Senior Director Of Philanthropy
Our client is a leading youth health equity organisation working across Mississippi and Arkansas to empower young people with comprehensive health education and resources. Through evidence-based programming and advocacy, they build equitable communities where all young people can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
They are seeking a Senior Director of Philanthropy to serve as the chief architect of fundraising strategy across their multistate operations. This role will develop and execute comprehensive development initiatives spanning local, regional, national, and international funding streams whilst positioning the organisation as a philanthropic leader in the youth health equity space.
The ideal candidate will bring proven success in multistate fundraising, exceptional relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups, and a commitment to youth-centred, equity-focused work. This position requires someone comfortable navigating sensitive health topics with nuance and professionalism, particularly in conservative contexts.
Location : Jackson or Clarksdale, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; or hybrid arrangement. Regular travel required throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, and other locations as needed for donor engagement
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas whilst pursuing national and global funding opportunities
- Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation
- Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources
- Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international marketsDevelop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels whilst maintaining cohesive mission-driven messagingLead high-quality stewardship that builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for the organisation's workFoundation & Government Grants
Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and complianceBuild relationships with local, national, and international programme officers, agencies, and grant-making bodiesCollaborate with programme staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievableCampaigns & Events
Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national / international appealLead capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross-border supportCoordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and contextBoard & Leadership Engagement
Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levelsProvide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivationPresent regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all marketsCross-State & Cross-Border Coordination
Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnershipsShare fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organisational priorities and investment decisionsCollaborate with communications team to produce donor-centred materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally