Director of Philanthropy

Philanthropy Director

Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that leads and inspires the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment. Access Fund represents more than 8 million climbers nationwide in its work to protect and conserve the land, fight for sustainable access, and build a community of inspired advocates.

Access Fund is seeking an experienced, high caliber, strategic fundraising leader who is passionate about our mission and excels at building meaningful, long-term relationships with donors and philanthropic partners. The Philanthropy Director will play a key leadership role in advancing Access Fund's philanthropic strategy, with primary responsibility for growing and strengthening the organization's major gifts and planned giving programs.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Philanthropy, Marketing, & Operations, the Philanthropy Director will develop and execute strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects across the country. This position will manage a significant portfolio of high-capacity donors while also providing strategic leadership to the broader individual giving program. The Philanthropy Director will work closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, Board of Directors, and marketing team to deepen donor engagement, increase philanthropic revenue, and position Access Fund for sustained growth.

The successful candidate will bring strong frontline fundraising experience, strategic thinking, excellent judgment, and the ability to build authentic connections and inspire confidence and action among donors, colleagues, and board members. This is an opportunity for a creative and entrepreneurial fundraising professional to help shape the future of philanthropy at a national conservation organization with a highly engaged community.

Access Fund maintains its national headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. This position is eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements; however, a preference will be given to candidates within close proximity to a major market with easy access to an airport (Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; and San Francisco Bay Area, CA).

Candidates are encouraged to apply immediately. Access Fund will begin reviewing applications on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Job Responsibilities

75% — Major Donor Engagement and Solicitation

• Lead the strategy, growth, and evolution of Access Fund's major gifts program, establishing ambitious but achievable annual and long-term revenue goals.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual major donor strategy that incorporates prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major and prospective donors across the country, building authentic, long-term relationships and soliciting gifts of increasing size and significance.
• Work closely with and support the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and program directors in managing their portfolios of the highest priority major donors, charitable foundations, and other major supporters.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Deputy Director and Marketing & Membership Director on donor strategy, relationship management, solicitation approaches, philanthropic opportunities, and how to integrate memberships and major gifts.
• Help lead Access Fund's exploration of potential future capital campaigns, including initiating a feasibility study and, if appropriate, planning and implementing a successful campaign.
• Develop compelling, donor-centered cases for support, proposals, solicitation strategies, and stewardship plans that connect donors to Access Fund's mission, impact, and vision.
• Identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement through events, climbing experiences, site visits, briefings, and other meaningful points of connection.
• Plan and participate in 3–4 donor activation events and/or cultivation opportunities annually, creating meaningful experiences for new and existing supporters.
• Lead the ongoing development and advancement of Access Fund's planned giving program, including prospect identification, cultivation, stewardship, and integration with major gifts.
• Collaborate with the philanthropy and marketing teams to develop an integrated annual donor communications and engagement strategy, including targeted and personalized outreach.
• Establish and maintain strong fundraising systems, practices, and documentation to ensure consistent and effective donor management.
• Serve as a resource and mentor to colleagues across the organization on donor engagement and fundraising best practices.

15% — Staff and Board Support and Partnership

• Serve as a visible leader within Access Fund, helping foster a culture in which philanthropy is understood as a shared organizational responsibility.
• Partner with the Executive Director and senior leadership to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities, programs, and long-term vision.
• Work with the Board of Directors to strengthen their understanding of philanthropy and equip them to participate effectively in donor engagement and fundraising.
• Develop and facilitate donor and fundraising briefings, presentations, and training for staff and Board members.
• Work closely with the Programs team to identify, develop, and execute project-specific fundraising opportunities.
• Support Access Fund's grant writer on foundation and corporate grant proposals and reports.
• Support the Programs team on government grant proposals and reports.
• Represent Access Fund externally as a knowledgeable and credible voice on philanthropy, conservation, and the role of community in protecting climbing landscapes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with peer organizations, philanthropic partners, and leaders in the conservation and outdoor nonprofit sectors.

10% — Philanthropic Strategy, Planning, and Analysis

• Analyze fundraising performance, donor trends, portfolio health, and emerging opportunities to inform strategy and resource allocation.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking progress toward fundraising goals and proactively identify opportunities, risks, and areas for improvement.
• Use Salesforce and other data to strengthen prospect identification, donor segmentation, portfolio management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Partner with the Data Systems & Member Experience Manager to maintain data integrity and improve the organization's ability to use philanthropic data to drive decisions.
• Provide regular updates to organizational leadership and the Board on fundraising performance, trends, opportunities, and challenges.
• Stay current on trends, innovations, and best practices in philanthropy and bring new ideas and approaches to Access Fund's fundraising program.

Skills and Experiences We're Looking For

Not meeting all the requirements but still feel like you'd be a great fit? Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to our openings. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. Tell us how you can contribute to our team in a cover letter.

• 7+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience with a demonstrated track record of soliciting and securing gifts of $5,000 to $100,000+ and estate gifts.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing major gifts strategies and growing philanthropic revenue.
• Experience managing a significant portfolio of individual donors and prospects through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies, goals, systems, and processes, with the ability to translate organizational priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Strong strategic judgment and the ability to independently assess opportunities, prioritize competing demands, and make sound decisions.
• Demonstrated proficiency with technology and an ability to use a CRM database. Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Ability to analyze data to generate insights and inform decisions.
• Ability to lead through influence, build alignment across teams, and advance shared organizational priorities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with donors, colleagues, and community members.
• Comfort meeting new people, connecting with others, and speaking to groups.
• Comfortable representing an organization externally and speaking to groups of varying sizes and backgrounds.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Passion for and understanding of, or willingness to learn, equal access for all principles as applied to the work of nonprofit and community organizations.
• Passion for and experience in technical, outdoor rock climbing.
• Ability to work a consistent 40-hour week, with the flexibility to travel and work nights/weekends for donor engagement events.
• Satisfactory completion of a background check.

Essential Job Functions

• Majority of work will be performed working at a computer.
• Travel by air and vehicle approximately 5-6 times a year for donor events, meetings, and staff retreats.
• Attend events for 4+ hours at a time.
• Moving and loading boxes weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Loading event tables in and out of Access Fund vehicles.
• Pitching and sandbagging a 10'x10' pop-up tent.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $90,000-$110,000/year, depending on experience & location