Director of Philanthropy

Position Summary

The Director of Philanthropy will support Provident’s vision of “Mentally healthy communities through quality behavioral health services accessible to all” through their leadership of the agency’s fundraising, and reputation management. The Director of Philanthropy serves as the organization’s lead fundraiser for major gifts, planned giving, annual philanthropic support, and donor engagement. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, families, foundations, corporations, and community partners to advance the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability.

The Director of Philanthropy manages a portfolio of major and prospective donors, leads planned giving initiatives, and develops donor-centered engagement strategies designed to increase philanthropic revenue and strengthen long-term donor relationships. This role serves as a key ambassador for the organization and works collaboratively with executive leadership, board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders to inspire philanthropic investment in behavioral health services.

In addition to fundraising leadership, the Director of Philanthropy oversees the organization’s external communication strategy, including marketing, public relations, social media, website management, branding, donor communications, and community outreach efforts to ensure a consistent and compelling public presence.

The Director of Philanthropy works in close partnership with the Director of Advancement, who leads grant development, fundraising events, and community education/outreach. Advancement ensures that events, grants, information and processes run well; Philanthropy builds relationships, secures commitments and grows long-term giving. The directors collaborate on campaigns, donor stewardship, foundation opportunities and overall fundraising strategy. Together, these leaders support a unified advancement strategy that advances the organization’s mission, visibility, and financial sustainability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Philanthropic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive philanthropy strategy designed to increase charitable giving, donor retention, and long-term philanthropic support.
• Lead all major gift fundraising activities, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Maintain and actively manage a portfolio of major gift and planned giving prospects.
• Establish and achieve annual fundraising goals and performance metrics for individual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate partnerships, and unrestricted philanthropic revenue.
• Support fundraising events to achieve department goals and objectives
• Prepare compelling donor proposals, gift agreements, stewardship plans, and impact reports.
• Coordinate and facilitate donor visits, cultivation meetings, and solicitation strategies.
• Develop meaningful donor recognition and stewardship initiatives that strengthen long-term relationships and donor loyalty.
• Lead annual giving, giving club, and donor engagement efforts.

Planned Giving Program

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive planned giving program.
• Increase awareness and utilization of charitable gift planning opportunities, including: Bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of appreciated assets, retirement account gifts, and endowment gifts.
• Educate donors and community partners regarding planned giving opportunities.
• Build and maintain a planned giving prospect pipeline and legacy society program.
• Collaborate with legal, financial, and estate planning professionals, as appropriate, to facilitate gift planning opportunities.

Major Gifts and Donor Relations

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors capable of significant philanthropic investment.
• Develop personalized engagement strategies for high-capacity donors and prospects.
• Conduct donor research and prospect analysis to identify new funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with board members and executive leadership to strengthen philanthropic networks.

External Communications and Reputation Management

• Lead development and execution of the organization’s external communications strategy.
• Oversee organizational branding, messaging, and public image.
• Direct marketing and communication efforts supporting fundraising, community engagement, and organizational awareness.
• Ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels.
• Oversee website content, functionality, and user experience.
• Manage social media strategy and content planning.
• Guide production of marking and communications tools, including but not limited to: annual reports, donor impact reports, newsletters, case statements, marketing collateral, and press releases.,
• Monitor communication metrics and adjust strategies to increase engagement and visibility.

Community and Public Relations

• Represent the organization at community events, donor meetings, and public engagements.
• Develop partnerships with community leaders, stakeholders, corporations, foundations, and civic organizations.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the organization’s mission and services.
• Promote awareness of behavioral health needs and the organization’s impact within the community.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with the Director of Advancement to ensure alignment among fundraising, grants, events, donor stewardship, and advancement operations.
• Partner with executive leadership to establish annual advancement goals and priorities.
• Provide support to the Board’s Nominating Committee.
• Engage and support board members in fundraising and donor relationship activities.
• Prepare and monitor departmental budgets and performance measures.
• Maintain compliance with applicable fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and organizational policies.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals, including major gift revenue goals, number and value of planned giving commitments secured, new donor acquisition, donor retention rate, major gift prospects, total philanthropic revenue growth, and website and social media engagement growth.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors, foundations, corporations, or community supporters.
• Experience developing and managing donor portfolios and fundraising pipelines.
• Experience leading donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management activities.
• Experience overseeing marketing, communications, branding, or public relations functions.
• Proficiency with donor relationship management (CRM) systems and fundraising databases.

Licenses/Certifications: Valid driver’s license

Preferred Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership, business administration, communications, public administration, social work, or related field.
• Experience in behavioral health, healthcare, human services, social services, or nonprofit organizations.
• Planned Giving Certification, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), or related fundraising credentials.
• Experience leading capital campaigns, endowment initiatives, or legacy giving programs.
• Supervisory experience managing development, communications, or marketing staff.

Supervisor Responsibilities: Manage assigned staff, contractors, consultants, project teams, and volunteers, as applicable.

• Delegate, support, and supervise work of department teammates on projects where Director of Philanthropy serves as project lead.

Work Conditions and Environment

• Work schedule is a 40-hour work week, with work hours generally falling between 8:00 am and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Schedule to be developed in coordination with Executive Director.
• Work out of Provident’s St. Louis City office (2650 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103), with frequent community-based meetings.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to and independently navigate at all Provident sites, community partner locations, and donor addresses.
• Ability to work remotely up to 40% of time (2 days a week). Must have a reliable high-speed internet connection and quiet, confidential workspace to work remotely.
• Occasional evenings, weekends, and travel for events, donor meetings, and community engagements
• Ability to transport marketing materials and event supplies weighing up to 25 pounds, with reasonable accommodation provided as required.
• Have the ability to sit for long periods of time.

Other Skills Required: Ability to understand and promote the mission, vision, and values, and programs of Provident

• Excellent time management and organizational skills, including ability to manage multiple projects concurrently while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and flexibility, achieve independent goals, and thrive in a team environment to meet agency goals
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)
• Proficiency in using fundraising software; eTapestry, Constant Contact and Buddy Press experience preferred
• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage, inspire, and influence donors and community stakeholders.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Knowledge of major gift fundraising principles, donor cultivation strategies, and planned giving vehicles.
• Understanding of nonprofit governance and board engagement practices.
• Accountability for individual, department, and agency performance.
• Commitment to maintaining client and donor confidentiality and exercise sound judgement.
• Ability to display the highest level of professionalism, courtesy, tact, compassion and discretion in all interactions.
• The ability to work collaboratively with Provident’s multidisciplinary teams, leaders, and management staff.
• Ability to foster a positive and inclusive work culture.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Provident is an equal opportunity employer. Provident provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons and commits to administer all aspects and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation (real or perceived), gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable United States federal, state, and local laws.

Provident takes allegations of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and retaliation very seriously and will promptly investigate when a complaint is made.

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Director of Philanthropy

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Position Summary: Em

Philanthropic Leadership

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