Philanthropy Officer

Our Mission
:
We coach and support students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to prepare for and graduate from college as transformational leaders in order to forge a just and equitable society.

College Success Foundation believes in respecting, upholding, and reflecting diversity and is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization. By leading with equity and utilizing an anti-racist lens in our work, we center diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. We believe students win when we have a high-performing culture that is committed to eliminating barriers to student achievement. Our passion is fostering educational equity, making college accessible and affordable to underserved students from low‑income families.

The Philanthropy Officer is responsible for securing major gifts, leading the annual giving campaign, collaborating with marketing to execute the annual campaign, and developing new donor engagement activities to support the College Success Foundation (CSF) programs and operations. This role emphasizes the importance of social equity and inclusiveness, actively promoting antiracism in all outreach and engagement efforts.

Maintain a portfolio of donors and prospects who have the capacity to make major donations, fostering relationships that prioritize inclusivity and diversity in giving.

Develop and execute the annual giving campaign strategy, ensuring that all messaging is reflective of CSF's commitment to social justice and antiracism.

Partner with the marketing team to coordinate messaging, outreach, and promotional efforts for the annual campaign, ensuring that communications resonate with a diverse audience and reflect the values of equity.

Develop and implement innovative donor engagement activities aimed at cultivating new relationships and deepening existing ones, focusing on inclusivity and community involvement.

Collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy and Associate Director of Philanthropy to maintain an active pipeline of potential major donors and assist in increasing overall donation to CSF, emphasizing the importance of diverse funding sources and fostering relationships that advance our commitment to racial and educational equity in supporting equitable access to education.

Represent CSF at both business and social networking events with the community to expand CSF's potential donor base, prioritizing engagement with underrepresented groups.

Conduct a minimum of 7 face‑to‑face meetings each month with prospective donors to discuss their philanthropic interests, employing an antiracist lens to tailor discussion that aligns with both CSF mission and the donor values.

Arrange meetings between donors and CSF leadership as appropriate to secure gift commitments.

Maintain accurate records of all secured gifts and donor contact in Salesforce, producing activity reports as needed while ensuring data reflects a commitment to transparency.

Engage donors and prospects through various activities, such as visits to CSF program sites, meetings with CSF executive/board members, and attendance at special events, with the goal of bringing them closer to CSF's mission of equity in education and support.

Education and Experience

Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in fundraising for higher education, youth development and/or college and career completion.

Bachelor's degree.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated track record in fundraising with the ability to secure gifts, showcasing an understanding of major gifts fundraising strategies and techniques.

• Ability to cultivate and expand a growing portfolio of donors within the first 18 months, displaying a proactive approach to relationship building and donor engagement.

• Excellent interpersonal abilities to effectively interact with diverse groups, including donors, students, colleagues, and the community, fostering positive relationships and communication.

• Excellent organizational and project management skills. Ability to multi‑task and work well under pressure in a fast‑paced environment while developing effective strategies to overcome challenges.

• A…