Executive Director, Philanthropy

Association of Fundraising Professionals; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Beth Israel Lahey Health seeks an accomplished philanthropy executive to serve as Executive Director, Philanthropy for four regional foundations across Beverly, Needham, Plymouth, and Metro Boston.

The role leads a comprehensive fundraising program, partners with hospital leadership, donors, and volunteers, and represents the organization in the community to advance patient care, medical innovation, and education.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Proven success securing major and principal gifts.
• Experience managing fundraising teams, campaigns, and volunteers.
• Healthcare, higher education, or nonprofit fundraising experience preferred.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior executives, physicians, trustees, and community leaders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the assigned hospital region.
• Lead major and principal gifts fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership, physicians, trustees, and volunteers to achieve philanthropic goals.
• Identify funding opportunities aligned with clinical priorities, capital initiatives, patient care programs, technology investments, education, and community outreach.
• Build a strong culture of philanthropy within the assigned hospital or region.
• Recruit, engage, and support foundation board members and community volunteers.
• Lead campaign planning and implementation across annual, major, planned, and special initiatives.
• Partner with philanthropy colleagues to maximize system-wide opportunities while maintaining a strong local presence.
• Monitor fundraising performance and ensure achievement of philanthropic goals and objectives.
• Represent the organization at donor meetings, community events, and hospital functions.

Skills

Relationship-building

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Written communication

Leadership

Donor engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Fundraising databases

Donor management software

Job description

Beverly Hospital | Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Hospital | Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth Hospital | Metro Boston

Position Summary

Beth Israel Lahey Health is seeking an accomplished philanthropy leader to serve as Executive Director, Philanthropy for one of four philanthropic regions:

• Beverly Hospital Foundation (Beverly, MA)
• Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Hospital Foundation (Needham, MA)
• Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth Hospital Foundation (Plymouth, MA)
• Metro Boston Philanthropy (Boston, MA)

This position serves as the chief fundraising officer for an assigned location and is responsible for advancing philanthropic priorities that support exceptional patient care, medical innovation, community health programs, education, and strategic growth. Working in partnership with hospital leadership, physicians, trustees, volunteers, and donors, the Executive Director will lead a comprehensive fundraising program while serving as a key member of both the local leadership team and the broader Beth Israel Lahey Health philanthropy organization.

Each Executive Director is uniquely positioned to represent and champion the mission, priorities, and community impact of their assigned hospital or region while leveraging the strength and resources of one of New England's premier healthcare systems.

Key Opportunity

Whether serving Beverly Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth Hospital, or the Metro Boston region, the Executive Director will:

• Lead fundraising efforts tailored to the unique needs and priorities of the assigned community.
• Build and strengthen relationships with local donors, business leaders, grateful patients, physicians, and volunteers.
• Partner with hospital presidents and executive leadership teams to identify funding opportunities that advance strategic initiatives.
• Serve as the philanthropic ambassador for the assigned hospital or region throughout the community.
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to invest in healthcare programs that directly impact patients and families.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the assigned hospital or region.
• Lead all aspects of major and principal gift fundraising, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospective supporters.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership, physicians, trustees, and volunteers to achieve philanthropic goals.
• Identify funding opportunities aligned with clinical priorities, capital initiatives, patient care programs, technology investments, education, and community outreach.
• Build a strong culture of philanthropy within the assigned hospital or region.
• Recruit, engage, and support foundation board members and community volunteers.
• Lead campaign planning and implementation, including annual, major, planned, and special fundraising initiatives.
• Partner with Beth Israel Lahey Health philanthropy colleagues to maximize system-wide opportunities while maintaining a strong local presence.
• Monitor fundraising performance and ensure achievement of philanthropic goals and objectives.
• Represent the organization at donor meetings, community events, and hospital functions.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for philanthropy activities within the assigned foundation or region.
• Supervise and develop philanthropy staff and volunteers.
• Establish measurable fundraising goals and accountability standards.
• Foster collaboration between local hospital leadership and system-wide philanthropy teams.
• Promote donor-centered fundraising practices and operational excellence.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 8-10+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts.
• Experience managing fundraising teams, campaigns, and volunteer leadership.
• Healthcare, higher education, or nonprofit fundraising experience preferred.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior executives, physicians, trustees, and community leaders.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.
• Strong strategic planning and fundraising expertise.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to represent a hospital foundation or regional philanthropy program with professionalism and credibility.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and leadership capabilities.
• Experience utilizing fundraising databases and donor engagement tools.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

• More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled