About Rancho Cielo
Rancho Cielo is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved and at-risk youth by providing education, vocational training, counseling, and life skills development. In partnership with John Muir Charter School, we support students in earning their high school diploma while preparing them for success in their careers and lives.
Position Summary
Rancho Cielo Youth Campus is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Philanthropy to lead and grow the organization’s major gifts, planned giving, endowment, and capital funding efforts. This role is responsible for building strong relationships with high-capacity donors, developing long-term giving strategies, and securing significant and multi-year gifts that support the organization’s long-term financial sustainability and growth.
The Director of Philanthropy will partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer to identify, cultivate, and steward major donors and will work in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer on endowment growth, capital project funding, and long-term revenue strategy.
This position focuses on major donors and long-term funding, while working collaboratively with Development, Marketing, and Grants to ensure a coordinated and effective fundraising strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Major Gifts & Donor Strategy
- Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts
- Develop tailored donor strategies and gift proposals
- Conduct donor meetings and presentations in partnership with the CEO
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of major gift prospects
- Increase average gift size and multi-year commitments
Planned Giving & Endowment
- Develop and implement a planned giving program
- Promote legacy giving opportunities (bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, IRA gifts)
- Establish and grow a Legacy Society
- Partner with donors and advisors on planned gift strategies
- Work with Finance to support endowment growth and long-term funding strategies
Capital Projects & Naming Opportunities
- Identify and cultivate donors for capital projects
- Develop and present naming opportunities
- Structure multi-year pledges and capital gifts
- Support fundraising efforts tied to campus improvements and program expansion
CEO & Leadership Partnership
- Identify and prepare high-capacity donor opportunities for the CEO
- Develop briefing materials and donor strategies
- Coordinate donor meetings, follow-ups, and stewardship activities
- Support the CEO in closing major and transformational gifts
Fundraising Strategy & Collaboration
- Contribute to overall fundraising strategy and donor pipeline development
- Establish goals, metrics, and accountability for major gifts and planned giving
- Collaborate with:
- Development (events, sponsorships, annual giving)
- Marketing (communications, donor messaging)
- Grants (foundation strategy)
- Finance (endowment, pledge tracking, financial planning)
- Strengthen donor stewardship practices and fundraising processes
Financial & Strategic Alignment (with CFO)
- Collaborate on:
- Endowment growth strategy
- Major gift agreements and pledge structures
- Multi-year revenue forecasting
- Capital project funding strategies
- Naming opportunities and financial modeling
- Ensure alignment between fundraising strategy and financial sustainability goals
Qualifications
- 7–15+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, major gifts, or philanthropy
- Proven track record of securing major gifts
- Experience with planned giving, endowment, or capital campaigns preferred
- Strong relationship-building and donor engagement skills
- Experience working with senior leadership and/or boards
- Strategic thinker with ability to build and grow programs
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Experience with donor CRM systems
- Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or advanced degree preferred
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Major gift revenue
- Planned giving commitments
- Endowment growth contributions
- Number of donor meetings and proposals
- Multi-year pledges secured
- Growth of major donor pipeline
- Legacy Society participation
- Capital project funding secured
- Contribution to overall fundraising strategy and revenue growth
Reporting Structure
- Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer
- Works closely with the Chief Financial Officer on financial strategy, endowment growth, and long-term funding
- Collaborates with Development, Marketing, and Grants teams
Direct Reports:
First Year Priorities
- Assess current donor base and identify major gift opportunities
- Build and manage a major donor portfolio
- Launch or expand planned giving / Legacy Society program
- Identify capital project funding opportunities and naming strategies
- Develop donor pipeline, strategy, and reporting metrics
- Establish strong partnership with CEO, CFO, and Development team
- Increase major donor engagement and gift activity
