Senior Philanthropy Leader - Youth Health Equity Organization #0209

We're partnering with a prominent organization dedicated to youth health equity throughout Mississippi and Arkansas. They empower young people through comprehensive health education and resources, utilizing evidence-based programming and advocacy to create equitable communities where all youth can make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.

Our client seeks a Senior Director of Philanthropy who will serve as the primary strategist for fundraising across their multistate operations. This position will design and implement comprehensive development initiatives spanning local, regional, national, and international funding sources while establishing the organization as a philanthropic leader in youth health equity.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong track record in multistate fundraising, outstanding relationship-building capabilities across varied stakeholder groups, and dedication to youth-centered, equity-driven work. This role demands someone who can navigate sensitive health topics with professionalism and nuance, especially in conservative environments.

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson or Clarksdale, Mississippi; or hybrid arrangement. Consistent travel throughout Arkansas, Mississippi, and additional locations as necessary for donor relations

Core Responsibilities

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Lead high-quality stewardship that builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for the organization's work
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across Mississippi, Arkansas, other U.S. states, and international markets
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for donors at different geographic levels whilst maintaining cohesive mission-driven messaging

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Set annual fundraising targets and monitor progress toward goals across all geographic markets
• Partner with Executive Director, Managing Director, and Board to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organization
• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting work in Mississippi and Arkansas whilst pursuing national and global funding opportunities
• Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams, balancing foundation, government, corporate, and individual donor support from local to international sources

Campaigns & Events

• Coordinate events in multiple states and abroad (as applicable), adapting for audience and context
• Lead capital campaigns and large-scale fundraising efforts that leverage multistate and cross-border support
• Plan and implement annual appeals, digital campaigns, and special initiatives with both local resonance and broad national/international appeal

Cross-State & Cross-Border Coordination

• Share fundraising data and insights across teams to inform organizational priorities and investment decisions
• Collaborate with communications team to produce donor-centered materials that resonate locally, nationally, and internationally
• Align fundraising systems, messaging, and donor engagement strategies across all levels of work, from Mississippi to global partnerships

Foundation & Government Grants

• Collaborate with program staff to ensure proposals and deliverables are compelling and achievable
• Build relationships with local, national, and international program officers, agencies, and grant-making bodies
• Oversee multistate, national, and global grants pipeline, including prospect research, proposal writing, budgeting, and compliance

Board & Leadership Engagement

• Provide fundraising training and resources to board members and senior staff for local, national, and global donor cultivation
• Present regular fundraising reports highlighting opportunities in all markets
• Partner with the Board of Directors to identify and engage prospective donors at all geographic levels

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Proven track record securing major gifts, managing donor portfolios, and leading large-scale campaigns
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrable success in multistate, national, and/or international development work
• Bachelor's degree required
• Strong grant writing, prospect research, and donor cultivation expertise

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in youth development, health equity, public health, or related mission-driven sectors
• Experience working in or strong familiarity with Arkansas, particularly leveraging local connections for philanthropic work
• Advanced degree or CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification
• Bilingual capabilities or experience working across international contexts
• Demonstrated success navigating politically or culturally sensitive funding environments

Skills & Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management skills
• Proficiency with donor management software (e.g., NEON, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce)
• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills across cultures and sectors
• Ability to work effectively across diverse teams, states, and countries

Personal Attributes

• Adaptable to both established and emerging program contexts
• Comfortable travelling throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, the U.S., and internationally for donor engagement
• Able to communicate with nuance and professionalism in diverse cultural and political contexts
• Mission-driven, equity-focused, and committed to youth voice and youth leadership
• Supportive of evidence-based approaches that provide young people with information to make informed decisions about their health
• Comfortable discussing comprehensive sexual health education and youth development in professional contexts
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and globally minded

Benefits

• Base Salary: $82.5k - $90k (Slightly negotiable for the right candidate)
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Flexible work arrangements with remote work options
• Generous paid time off policy
• Paid holidays

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