• Identify and secure funding opportunities from state and local ballot measures (e.g., California Proposition 4), ensuring the Parks Conservancy maximizes public sector funding aligned with its mission.
• Develop a strategic approach to tracking, applying for, and managing proposition-based funding, working closely with government agencies and advocacy groups.
• Ensure compliance and effective reporting for publicly allocated funds, strengthening the organization's ability to secure future proposition funding.

Professional Development & Growth Pathways for Fundraising Staff

• Establish structured professional development opportunities for the fundraising team, including access to industry conferences, leadership training, and continuing education.
• Foster a culture of learning and innovation within the Philanthropic Partnerships team, ensuring staff remain at the cutting edge of fundraising best practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in institutional fundraising, corporate partnerships, or philanthropic development, with a track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic fundraising plans, leading efforts that drive revenue growth and increase institutional support.
• Strong management experience, including the ability to coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders including funders, corporate partners, and board members.
• Expertise in corporate philanthropy, foundation fundraising, and government grants, with the ability to navigate complex funding landscapes.
• Experience managing a large portfolio of funders, overseeing grant writing, donor communications, and impact reporting.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar donor database systems preferred.
• Deep appreciation for nature, public lands, and parks, with a personal or professional commitment to environmental stewardship and outdoor access.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusive philanthropy, ensuring fundraising efforts support diverse communities and advance access to parks for all.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage complex campaigns and competing priorities.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with a focus on collaboration and team leadership.
  • Knowledge of donor and funder stewardship best practices and multi-year pledge management.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) and donor tracking tools.

Compensation and Location:

The Parks Conservancy provides its employees with a competitive salary that is benchmarked with other non-profit organizations in the Bay Area. The annual salary for this position is $135,000 (Grade 22). Please note that we will be unable to make offers above this amount.

Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks’ paid vacation plus one week of personal days, plus holiday (11) and sick days (12).

This position is full-time, and you must already be based in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. This position requires at least 3 days per week onsite, either in office (Fort Mason) or visiting our employees on location at our incredible park sites (for example Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Crissy Field).

Health and Safety:

It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

• Work is performed mostly in an office setting, with some outdoor locations
• Work is primarily performed sitting or standing; will regularly be at a desk with a computer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.