Chief Philanthropy Officer

Job Description

Job Description

TITLE:  Chief Philanthropy Officer  

DIVISION:  Philanthropy  

REPORTS TO:  Chief Operating Officer

SUPERVISES:  Vice President of Philanthropy

LOCATION:  Bozeman, MT or Lewistown, MT

FLSA STATUS Exempt

GROUP:  Core

HOURS:  Full-Time averaging 40 hours per week

BENEFITS:  Refer to benefit guide and handbook

RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:  Available, amount varies by location. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Employees are expected to be responsible for and assist with additional tasks and duties as needed. Job description details including title, duties, division, reports to, supervises, work location, FLSA status, group, hours, and benefits are subject to change at the discretion and needs of the organization and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) is responsible for American Prairie’s comprehensive philanthropic strategy in support of annual operations, campaign goals, long-term revenue growth, and financial sustainability. As a member of the Executive Team, the CPO plays a central role in organizational leadership and decision-making, ensuring philanthropy is fully integrated across organizational priorities and long-term strategy. 

Internally, the CPO leads our philanthropy function, directly manages senior philanthropy team members, and oversees campaign execution, outcomes, performance management, and philanthropy systems, including goal setting, forecasting, performance metrics and accountability frameworks that drive results. This leadership role spans growth and retention of giving at all levels.The CPO has direct responsibility for cultivating and securing high-value donor commitments while managing a focused portfolio of high-capacity relationships. In addition to management of the philanthropy division team, the CPO is also responsible for growing our annual fund with support from our Vice President of Marketing and Communications and their team. 

Externally, the CPO serves as an ambassador for the organization, strengthening relationships within the philanthropic, conservation, and community networks to expand awareness, deepen engagement, and advance fundraising opportunities on behalf of American Prairie.

JOB DUTIES  

Philanthropy Strategy, Campaign, and Oversight (60%)

• Develop, lead, and evolve a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to grow American Prairie’s fundraising program including annual operating, campaign, restricted giving, and long-term revenue. 

• Lead the Forever Wild comprehensive campaign planning and execution including donor engagement strategy, revenue forecasting and tracking while ensuring a balanced funding model that sustains core operations and advances transformational investments.

• Provide executive leadership for the Forever Wild Campaign Committee of the National Board of Directors by establishing its strategic direction, recruiting and engaging influential philanthropic volunteer leaders, and leveraging committee members to advance transformational philanthropy, campaign objectives, and long-term philanthropic growth. This role partners closely with the Vice President of Philanthropy, who leads day-to-day management of the committee.

• Advance a donor-centered cultivation and stewardship strategy that strengthens new donor acquisition and pipeline building, long-term engagement, retention, and transformational philanthropic investment.

• Partner with the Executive Team and National Board of Directors to align philanthropic priorities with organizational strategy and decision-making.

• Serve as a strategic advisor for planned giving program development, growth and stewardship through the Prairie Legacy Society.

• Oversee the Vice President of Philanthropy, who is responsible for directing frontline fundraisers, donor engagement, operations, and campaign execution, fostering a high-accountability, collaborative, and mission-driven culture across the division.

• Oversee philanthropy division budgeting, annual planning, and donor pipeline growth.

• Partner with fellow Executive Team members to ensure strong alignment between philanthropy, finance, marketing, communications, and program leadership to support organizational priorities, campaign success, and long-term sustainability.

• Partner closely with the National Board of Directors, Executive Team, and Vice President of Philanthropy to support donor strategy development, proposal planning, and portfolio advancement efforts, while maintaining accountability toward campaign and fundraising objectives.

• Foster and strengthen a commitment to philanthropy priorities across the organization, ensuring donor engagement and fundraising strategies are integrated into organizational leadership, strategic planning, and external engagement efforts.

Transformational and Principal Gift Fundraising (20%) 

• Secure transformational, principal, and planned gift commitments in support of annual and campaign fundraising priorities.

• Build, manage, and strategically advance a focused portfolio of 10–20 high-capacity donors and prospects, while cultivating and stewarding transformational and principal-level philanthropic investments.

• Conduct regular donor engagement activities, including strategic cultivation meetings, prairie experiences, events, and relationship-building visits.

Executive and Board Leadership (20%) 

• Serve as a member of the Executive Team and strategic partner to the National Board of Directors, contributing to organizational leadership, organization-wide decision-making, and long-term organizational strategy.

• Represent the organization as a visible external leader within philanthropic, conservation, business, and community networks, advancing mission awareness, organizational credibility, and transformational fundraising opportunities.