Director, Philanthropic Operations

Inside Philanthropy; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Generous paid time off

Job summary

The Trust for the National Mall is seeking a Director of Philanthropic Operations to provide leadership and strategic direction for all operational aspects of the Philanthropy team. The role reports to the CRGO and collaborates with Communications, Operations, Programs and Projects to advance fundraising goals.

Salary range is $110,000 to $120,000 annually. This position requires guiding data integrity, budgeting, forecasting and donor engagement while building a culture of accountability and

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of nonprofit philanthropy or operations management experience.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with budgets, financial modeling and fundraising strategy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Philanthropy operations, policies and documentation.
• Direct cross‑functional projects and reporting for fundraising activities.
• Manage donor relations, stewardship, and fundraising systems.

Skills

Non-profit operations

Budget planning

CRM systems (Salesforce)

Data architecture

Financial modeling

Leadership

Process improvement

Analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (Nonprofit Mgmt/MBA)

Tools

Salesforce

Accounting software

Job description

Organization Summary

As the nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) philanthropic partner of the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall is dedicated to restoring, enriching and preserving the National Mall. The Trust raises private funding, provides project expertise and in-kind support to help elevate the National Mall and its historic purpose, which takes on new meaning during America's 250th anniversary year on America's Front Yard. The Trust leads capital restoration projects, mobilizes volunteer operations and provides innovative educational experiences to ensure the National Mall, with 36 million visits each year, endures and inspires now and for future generations.

The Trust is at an exciting time in our history as we celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. We are a collaborative team with a fast‑paced and dynamic environment. We offer competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and generous time off policies.

Brief Position Summary

The Director, Philanthropic Operations provides leadership and strategic direction for all operational aspects of the Philanthropy team, ensuring the development and implementation of effective strategies to achieve short‑term and long‑term fundraising goals. The Director, Philanthropic Operations reports to the Chief Revenue & Growth Officer (CRGO), serves as a member of the Philanthropy leadership team, and works in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with the Communications, Operations, Programs, and Projects teams as a key contributor to the Trust's organizational goals and initiatives.

Salary Range: $110,000 to $120,000

Responsibilities

Operational Excellence and Project Management (25%)

• Oversee development, maintenance and implementation of policies, procedures, templates and documentation for the Philanthropy team.
• Lead continuous process improvement by identifying bottlenecks, simplifying workflows, and standardizing hand‑offs among gift officers, operations, Finance, and Communications.
• Manage cross‑functional projects and initiatives for the Philanthropy team, including scope, timelines, owners, and status reporting.
• Optimize use of the Trust's fundraising systems and licensed resources, driving enhancements and integrations that improve reporting, fundraising results, and pipeline management, and evaluate new tools, including AI‑assisted ones.
• Enact and model high standards of data integrity and security across all donor management systems incompliance with the Trust's business practices, industry standards and government regulations.

Team Leadership and Development (25%)

• Lead, mentor and develop the Trust's Philanthropy Operations team, fostering professional growth and operational excellence in the execution of prospect research and pipeline development, gift processing and records management, stewardship and donor relations, and systems administration and reporting.
• Supervise direct reports, including data and systems, prospect development, two‑person donor engagement team, and Philanthropy team assistant.
• Set clear roles, priorities, and performance goals for each team member, and ensure coverage and cross training across key functions.
• Recruit and onboard new permanent or contingent positions as needed.
• Identify, secure, and oversee auxiliary resources that deliver specialized expertise and/or expanded capacity for the Trust's fundraising and revenue goals.

Financial Management and Forecasting (20%)

• Lead the preparation and management of Philanthropy Team budget, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to meet fundraising goals and operating revenue targets.
• In consultation with the CRGO and Chief Operating Officer, analyze monthly financial statements and provide quarterly updates on fundraising performance for Board reporting.
• Ensure efficient and accurate recording of gifts and opportunities in the CRM and timely gift reporting and reconciliation with the Finance team.
• Own regular team performance reporting, including pipeline, revenue, and OKR progress, for leadership.
• Devise models and projections for reliable revenue forecasting to support strategic decision‑making and financial planning.
• Develop scenario‑based models to test fundraising strategies, donor pipelines and campaign outcomes.

Donor Relations and Stewardship (15%)

• Establish and implement creative strategies founded on best practices for prospect management, targeted engagement, and tiered stewardship across all donor levels.
• Oversee the donor relations team's support of gift officers and stewardship activities, such as tours, mailings, and presentations, ensuring consistent standards and timely follow through.
• Work with Events and other Trust teams to ensure donor and prospect engagement efforts are incorporated into event planning and systematically tracked.
• Partner closely with the Communications team, gift officers and external partners to produce creative and relevant content for donor engagement that reflects the Trust's identity, mission and priorities.

Strategic Leadership and Oversight (15%)

• Serve as the operational leader of the Philanthropy team, providing broad leadership and administrative oversight in the planning, implementation and improvement of functions, operations and resources within the Philanthropy team.
• Collaborate with the Chief Revenue and Growth Officer (CRGO), Vice President of Philanthropy, Managing Director of Corporate Engagement and other Trust leadership to align fundraising strategies and activities with organizational goals, project priorities and financial targets.
• Support the CRGO in leading team projects and guiding team members through organizational initiatives including OKRs by turning goals into clear plans, owners, and milestones.
• Build a team culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement that reflects the Trust's values.

Key Skills

• Demonstrated experience in non‑profit operations role including managing budgets, financial modeling and forecasting revenue.
• Advanced expertise in database systems administration and data architecture.
• Proficiency with modern CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce.
• Well versed in the application of standard accounting principles for gifts administration.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to proactively identify and remediate challenges and leverage opportunities.
• Willingness to take initiative and adapt with a 'can‑do' attitude in a fast‑paced environment.
• Participate in building a culture of philanthropy with the organization, Philanthropy Team, and external stakeholders.
• Passion for and commitment to the Trust's mission and values.

Key Competencies

• Project management.
• Strong verbal and written communication and storytelling skills, both internally and externally.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast‑paced environment.
• Effective people manager and developer.
• Proactive collaboration and ability to anticipate needs with a flexible mindset.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience.
• Advanced degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years' experience in nonprofit philanthropy and/or operations management with a successful track record of increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in database management, budget management, and fundraising strategy development.
• Experience working on a capital campaign, while not necessary, is a plus.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.