Director of Philanthropy

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Pacific Region Director of Philanthropy, the Northwest Director of Philanthropy will build relationships with and secure six- and seven-figure major gifts from high-net-worth individuals across Washington and Oregon in support of the Northwest program, the Pacific Region, and the organization’s highest priorities and initiatives. This entrepreneurial, results-oriented role requires a self-motivated individual with a proven track record in major gift fundraising, a commitment to high-quality work, and the ability to thrive both independently and collaboratively within a results-driven team.

The Director of Philanthropy will join a team focused on growing existing donor relationships and identifying new, highly philanthropic individual prospects. They will work closely with executive, program, and philanthropy leadership to leverage resources across the organization, elevating local, regional, and national initiatives. The position oversees a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors, with an emphasis on high-capacity major gift prospects.

Responsibilities

• Relationship Management (50%): Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects, emphasizing individual major gift ($100K+) donors. Conduct donor visits; lead qualification, cultivation, stewardship, and solicitations; and identify new prospects. Develop comprehensive engagement strategies, lead cultivation teams, and create solicitation and stewardship materials. Promote blended gifts, planned giving, and involve peer volunteers, executive leadership, and project staff as needed.
• Program Oversight (30%): Oversee all fundraising activities in the Northwest program. Collaborate with the program team to design and implement annual and long-range plans to meet revenue goals. Track and report progress toward revenue and programmatic goals, monitor philanthropy-related expenses, and ensure proper resource investment. Oversee donor communications, recognition, and events, coordinating with regional and national marketing and donor relations teams. Direct leadership and program staff involvement in fundraising. Collaborate with the Northwest State Director and Advisory Board Chair to recruit, cultivate, and retain Advisory Board members, fostering programmatic and philanthropic success. Lead philanthropy-related board activities, including 100% advisory board giving and donor cultivation events.
• Management (15%): Support a cross-functional philanthropy team, including two direct reports (Associate Director of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Coordinator), through clear communication, guidance, and management to meet program goals. Provide professional development opportunities, monitor progress, and deliver constructive feedback and annual performance assessments.
• Regional & National Strategy (5%): Collaborate with the Pacific Region philanthropy team, national program directors, state directors, and other fundraising staff to consult on organizational needs, formulate donor engagement strategies, and identify potential donors. Assist in creating donor-focused communications and participate in gift solicitations for organization-wide or regional programs.

Expectations

• Carry a balanced portfolio and actively move donors through the four stages of the donor cycle: qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conduct at least 100 donor/prospect visits annually and meet solicitation targets.
• Contribute to the overall success of the Philanthropy team by ensuring budget and goals are met or exceeded.
• Develop and implement annual and long-range philanthropy plans.
• Model TPL’s shared values: Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope.

Requirements

• Minimum 11 years of professional experience with five or more years of demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
• Ability to organize and motivate peers and volunteers.
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices across fundraising disciplines, including institutional giving, major gifts, planned giving, and working with volunteers.
• Experience in planning, leading, and managing campaigns, projects, and action plans, including tracking and reporting progress.
• Ability to train non-philanthropy staff in fundraising disciplines as appropriate.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas effectively.
• Experience establishing and cultivating strong relationships with staff and using good judgment, initiative, and recommendations to achieve common goals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and donor management software.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Vacation, sick leave, and ten holidays.
• 403(b)-retirement plan with up to a 7% company match.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $115,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time exempt position in a hybrid work environment. The ideal candidate will be located in the greater Seattle/Tacoma or Portland areas.