Chief Philanthropy Officer

Dignity Health; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health’s Sequoia Hospital Foundation in Redwood City and Dominican Hospital Foundation in Santa Cruz seek a Chief Philanthropy Officer to lead fundraising strategy across two foundations, aligning priorities with hospital needs and community health goals.

You will cultivate major gifts and planned giving, guide donor relations, supervise philanthropy teams, and collaborate with hospital leaders and boards to grow philanthropy in both communities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• At least seven years of not-for-profit fundraising and development experience.
• At least five years of management experience.
• CFRE certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of comprehensive annual fundraising strategies for both foundations, aligning philanthropic priorities with the clinical, operational, and strategic needs of their supported hospitals and communities.
• Provides strategic leadership across two distinct foundations, preserving their unique donor relationships, community identities, financial structures, and Boards of Directors while identifying opportunities for collaboration and shared best practices.
• Serves as an active member of the hospital leadership councils for Sequoia Hospital and Dominican Hospital and as the primary liaison to both Foundation Boards of Directors, fostering strategic alignment, communication, and engagement.
• Provides direct leadership and supervision to the Foundation Directors and philanthropy teams across both locations, while overseeing the effective allocation of human and financial resources.
• Serves as the senior major gifts and planned giving officer for both foundations, actively managing a portfolio of prospects and donors and cultivating significant philanthropic relationships.
• Identifies opportunities to create greater efficiency and alignment across shared philanthropic functions, including communications, grants, and annual giving, while maintaining dedicated fundraising strategies within each community.
• Builds a strong presence in both the Redwood City and Santa Cruz communities, developing trusted relationships with donors, community leaders, physicians, hospital executives, and other key stakeholders.
• Brings an innovative, growth-oriented approach to philanthropy, leveraging successful practices across both foundations and navigating the broader health system to expand donor engagement and philanthropic impact.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Non-profit management

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Education

Master's degree in related field

CFRE certification

Job description

Job Summary And Responsibilities

As our Chief Philanthropy Officer, you will provide strategic philanthropic leadership for both Sequoia Hospital Foundation in Redwood City and Dominican Hospital Foundation in Santa Cruz. You will lead the fundraising and development strategy for two distinct foundations, partnering closely with hospital leadership and both Foundation Boards of Directors to align philanthropic priorities with the clinical, operational, and strategic needs of the hospitals and communities they serve.

Every day, you will lead comprehensive fundraising and development efforts across both foundations while building meaningful relationships with donors, board members, hospital leaders, physicians, and community partners. You will provide direct leadership to the Foundation Directors, oversee the stewardship of philanthropic resources, and serve as the senior major gifts and planned giving officer, actively cultivating key donor and prospect relationships across both communities.

To be successful in this role, you will be a dynamic philanthropic leader and accomplished fundraiser who can build trust and create alignment across two distinct organizations and communities. You will bring demonstrated success cultivating significant donor relationships, developing fundraising strategies, leading high-performing teams, and partnering with Boards of Directors. You will be comfortable navigating a large, complex organization while remaining deeply connected to local donors and communities, bringing creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to test new approaches that advance philanthropic growth.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of comprehensive annual fundraising strategies for both foundations, aligning philanthropic priorities with the clinical, operational, and strategic needs of their supported hospitals and communities.
• Provides strategic leadership across two distinct foundations, preserving their unique donor relationships, community identities, financial structures, and Boards of Directors while identifying opportunities for collaboration and shared best practices.
• Serves as an active member of the hospital leadership councils for Sequoia Hospital and Dominican Hospital and as the primary liaison to both Foundation Boards of Directors, fostering strategic alignment, communication, and engagement.
• Provides direct leadership and supervision to the Foundation Directors and philanthropy teams across both locations, while overseeing the effective allocation of human and financial resources.
• Serves as the senior major gifts and planned giving officer for both foundations, actively managing a portfolio of prospects and donors and cultivating significant philanthropic relationships.
• Identifies opportunities to create greater efficiency and alignment across shared philanthropic functions, including communications, grants, and annual giving, while maintaining dedicated fundraising strategies within each community.
• Builds a strong presence in both the Redwood City and Santa Cruz communities, developing trusted relationships with donors, community leaders, physicians, hospital executives, and other key stakeholders.
• Brings an innovative, growth-oriented approach to philanthropy, leveraging successful practices across both foundations and navigating the broader health system to expand donor engagement and philanthropic impact.

Job Requirements

Required

• Master’s degree in a related field or a combination of education and/or additional job-related experience that may be substituted in lieu of the degree.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of not-for-profit fundraising and development experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of management experience.

Preferred

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1950, Dignity Health – Sequoia Hospital is a 208-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Redwood City, California. Serving over 50,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including heart care, stroke care, and a birthing center. Additionally, Sequoia Hospital has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center, and recently was awarded the AMA/ASA’s Get the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to providing the best stroke care. It was recently named a Leapfrog 2025 Top General Hospital.

One Community. One Mission. One California

Pay Range

$80.46 – $112.64 /hour