Senior Regional Manager, Philanthropy

Mercy Housing; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Mercy Housing California is seeking a Senior Regional Manager, Philanthropy to build and lead a major gifts program in Southern California from Los Angeles. You will cultivate donors, solicit gifts, and partner with local boards and leaders to elevate Mercy Housing’s philanthropic presence in the region.

The ideal candidate thrives as an entrepreneurial, self-directed fundraiser with autonomy and a strategic mindset, and will work within a collaborative, matrixed team across California and the

Qualifications

• Nonprofit fundraising experience with a focus on individual giving.
• Ability to work independently within a matrixed organization.
• Willingness to travel and maintain a hybrid work schedule.
• Commitment to mission-driven work and delivering exceptional donor experiences.
• Experience building or expanding a major gifts program.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills.

Responsibilities

• Major Donor Cultivation and Solicitation.
• Strategy Development and Planning.

Skills

Nonprofit fundraising

Independent work

Donor engagement

Fundraising best practices

Hybrid work schedule

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

High school diploma

Job description

Home is where our lives unfold: where we gather, where we learn, and where we grow. However, affordable housing is one of the great crises of our time. In California, where home values and rents are among the most expensive, nearly one-third of renters spend more than half their income on housing. There is not a single city or county where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Mercy Housing California (MHC)—the largest regional affiliate of Mercy Housing, Inc., which is the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the country—works to address this challenge. The organization develops and operates affordable service-enriched housing that becomes the foundation for our residents’ hopes and aspirations. Today, MHC oversees over 160 communities that together serve more than 20,000 residents across the state.

An industry leader, Mercy Housing California is proud to…

• Participate in all aspects of affordable housing development
• Provide critical resident services
• Pioneer innovative housing solutions that are emulated by peers nationwide
• Combine our deep local knowledge with the strength of a national system

Mission Values

At Mercy Housing, we believe that business and mission are not competing values. Employees are expected to contribute to a mission- and values-centered culture. Employees are expected to articulate and incorporate the mission and core values of Respect, Justice, and Mercy into their day-to-day work. We are more effective when diverse groups of people, including residents, feel valued, respected, and included.

The Opportunity

Mercy Housing California is seeking a relationship-driven Senior Regional Manager, Philanthropy to establish and expand a major gifts program throughout Southern California. This is an exciting opportunity for a frontline fundraiser who enjoys building something from the ground up and wants to play a foundational role in expanding philanthropic support for one of the nation’s leading affordable housing organizations. Reporting to the Regional Director of Philanthropy, the Senior Regional Manager will serve as Mercy Housing’s primary philanthropy representative in the Los Angeles market, cultivating meaningful relationships with individual donors while helping elevate the organization’s visibility and philanthropic presence across the region.

This role has been intentionally designed to focus primarily on individual giving. The Senior Regional Manager will concentrate on identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making gifts of $1,000 and above. Working closely with an engaged network of local board members and organizational leaders, the successful candidate will build a robust portfolio of supporters while also identifying opportunities to engage corporate partners through sponsorships, employee giving, and volunteer initiatives. As the Southern California donor pipeline continues to mature, this position offers significant potential for professional growth and expanded leadership responsibilities.

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, self-directed fundraiser who thrives with autonomy and enjoys developing thoughtful strategies to strengthen donor relationships. They must be comfortable building (as opposed to inheriting) a system. Mercy Housing California’s collaborative, trust-based culture empowers staff to lead their own work while providing coaching, mentorship, and partnership from an experienced philanthropy leadership team. Although this individual will be the only philanthropy team member based in the Los Angeles office, they will be closely connected to colleagues across the California region and the national organization through a highly collaborative, matrixed fundraising team.

Success in this role will not be measured solely by immediate fundraising results, but by thoughtfully establishing a strong foundation for long-term philanthropic growth. During the first year, the Senior Regional Manager will immerse themselves in Mercy Housing California’s complex and mission-driven work, build trusted relationships with internal and external partners, develop and begin executing a strategic individual giving plan, and introduce fresh ideas that strengthen donor engagement across Southern California. This is an outstanding opportunity for an emerging or experienced major gift officer who is eager to make a lasting impact while helping shape the future of philanthropy for an organization transforming lives through affordable housing.

Key Position Functions

The Senior Regional Manager, Philanthropy will be responsible for:

• Major Donor Cultivation and Solicitation
• Strategy Development and Planning

View the full description here: https://bit.ly/MHC-PhilanthropyManagerProfile

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three to four years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on individual giving.
• Passion for mission-driven work and a commitment to delivering exceptional donor experiences.
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, matrixed organization.
• Curiosity and willingness to recommend and implement fundraising best practices and innovative donor engagement strategies.
• Ability to maintain a hybrid work schedule and travel, occasionally overnight.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience building (or significantly expanding) a major gifts program, donor portfolio, or fundraising initiative from the ground up.
• Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of individual donors and personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic gifts.
• Experience identifying and qualifying new donor prospects using research tools and relationship mapping.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills, with confidence engaging volunteers, board members, and community leaders.

Compensation

The expected base salary for this position is $100,000-$110,000, commensurate with experience. All employees at Mercy Housing California are also eligible for a generous comprehensive benefits package including PTO and paid holidays; medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) retirement plans; Employee Assistance Program; and many more.