Director of Philanthropy

Position Summary  

The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for leading Act One's fundraising, donor stewardship, grants management, and development. The Director will help build a sustainable culture of philanthropy while strengthening organizational systems and partnerships that support our mission and growth. The ideal candidate is an experienced relationship builder, strategic thinker, project manager, and nonprofit professional. 

This position reports directly to the Executive Director and works closely with the Board of Directors, donors, foundations, and organizational stakeholders. 

Primary Responsibilities  

Philanthropy & Fundraising Leadership  

• Develop and implement annual fundraising and philanthropy strategies. 
• Build, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners. 
• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors. 
• Identify, research, and qualify new funding opportunities. 
• Develop donor cultivation and stewardship plans that strengthen donor retention and engagement. 
• Monitor fundraising performance and provide regular revenue forecasting. 

Grants & Institutional Funding  

• Manage all aspects of grant development, submission, reporting, and compliance. 
• Manage grant writing consultant. 
• Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar and reporting schedule. 
• Research and pursue new foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities. 

Donor Stewardship & Relationship Management  

• Lead implementation of donor stewardship systems and best practices. 
• Ensure consistent donor recognition, appreciation, and engagement. 
• Maintain a robust moves-management process within Salesforce. 
• Track donor interactions, cultivation plans, and fundraising outcomes. 
• Monitor donor retention, acquisition, and re-engagement efforts. 
• Develop strategies to deepen donor relationships and increase long-term investment. 

Development Operations & Systems Management  

• Serve as primary administrator and strategic manager of Salesforce and development systems. 
• Maintain accurate donor records, reporting systems, and fundraising data. 
• Establish and maintain development policies, procedures, and best practices. 
• Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency. 
• Generate reports and analytics that support fundraising strategy and organizational planning. 
• Lead planning and execution of donor cultivation and fundraising events. 
• Develop sponsorship opportunities and sponsorship strategies. 
• Collaborate on annual reports, donor communications, and impact storytelling. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications  

Required  

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience. 
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible nonprofit development, philanthropy, fundraising, or related leadership experience. 
• Demonstrated success in donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising. 
• Experience managing grants, donor databases, and fundraising systems. 
• Strong financial literacy and experience working with budgets, forecasting, and financial reports. 
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Strong project management and organizational skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a small team environment. 
• Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office/Google Suite, and nonprofit technology platforms. 
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Arizona as needed. 

Preferred  

• Experience with Salesforce. 
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteer leadership. 
• Experience in arts, education, or community-based nonprofit organizations. 
• Experience with sponsorship development and corporate partnerships. 
• Knowledge of Arizona's philanthropic and nonprofit landscape. 

Compensation & Benefits  

Salary range: Range $75-90,000 (plus bonus opportunity) commensurate with experience. 

Act One offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, generous paid time off, and a flexible work environment. Some evening and weekend commitments and statewide travel are required. 

Contact Beth Maloney with resume and cover letter at View email address on click.appcast.io

  About Act One  

Act One is an Arizona nonprofit organization dedicated to providing meaningful arts experiences for children and families through field trips, virtual reality arts immersion experiences, and the Act One Culture Pass Program. Since 2011, Act One has connected hundreds of thousands of students to transformative arts and cultural experiences, with a focus on serving Title I schools and communities throughout Arizona.