Job Type
Full-time
Description
Job Summary The Philanthropic Advisor plays a critical role in advancing the Foundation's community philanthropy strategy, with a particular focus on supporting a diverse set of donors, including those donors involved with the Black Philanthropy Center (BPC), the Black Philanthropy Fund, and related initiatives. This role integrates donor advising and community engagement, working to align philanthropic capital with community-defined priorities. The Philanthropic Advisor builds and stewards relationships with donors and organizations, while also cultivating trust with community leaders-ensuring philanthropic resources are responsive, equitable, and catalytic.
The position contributes to expanding philanthropy by supporting fund development, securing outright and planned gifts, strengthening donor and community partnerships, and advancing systems that enable collective giving, shared decision-making, and long-term impact with a specific focus in Black communities. This role reports to the Director of Organizational Impact and Community Philanthropy.
Key Responsibilities - Manage a portfolio of donors-including individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofits-supporting increasingly complex philanthropic goals and relationships over time.
- Serve as a trusted primary advisor for assigned donors, taking growing responsibility for relationship management, fund oversight, and delivery of high-quality service aligned with the foundation's philanthropic model.
- Serve as a core contributor to the Black Philanthropy Center to service donors related to the Center and develop partnerships connected to community philanthropy.
- Represent the Foundation externally as a credible, community-centered ambassador, particularly in spaces advancing Black philanthropy.
- Translate community priorities, lived experience, and emerging opportunities into actionable philanthropic pathways for donors.
- Deepen donor engagement by increasingly aligning donor interests with the foundation's programmatic priorities in the impact agenda, contributing to long-term, systems-level community impact and immediate impact.
- Design and deliver compelling donor presentations and personalized learning sessions, building expertise in legacy planning, philanthropic strategy, and multi-generational family engagement.
- Help shape internal approaches to community philanthropy-including tools, practices, and learning systems that strengthen the Foundation's effectiveness.
- Advise organizational funds on fundraising strategies and pathways for sustainability.
- Collaborate proactively across departments to identify cultivation and co-funding opportunities, contributing to more coordinated donor strategies, stewardship efforts, and engagement experiences.
- Take on expanding responsibility within strategic initiatives and special projects, supporting-and over time leading-discrete workstreams under the guidance of the Director of Organizational Impact and Community Philanthropy.
- Model inclusive, donor-centered practices and represent the foundation with growing confidence as a community-focused ambassador for the new Foundation headquarters and in external engagements.
- Any other duties as assigned.
Competencies & Behavioral Expectations - Judgment
- Communication
- Community Fluency & Engagement
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Problem-Solving
- Responsiveness
Requirements
Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree and 4-6 years of experience in a service-oriented environment advising high-profile donors or clients.
- Demonstrated success in managing a donor/client portfolio and cultivating lasting relationships.
- Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
- Experience designing and delivering donor stewardship programs and tailored communications.
- Strong collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams and diverse communities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and working knowledge of database systems.
- Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
Preferred Qualifications - Knowledge of fund development, planned giving, investment strategy, and philanthropic advising.
- Familiarity with the Greater Cleveland nonprofit landscape and ability to research donor interests.
Work Environment - The role is primarily office-based, involving frequent interaction with executives, staff, and external partners.
- The position may require prolonged periods of sitting, as well as occasional lifting of light office supplies and materials.
- Occasional extended hours to meet deadlines or support special events.
- Frequent travel may be required for meetings, events, or conferences.
Salary Description
$80,000 - $100,000 Annually
