Through endowment funds established by individuals, families, businesses and organizations, our combined resources allow us to not only address community needs today, but help us chart a course for a brighter future in the nine counties we serve along South Carolina’s coast. With our donors, we invest millions of dollars through grantmaking, impact investing and scholarships each year. We are also known for understanding and acting upon the dynamic needs of the communities we serve, with recent examples including our disaster response efforts during and after major storms such as Hurricane Florence, and the creation of the Lowcountry Unity Fund in the wake of the Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre to support causes addressing systemic racism.
Financial resources are among the many tools we employ in our mission to create vibrant communities. Throughout our history, we have served as a community convener to bring residents and leaders together to tackle major structural challenges, such as housing shortages or inequitable school systems. We also have a long history of incubating grassroots causes and providing them with structural support to grow into fully operational nonprofit organizations. Some organizations that began as programs at Coastal Community Foundation — including the Lowcountry Food Bank, One80 Place and the Center for Heirs Property Preservation — are now major regional nonprofits addressing critical needs.
Why Work for Us?
When you join Coastal Community Foundation, you join a dedicated staff and Board of Directors who have earned the trust of donors and grantees alike, helping them advance positive outcomes in the communities they seek to serve and adapting to their evolving needs so that our region thrives together.
We take that same approach and dedication to supporting our staff members to ensure their success at work and outside of the work environment. We offer a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, Holidays, Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), 401(k), and professional training and development opportunities.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
Inclusion with equity is one of our four core values at Coastal Community Foundation, so we not only work to recruit diverse candidates, we work to ensure our team members have all the tools they need to be successful. Our purpose is most effectively fulfilled through proactively supporting the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Diversity may be measured by, but is not limited to, differences in age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, class, religion, disability, geography, and profession. We acknowledge and respect the many differences that comprise thriving communities and seek diversity in our staff to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions and experiences are recognized and acted upon in achieving our purpose.
It is our intention to promote a fully equitable philanthropic sector that justly represents and serves all our constituencies. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, of LGBTQ+ identity and of other historically marginalized communities.
Job Summary
The Vice President of Philanthropy will provide leadership and direction in the development, execution, and oversight of the foundation’s philanthropic goals and targets. In addition to the achievement of annual goals related to donor development and stewardship; the VP will proactively and consistently work to build our network of donors and supporters. The Vice President is an adept leader and communicator who will identify and build relationships with current and prospective donors, professional advisors, and community leaders.
The Vice President will create a philanthropic plan that inspires donors to achieve their giving goals “through, to, or with” the Foundation. A deep understanding of planned giving vehicles, financial statements and investment returns is essential, as is collaboration with other staff members to deliver the highest quality service to the Foundation’s current and prospective donors, professional advisors, and community at-large.
The Vice President will be an internal advocate for all donors and fundholders by acting as their voice in decisions made at the Foundation regarding services to donors and assuring that a relationship manager is assigned to the fund advisors of all funds. The Vice President of Philanthropy is responsible for leading, managing, and developing the Philanthropy. The Vice President is a member of the Foundation’s Leadership Team.
The ideal candidate will enjoy leading in a fast-paced, results-oriented organization that prides itself on caring for its employees and providing thoughtful and excellent support to the people and communities we serve.
Strategic Leadership and Donor Development
• Develop, oversee and implement a comprehensive strategy for development and stewardship from existing and prospective donors to achieve short and long-term asset growth and revenue goals.
• Lead the Foundation’s efforts in attracting new contributions to and maintaining annual support through the Community Partnership Program (CPP).
• Build and implement system to and nurture relationships with individuals and professional advisors to identify, cultivate and solicit current and deferred gifts.
• Stay abreast of federal, state, and local policy decisions that may negatively affect the Foundation’s endowed fund business model and report significant issues to the President/CEO and the Board.
• Oversee a program that collaborates with professional advisors through targeted outreach to encourage and increase the number of referrals of potential donors.
• Strengthen donor and advisor relationships by assigning relationship managers and tracking outreach outcomes.
• Develop philanthropic plans that reflect donor values and, where appropriate, family involvement. This may include leading family philanthropic meetings as needed.
• Provide planned giving expertise to donors, nonprofit organizations, and prospective donors for the purpose of establishing funds and/or creating future funding commitments through estate plans.
• Plan and organize development strategies for field of interest funds, County-specific Funds and Planned Giving as a part of the broader Foundation development plan.
• Lead the creation of philanthropic learning opportunities for donors and prospects.
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications Department to create outreach materials for donors and advisors, ensuring brand consistency and impact.
• Work with Grantmaking and Community Leadership Department to incorporate grantmaking trends and impact reports into donor, prospect and professional advisor engagement, outreach, and communication material.
• Work with Marketing and Communications Department on content and timing for external communications for donors, fundholders, prospects and professional advisors.
• Lead process improvements to enhance outcomes and manage the departmental budget.
• Represent the Foundation at public and private events to engage donors, prospects, and professional advisors.
Donor Engagement and Stewardship
• Proactively manage a diverse portfolio of current and prospective donors, promoting the creation of new funds, increasing contributions to existing funds, and supporting planned giving opportunities. Drive relationships to move from transactional to transformational.
• Implement a donor relationship management program that includes long-term goals, regular touchpoints, and a legacy recognition program, focused on increasing giving from existing fundholders.
• Develop service standards for donor services and monitor key performance indicators to ensure excellent service and timely communication.
• Connect donors with the community through events, site visits or other personalized experiences.
• Collaborate with Grantmaking and Community Leadership staff to identify opportunities to leverage additional donor support for grants made by the Foundation.
Administrative Oversight and Team Leadership
• Lead the Philanthropy Team, including at least 3 direct reports.
• Staff the Foundation’s Civic Leadership Committee.
• Ensure timely and accurate records of all donor cultivation and solicitation activities in the Foundant database by all Philanthropy staff members.
• Oversee the creation, tracking, and Board approval of fund agreements.
• Assist Staff and Board with fundraising-related presentations & publications.
• Oversee the ongoing updates and maintenance of current policies and procedures for the Philanthropy Department.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Staff to develop and implement campaigns that inform, educate, and engage individuals, civic groups, and Professional Advisors about the benefits of philanthropy, in general, and the Foundation, in particular.
• Address inquiries about establishing funds and prepare related materials as needed.
• Build a library of presentation materials on our products and services for the various target markets, in partnership with the Marketing and Communications Department.
• Conduct research and analysis on other projects as requested by the Board or President/CEO.
• Support specific fundraising initiatives, including sponsorships for the annual celebration and special events as identified by the President.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Education
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business or a related field is required.
• At least 5 years’ experience as a professional advisor in wealth planning, estate planning, or financial advising and/or at least 8 years’ experience in a senior development function in a nonprofit organization with demonstrated management experience.
• Thorough understanding of planned giving vehicles, financial statements and investment returns and the ability to communicate effectively with donors and advisors.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) experience.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills; able to work effectively with any stakeholder group, with proven ability to build positive relationships quickly, lead by example and influence effectively.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation and public speaking and written skills required.
• Demonstrated success in staff management and development.
• A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational, time/project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
The salary range for the position is $155,000-$170,000.
