Senior Vice President, Philanthropy

About Opportunity Finance Network

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is the nation’s leading investment intermediary and network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. With over $1 billion in total assets under management, OFN operates a national membership network of more than 470 mission-driven lenders and CDFIs, including community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, community development banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. For more than 30 years, OFN has served as a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors—including foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and other institutional partners. The organization’s core mission centers on helping partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for people and places that traditional finance does not reach. OFN functions as a critical connector between capital sources and communities with limited access to conventional financing. OFN is committed to building a diverse, inclusive workplace with a team composed of professionals from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. The organization values employees who demonstrate passion for its mission, courage to advocate for driving capital into underserved communities, a desire to develop innovative strategies and products, and a collaborative approach to teamwork with humility and cross-functional engagement.

About this Role

The Senior Vice President, Philanthropy will lead OFN’s philanthropic partnerships and sponsorship strategy during a period of significant organizational growth. This entrepreneurial, strategic, and relationship-driven leader will build and lead a modern philanthropy function capable of securing transformational institutional and philanthropic investments while strengthening OFN’s long-term fundraising infrastructure. As a member of OFN’s Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Vice President will work closely with the Chief External Affairs Officer, who leads OFN’s integrated External Affairs function across philanthropy, capital financing, communications, marketing, and external engagement. The position also involves collaboration with OFN’s CEO, executive leadership, and both internal and external partners. The role will oversee institutional philanthropy, conference sponsorships, donor stewardship, and emerging philanthropic strategies, including family offices, planned giving, and innovative philanthropic capital structures. This position is designed for a leader who understands that philanthropy is not simply fundraising but rather the strategic capitalization of an institution. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable cultivating long-standing institutional relationships, building new funding pipelines, designing sophisticated partnership strategies, and helping position OFN as the national platform for investment in community finance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute OFN’s comprehensive philanthropy and partnership strategy to support the organization’s strategic plan and long-term capitalization goals
• Build and manage a diversified portfolio of philanthropic partnerships across national and regional foundations, corporate philanthropy, family foundations and family offices, and high-net-worth individuals and planned giving prospects
• Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of seven- and eight-figure philanthropic partnerships
• Identify and develop innovative philanthropic capital opportunities, including planned and legacy giving, family office engagement, recoverable grants and blended capital structures, and mission-aligned investment partnerships
• Provide strategic leadership for OFN’s Philanthropy and Sponsorships team, overseeing institutional philanthropy, donor stewardship, conference sponsorships, and partnership management while ensuring a coordinated relationship strategy across capital markets and philanthropic partners
• Oversee OFN’s national conference sponsorship program, growing sponsorship revenue while strengthening long-term corporate and institutional partnerships and integrating sponsorship engagement into broader philanthropic and organizational relationship strategies
• Partner closely with the Senior Vice President of Capital and Financing and OFN’s Executive Leadership Team to align capital markets and philanthropic partner strategies with OFN and industry needs
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing philanthropy team, establishing clear goals, performance metrics, and moves management systems
• Manage the process for analyzing trends and opportunities in relevant philanthropic markets and sources of funding
• Monitor and analyze market trends, economic indicators, and regulatory changes to provide insights for short- and long-term partnership opportunities
• Conduct in-depth research to identify opportunities and risks in the capital markets landscape
• Collaborate with OFN’s Investment Services team to develop capital products tailored to OFN and member needs
• Ensure new products comply with regulatory requirements and industry standards
• Work closely with the product development team to drive innovation and competitiveness in the market
• Represent OFN with major funders, strategic partners, industry leaders, and other external stakeholders to strengthen the organization’s national philanthropic profile
• Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and a culture of philanthropy across the organization

Requirements

• 10 or more years of progressively senior fundraising or philanthropic leadership experience
• Demonstrated success securing seven- and eight-figure institutional gifts, as well as the capacity to cultivate high-net-worth families and individuals
• Experience managing complex relationships across foundations, corporations, and major philanthropic investors
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing philanthropy and partnership teams, including managing staff and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth
• Proven ability to build new funding pipelines while stewarding existing partners
• Experience working with national organizations or complex, multi-stakeholder institutions
• Strong understanding of philanthropy trends, including family offices, donor-advised funds, planned giving, and trust and estate vehicles
• Familiarity with impact investing, blended capital, or mission-driven finance is strongly preferred
• Strong passion for, understanding of, and commitment to OFN’s mission, vision, and values
• Fearless advocate who is confident and resilient in OFN’s fight to drive capital into low-income communities
• Exceptional strategic thinking, executive presence, and communication skills
• Ability to operate as both a strategist and a highly relational leader
• Strong understanding of how major institutions make investment decisions and the ability to build long-term partnerships rooted in trust
• Ability to develop new relationships and funding opportunities while effectively stewarding existing partnerships
• Ability to view philanthropy as a critical component of a broader capitalization strategy and work seamlessly with colleagues responsible for debt capital, sponsorships, policy partnerships, and strategic investments

Benefits

• Dental care plan
• Health care plan
• Vision care plan
• Family-building benefits
• Hybrid work arrangements to promote work-life balance
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental health benefits
• Financial education services
• Auto-enrollment in 403(b) plan with employer contributions
• Professional development dollars for each employee
• Learning and development opportunities