Head of Fundraising

Oscar's Place is seeking a Head of Fundraising to join at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. Reporting directly to the Co-Founder and CEO, this senior leadership role will shape the next chapter of an organization with a compelling mission, a growing national profile, and an ambitious vision for expansion.

About the Role

Oscar’s Place has established a strong fundraising foundation, including a credible brand, engaged supporters, and a clear case for investment in both operating and capital priorities. Building on this momentum, the Head of Fundraising will lead and execute a comprehensive development strategy designed to accelerate philanthropic growth and support the organization's long-term objectives.

This role is intentionally designed for a builder, offering significant autonomy, ownership, and decision-making authority across the development function. The Head of Fundraising will create new systems, expand donor engagement strategies, and help build a best-in-class fundraising program capable of supporting Oscar's Place's ambitious growth trajectory.

This role does not include email fundraising, social media fundraising, direct mail, or digital advertising (owned by Head of Business Operations & Marketing). The Head of Fundraising will not inherit the Co-Founder and CEO's existing top-tier major donor relationships but will instead build a new portfolio of major donors at the $5,000+ level.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts

• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of major donors with a giving capacity of $5,000+ annually.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors through personalized engagement strategies designed to deepen commitment and increase philanthropic investment.
• Develop a sustainable pipeline of new donor prospects, independently building relationships rather than inheriting the organization's most established donor connections.
• Partner with the Co-Founder and CEO and senior leadership on select cultivation and solicitation opportunities while maintaining ownership of donor strategy, engagement, and follow-through.
• Establish meaningful stewardship practices that strengthen long-term donor relationships and encourage increased annual and multi-year support.

Legacy and Planned Giving

• Lead and expand Oscar's Place's planned giving program, launched in partnership with FreeWill in July 2026.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward legacy donors, helping supporters align their philanthropic goals with the long-term future of the organization.
• Develop and implement strategies to grow the planned giving pipeline and increase awareness of legacy giving opportunities among donors and supporters.
• Create stewardship and recognition opportunities that foster enduring relationships with legacy society members.
• Track planned giving activity and build a sustainable program that generates long-term philanthropic support for the organization.

Grants Management

• Own and lead Oscar's Place's foundation, corporate, and institutional fundraising strategy, driving sustainable revenue growth and long-term funding partnerships.
• Develop and manage a strong institutional funding pipeline, identifying, qualifying, and prioritizing prospective funders aligned with the organization’s mission and growth plans.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with foundation, corporate, and institutional partners, ensuring high-quality engagement, retention, and long-term support.
• Provide strategic oversight of all grant proposals and funder reporting, partnering with grant writing support to ensure high-quality submissions, strong funder engagement, and growth in institutional income.
• Manage the grants pipeline and reporting calendar to ensure timely submissions, excellent funder stewardship, strong renewal rates, and continued growth in institutional income.
• Lead grant management for the organization, which may include directing outside grant writing support.

Success Measurements

This role carries clear year-one targets for relationships cultivated, gifts closed, grants awarded, and legacy commitments. Accountability and performance are core to how we operate.

Requirements

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive fundraising experience at the major gifts level, with a track record of personally closing gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a major donor portfolio.
• Proven success writing and securing foundation grants.
• Experience with planned giving and legacy programs, including strategies for cultivating estate-level commitments.
• Comfort with founder-led, brand-driven organizations and the discipline that requires.
• Strong writing skills. Ability to draft donor communications, case statements, grant proposals, and cultivation correspondence at the Co-Founder and CEO's voice altitude.
• Comfort with technology, including donor management systems, prospect research tools, and AI-augmented research workflows.
• Excellent judgment about donor confidentiality, including the discipline to protect anonymous donors absolutely.

Preferred Qualifications

• CFRE certification. Not required but recognized as a strong signal of fundraising professional standards.
• MBA or other advanced degree. Demonstrates strategic thinking and institutional sophistication.
• Experience at a national animal welfare organization, hospital fundraising program, or peer institution.
• Existing relationships in the major donor philanthropic community in California or nationally.
• Experience launching or scaling a planned giving program.
• Comfort with rapid growth environments. Oscar's Place is on a path to double operating revenue in 2027 over the course of 2026.

Work Environment

Oscar's Place is a high-performing, mission-driven organization with a small, senior leadership team. Staff are based on property in California or Texas. The culture is collaborative, entrepreneurial, and decisive, valuing direct communication and thoughtful decision-making.

The Head of Fundraising will work closely with the Co-Founder and CEO, who provides the visibility, credibility, and support needed to advance the organization's fundraising goals while empowering leaders to own their functions with a high degree of independence. This role is best suited for a self-directed professional who thrives with autonomy, takes initiative, and is motivated by delivering meaningful results.

Oscar's Place embraces emerging technologies as part of its operating model, including the regular use of AI tools to support strategic planning, communication, and decision-making. Comfort with AI-enabled workflows is expected, and enthusiasm for leveraging these tools to enhance effectiveness is welcomed.

Location and Travel

This is a remote position. While candidates in the greater Los Angeles area are strongly preferred due to ease of travel to Northern California, we are also open to candidates based in Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle. Oscar's Place would additionally welcome candidates interested in relocating to Hopland, California, where the sanctuary is located.

Bringing donors to the ranch is a specific priority for this role. Oscar's Place has guest housing on site and good local dining, and the Co-Founder and CEO will be personally and directly available to support these visits.

The Head of Fundraising will travel as needed to cultivate and steward donors, attend key fundraising meetings and events, and support organizational priorities. The role also includes participation in twice-yearly, in-person leadership team gatherings at the ranch. Candidates should be comfortable with regular travel and recognize the value of in-person engagement in advancing meaningful philanthropic relationships.

Pay

The range for this position is $150,000 - $170,000.

Benefits

• Retirement (401k with 8% employer match).
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Equipment provided (laptop, software, donor management system, prospect research tools, AI workflows).
• Travel reimbursement at Oscar's Place standard rates.