Philanthropy Specialist

Philanthropy Specialist

The Philanthropy Specialist will manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors to support Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital's quality-of-life and community programs. Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Foundation staff, the role executes program-focused fundraising strategies that enhance patient and family experiences.

The Specialist is responsible for overseeing the daily donor relations, support grant activities, and provide impactful stewardship across key areas such as quality-of-life initiatives, Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports, recreation therapy, child and family services, and community programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Donor Portfolio Management & Fundraising

• Owns and manages an assigned portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors at the entry, and mid-gift level.
• Develops and implements donor strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in alignment with program priorities.
• Conducts donor meetings, donor tours, prepares proposals, and supports solicitations independently and in collaboration with the Director.
• Maintains accountability for portfolio activity, donor engagement, and stewardship outcomes.

Program Collaboration & Donor Engagement

• Collaborates with program and hospital teams to gather program information and translate funding needs into clear, donor-ready language and materials.
• Supports the development of donor relationships through coordinated outreach, stewardship, and engagement activities aligned with program priorities.
• Works closely with clinical and program staff to understand outcomes, impact, and storytelling opportunities.

Donor Stewardship & Engagement

• Designs and executes stewardship plans for assigned donor portfolio that communicate impact, gratitude, and outcomes.
• Collaborates across the Foundation team to plan and deliver donor cultivation and stewardship experiences in support of programmatic fundraising and engagement.
• Coordinates donor recognition, thank-you communications, site visits, and program engagement opportunities.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions and moves management activity in the donor database.

Grants, Research, & Prospecting Support

• Manages relationships with foundation donors within assigned portfolio, in coordination with the Director.
• Conducts prospect and grant research and supports proposal development, reporting, and compliance in coordination with the Director and Foundation team.
• Gathers program data, outcomes, and narratives to support grant submissions and reports.

Team Collaboration & Professional Development

• Works collaboratively with Foundation colleagues to support integrated fundraising, stewardship, and prospecting strategies.
• Participates in team meetings, planning sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Demonstrates a commitment to learning program-based fundraising and growing into increased responsibility over time.

We'll embrace all people by:

• Treating everyone with dignity and respect.
• Opening more doors to opportunity for others to succeed.
• Growing talent and people.
• Ensuring a welcoming experience for all we serve, regardless of origin, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.
• Taking action against discrimination.
• Honoring our differences and how we collaborate.
• Educating staff, patients and the communities we care for.
• Restoring hope and freedom, together.

Customer Service Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement

Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, healthcare administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 35 years of professional fundraising or nonprofit development experience, including grants or donor relationship management.
• Proven experience managing a donor portfolio, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
• Experience conducting donor or prospect research and supporting proposal development or grant submissions.
• Strong verbal communication skills with ability to participate in public speaking events; ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
• Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel, Power Point and donor database systems
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with donors, volunteers, internal stakeholders, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• High-energy, positive, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative with an ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough understanding of strategic development.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Experience in a healthcare, hospital, or complex mission-driven organization.
• Managing and researching grants and organizations that align with our mission.
• Experience supporting quality-of-life, patient experience, child and family services, or community-based programs.

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification

Levels:

None (No specific requirements)

Occasionally (Less than 1/3)

Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)

Majority (More than 2/3)

Remain in a stationary position: Majority

Traverse or move around work location: None

Use keyboard: Frequently

Operate or use department specific equipment: None

Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder: None

Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role: None

Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding: Frequently

Transport, position, and/or exert force:

Up to 10 pounds: Occasionally

Up to 25 pounds: _____

Up to 50 pounds: _____

Up to 75 pounds: _____

More than 100 pounds: _____

Other weight: Up to___ pounds _____

Other: _____

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@maryfreebed.com.

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.