Director of Philanthropy

Inkinen Executive Search; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Inkinen Executive Search supports a Honolulu-based arts and culture institution recruiting a strategic Director of Philanthropy. You will lead frontline fundraising, steer major gifts, and guide a growing campaign portfolio while partnering with executive leadership to advance mission-aligned giving.

The role emphasizes relationship-building, donor strategy, and team development, with responsibility for planned giving, pipeline management, and cross-functional collaboration across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing significant major and leadership gifts.
• Experience managing, coaching, and developing multiple fundraising staff.
• Strong experience with fundraising strategy, portfolio and pipeline management, revenue forecasting, and CRM systems.
• Experience identifying and advancing planned, complex, blended, or non-cash giving opportunities.
• Campaign experience and a background within museums, arts and culture, higher education, or another complex nonprofit environment are highly desirable.
• CFRE certification or progress toward certification and Tessitura experience are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, execution, and performance of an integrated philanthropy program encompassing annual, major, corporate and foundation, and planned giving.
• Manage a portfolio of major and leadership-level donors and prospects, personally leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Drive major gift strategy and campaign execution, building a strong pipeline of qualified prospects and donors.
• Lead, coach, and develop frontline fundraising professionals while establishing clear goals, accountability, and performance expectations.
• Strengthen portfolio management, donor qualification, moves management, pipeline development, and solicitation strategies.
• Expand planned giving and identify opportunities for complex, non-cash, and blended gifts.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and internal and external partners to advance high-priority donor and fundraising opportunities.

Skills

Major Gifts & Leadership Giving

Planned, Complex & Blended Giving

Relationship Management

CRM Systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience

Tools

Tessitura

Job description

The Director of Philanthropy is a strategic fundraising leader, with major gifts and campaign experience, a strong background in working with complex nonprofit organizations, and a proven ability to cultivate donor relationships and lead high-performing fundraising teams.

Position Overview

A prominent Honolulu-based arts and cultural institution seeks an accomplished Director of Philanthropy to provide strategic leadership for its comprehensive fundraising program and help grow philanthropic support for its mission, campaign priorities, and long-term sustainability. The organization serves the community through art and education and maintains a significant, internationally representative collection.

Serving as a senior advancement leader, the Director will lead and develop the frontline fundraising team while remaining actively involved in major and leadership gift fundraising. This highly visible role will strengthen donor strategy, portfolio performance, campaign execution, and planned giving while partnering closely with executive leadership and key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, execution, and performance of an integrated philanthropy program encompassing annual, major, corporate and foundation, and planned giving
• Manage a portfolio of major and leadership-level donors and prospects, personally leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Drive major gift strategy and campaign execution, building a strong pipeline of qualified prospects and donors.
• Lead, coach, and develop frontline fundraising professionals while establishing clear goals, accountability, and performance expectations.
• Strengthen portfolio management, donor qualification, moves management, pipeline development, and solicitation strategies.
• Expand planned giving and identify opportunities for complex, non-cash, and blended gifts.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and internal and external partners to advance high-priority donor and fundraising opportunities.

Skills

• Major Gifts & Leadership Giving
• Planned, Complex & Blended Giving
• Relationship Management
• CRM Systems

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing significant major and leadership gifts.
• Experience managing, coaching, and developing multiple fundraising staff.
• Strong experience with fundraising strategy, portfolio and pipeline management, revenue forecasting, and CRM systems.
• Experience identifying and advancing planned, complex, blended, or non-cash giving opportunities.
• Campaign experience and a background within museums, arts and culture, higher education, or another complex nonprofit environment are highly desirable.
• CFRE certification or progress toward certification and Tessitura experience are preferred.
• Hawaiʻi fundraising or community experience is preferred; candidates from other markets should demonstrate success building trusted relationships and philanthropic networks in a new community.