Senior Philanthropic Consultant

Vanguard Charitable; Malvern (Chester County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard Charitable seeks a Senior Philanthropic Consultant to cultivate and expand donor relationships, bridging stewardship and consultative sales. The role focuses on activation, retention, and growth, educating donors on giving vehicles while coordinating with internal teams to deliver a seamless experience.

Candidates should have 7+ years in philanthropic services, strong communication, and CRM proficiency (Salesforce). Bachelor’s degree required; CAP designation preferred within 18 months.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• CAP designation preferred; must be completed within 18 months if not held.
• 7+ years in philanthropic services, fundraising, or related consultative roles.
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain donor retention and growth aligned to organizational goals.
• Lead consultative conversations to uncover donor priorities and connect to solutions.
• Educate donors on giving vehicles and engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with sales and service teams to advance donor progression.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline activity, and growth insights.

Skills

Relationship management

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Emotional intelligence

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

CAP designation (preferred)

Tools

Salesforce

CRM platforms

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Philanthropic Consultant cultivates, stewards, and expands relationships with high-potential donors who demonstrate capacity and engagement momentum. Operating at the intersection of stewardship and consultative sales, this role drives donor activation, deepens long-term relationships, and supports sustainable contribution growth. The Consultant does not provide philanthropic, legal, or tax advice, but educates donors on giving vehicles, organizational capabilities, and relevant considerations to help advance their philanthropic goals. Success is measured by the ability to deepen donor engagement, increase retention and contribution growth, and build a pipeline.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Consultative Sales & Business Development (35%)

• Maintain accountability for donor retention and contribution growth aligned to organizational goals.
• Lead consultative conversations that uncover donor priorities and connect them to relevant solutions and services.
• Educate donors on appropriate giving vehicles, resources, and engagement opportunities.
• Partner with sales and service teams to support donor progression into higher service tiers.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline activity, and growth insights.

Stewardship & Relationship Management (30%)

• Manage relationships with high-potential donors through intentional stewardship strategies.
• Develop a deep understanding of donor motivations, behaviors, and engagement signals.
• Lead proactive donor outreach that reinforces purpose, progress, and connection.
• Coordinate internal partners and resources to deliver a seamless donor experience.
• Anticipate and resolve donor issues with sound judgment, professionalism, and accountability.

Donor Activation & Growth (20%)

• Identify donors with indicators of future growth and create targeted engagement plans.
• Monitor portfolio opportunities and risks, addressing disengagement and unrealized potential.
• Leverage stewardship opportunities—including contributions, grants, milestones, and life events—to encourage deeper engagement.
• Balance donor advocacy with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.

Collaboration & Thought Partnership (15%)

• Serve as a resource on charitable giving structures, policies, and processes in a non-advisory capacity.
• Contribute to donor impact storytelling and engagement initiatives.
• Support internal training and sharing of stewardship and donor-engagement best practices.
• Collaborate across functions to enhance donor experiences and inform segmentation and service strategies.
• Participate in initiatives that strengthen stewardship effectiveness and growth capabilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Training

Required: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licensure & Certification

Preferred: CAP® designation completed or in progress (required within 18 months if not already held).

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability

Required

• Proven ability to balance stewardship and growth objectives through trust-based relationship management.
• Excellent communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, with strong judgment and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to explain complex philanthropic concepts clearly, accurately, and compliantly.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms; Salesforce preferred.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 10%.

Preferred

• Strong knowledge of donor-advised funds, charitable giving vehicles, grant and contribution processes, and applicable regulations in an educational, non-advisory capacity.
• Experience supporting training, mentoring, or enablement initiatives.

Experience

Required

• 7+ years of experience in philanthropic services, relationship management, fundraising, client development, or consultative client engagement.
• Demonstrated success driving engagement, retention, and growth among high-potential donors or clients.

Preferred

• Experience managing donors with demonstrated growth potential.
• Experience with portfolio-based stewardship, opportunity/risk assessment, and growth planning.
• Experience supporting donor advancement into higher service tiers.