Director of Philanthropy

Scion Staffing; Appleton (WI); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Flexible hours

Leadership exposure

Benefits package

Job summary

Scion Executive Search in Appleton, WI seeks a Director of Philanthropy to lead donor engagement and strategy for a community-focused philanthropic organization. You will cultivate relationships with donors, fundholders, families, and advisors to advance meaningful giving and lasting impact.

The role blends relationship management with strategic philanthropy, including gifts, funds, and planned giving. You’ll collaborate across teams, represent the organization at events, and ensure donor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, finance, or related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors, families, or key stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of philanthropic giving strategies and donor stewardship.
• Experience with planned giving or wealth management is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, discretion, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and manage donor relationships to sustain engagement.
• Guide donors in giving strategies aligned with values and long-term goals.
• Identify opportunities for new funds, planned gifts, and philanthropic investments.
• Build relationships with attorneys, financial advisors, and other trusted advisors.
• Partner with leadership to implement donor engagement and growth strategies.
• Represent the organization at events and donor meetings to build visibility.
• Maintain donor records and contribute to reporting and planning efforts.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy to identify opportunities for innovation.

Skills

Philanthropy & donor relations

Major gifts fundraising

Relationship management

Consultative philanthropy

Networking & stakeholder engagement

Communication & listening

Education

Bachelors in nonprofit management, business, communications, finance, or related field

Job description

About the Role

Scion Executive Search is excited to partner with an established, community-focused philanthropic organization in the search for an accomplished Director of Philanthropy. This opportunity offers the chance to help individuals, families, and community partners translate their charitable aspirations into meaningful, lasting impact. The ideal candidate is a relationship-centered philanthropy professional with a strong understanding of charitable giving, a consultative approach to donor engagement, and a passion for strengthening communities through strategic philanthropy. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Appleton, WI offering a flexible schedule and a collaborative, mission-driven working environment.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate, manage, and strengthen relationships with current and prospective donors, fundholders, families, and philanthropic partners to support meaningful and sustained charitable engagement.
• Guide donors in identifying philanthropic goals and developing giving strategies aligned with their values, interests, and long-term charitable objectives.
• Identify and advance opportunities for new charitable funds, contributions, planned gifts, and other philanthropic investments.
• Build and maintain relationships with attorneys, financial advisors, estate planning professionals, and other trusted advisors to increase awareness of charitable giving opportunities.
• Partner with the Vice President of Donor Services to implement donor engagement, cultivation, stewardship, and philanthropic growth strategies.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource on donor-advised funds, endowed funds, legacy giving, and other charitable giving vehicles, collaborating with appropriate specialists on complex arrangements.
• Develop thoughtful, personalized stewardship strategies that strengthen donor satisfaction, trust, and long-term relationships.
• Represent the organization at community gatherings, professional networking events, and donor meetings to build visibility and cultivate new relationships.
• Collaborate with internal teams to connect donor interests with emerging community needs, nonprofit initiatives, and opportunities for meaningful impact.
• Maintain accurate donor relationship records, track engagement activities, and contribute to reporting and strategic planning efforts.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy, charitable giving, and donor engagement to identify opportunities for innovation and continued growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Significant professional experience in philanthropy, development, major gifts, donor relations, planned giving, wealth management, or a closely related relationship-driven field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding meaningful relationships with donors, high-net-worth individuals, families, professional advisors, or other key stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of philanthropic giving strategies, charitable funds, donor stewardship, and the broader nonprofit sector.
• Experience with community foundations or planned giving is highly desirable.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication, active listening, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage individuals in thoughtful, confidential conversations about charitable and financial priorities.
• Strategic, consultative mindset with the ability to identify opportunities, navigate complex relationships, and translate donor interests into actionable philanthropic solutions.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to independently manage multiple relationships and priorities.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and commitment to donor-centered service.
• Genuine enthusiasm for community engagement, regional philanthropy, and the role of charitable giving in creating lasting social impact.
• Ability to participate in occasional community events and meetings outside traditional business hours as needed.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary of $110,000
• Full-time, hybrid work arrangement with scheduling flexibility
• Opportunity to work closely with philanthropic leaders, donors, and community partners
• Comprehensive employee benefits package (details to be provided during the interview process)

Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.

For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.