Chief Philanthropy Officer

About the role

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has served neighbors in need for over 175 years, empowering volunteers to offer tangible aid with dignity and respect while growing in faith. With a global Catholic lay organization founded in Paris in 1833 and active in the United States since 1845, the Society serves over five million people annually through home visits, thrift stores, food pantries, charitable pharmacies, dental and veterinary clinics, housing programs, and disaster services. The US Society ranks number 45 on Forbes' list of America's top 100 charities. The National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP USA), headquartered in St. Louis with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C., supports this network through national programs, advocacy and public policy, Vincentian formation and training, communications, and fundraising. Its staff of roughly 30 serves Councils and Conferences, and a 25-person board of directors governs the Society. Under a new National President, a new CEO, and a largely new leadership team, SVdP USA has embarked on an ambitious path of renewal, including a Washington, D.C. advocacy office (opened 2025), the first national Poverty Institute (August 2026), a Society-wide synodal planning process, a digital transformation (new national website, Council microsites, storytelling platform, donor CRM rolling out 2027‑2028), a two‑year independent evaluation of the Motel to Home housing initiative, and national fundraising conferences that have trained over 100 Council and Conference staff and volunteers since spring 2026. Philanthropy is central to this ambition. SVdP USA aims to grow national fundraising substantially over the next three to five years and to build a culture of philanthropy across the entire Society. The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) will build, lead, and evaluate a comprehensive national fundraising program spanning major and principal gifts, annual and mid‑level giving, planned giving, foundation and corporate giving, donor stewardship, advancement services and prospect research, and fundraising communications. The CPO will bring both the science of fundraising (clear portfolios, metrics, and accountability) and the art of it (relationships, stewardship, and a compelling case for national support). For a builder with a heart for the mission, this is a rare opportunity to put a lasting stamp on one of the nation's most venerable charities.

The national headquarters is in Maryland Heights, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. SVdP USA prefers that the CPO work from an office alongside leadership colleagues in a hybrid arrangement. Preferred locations are St. Louis, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta; exceptional candidates in other major metropolitan areas may be considered. Regular travel to St. Louis and to donors and Councils across the country is expected.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive national philanthropy strategy that integrates every giving channel.
• Serve as the CEO's chief advisor on philanthropy strategy, donor engagement, fundraising priorities, campaign readiness, and long-term revenue growth.
• Lead, supervise, and develop the philanthropy team, including three regionally