Philanthropic Advisor - Community Philanthropy

About Us

The Cleveland Foundation, established in 1914 as the world’s first community foundation, continues to shape the future of place-based philanthropy more than a century later. With $4.2 billion in assets and a legacy of bold leadership, we are driven by a commitment to improve the lives of everyone who calls Greater Cleveland home, today and for generations to come. Joining our team means becoming part of a culture that blends history-making impact with forward-looking innovation. Our vision is a vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind. Every team member plays a key role in advancing this vision by tackling Cleveland’s most critical issues, championing opportunities for all, and helping unlock the full potential of our region. Our headquarters in the heart of MidTown places us at the center of a historic neighborhood and growing district, surrounded by partners, community leaders and residents who are reimagining what’s possible for our city. Here, you’ll work in a dynamic, collaborative environment designed to spark creativity, deepen relationships, and accelerate change. At the Cleveland Foundation, you can be part of building a stronger future for every Clevelander.

About You

You are a relationship-driven professional who believes philanthropy is most powerful when it is rooted in community, culture, and lived experience. You bring cultural fluency to your work, with a demonstrated commitment to advancing philanthropy in diverse communities and community-led solutions. You are also passionate about advancing philanthropy in all communities who have not historically participated in traditional philanthropy. You are equally comfortable advising donors, grassroots leaders, and institutional partners—translating between these spaces to ensure resources flow in ways that build trust, equity, and long-term community wealth. You approach your work with humility, curiosity, and a strong sense of accountability to community outcomes. You thrive in collaborative environments, navigate complex conversations with clarity and care, and are motivated by the opportunity to center Black voices, strengthen networks, and unlock sustained philanthropic investment in communities across Greater Cleveland.

About the role

The Philanthropic Advisor plays a critical role in advancing the Foundation’s community philanthropy strategy, with a particular focus on supporting a diverse set of donors, including those donors involved with the Black Philanthropy Center (BPC), the Black Philanthropy Fund, and related initiatives. This role integrates donor advising and community engagement, working to align philanthropic capital with community-defined priorities. The Philanthropic Advisor builds and stewards relationships with donors and organizations, while also cultivating trust with community leaders—ensuring philanthropic resources are responsive, equitable, and catalytic. The position contributes to expanding philanthropy by supporting fund development, securing outright and planned gifts, strengthening donor and community partnerships, and advancing systems that enable collective giving, shared decision-making, and long-term impact with a specific focus in Black communities. This role reports to the Director of Organizational Impact and Community Philanthropy.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of donors—including individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofits—supporting increasingly complex philanthropic goals and relationships over time.
• Serve as a trusted primary advisor for assigned donors, taking growing responsibility for relationship management, fund oversight, and delivery of high-quality service aligned with the foundation’s philanthropic model.
• Serve as a core contributor to the Black Philanthropy Center to service donors related to the Center and develop partnerships connected to community philanthropy.
• Represent the Foundation externally as a credible, community-centered ambassador, particularly in spaces advancing Black philanthropy.
• Translate community priorities, lived experience, and emerging opportunities into actionable philanthropic pathways for donors.
• Deepen donor engagement by increasingly aligning donor interests with the foundation’s programmatic priorities in the impact agenda, contributing to long-term, systems-level community impact and immediate impact.
• Design and deliver compelling donor presentations and personalized learning sessions, building expertise in legacy planning, philanthropic strategy, and multi-generational family engagement.
• Help shape internal approaches to community philanthropy—including tools, practices, and learning systems that strengthen the Foundation’s effectiveness.
• Advise organizational funds on fundraising strategies and pathways for sustainability.
• Collaborate proactively across departments to identify cultivation and co-funding opportunities, contributing to more coordinated donor strategies, stewardship efforts, and engagement experiences.
• Take on expanding responsibility within strategic initiatives and special projects, supporting—and over time leading—discrete workstreams under the guidance of the Director of Organizational Impact and Community Philanthropy.
• Model inclusive, donor-centered practices and represent the foundation with growing confidence as a community-focused ambassador for the new Foundation headquarters and in external engagements.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Competencies & Behavioral Expectations

• Judgment
• Communication
• Community Fluency & Engagement
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• Responsiveness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4–6 years of experience in a service-oriented environment advising high-profile donors or clients.
• Demonstrated success in managing a donor/client portfolio and cultivating lasting relationships.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Experience designing and delivering donor stewardship programs and tailored communications.
• Strong collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams and diverse communities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and working knowledge of database systems.
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of fund development, planned giving, investment strategy, and philanthropic advising.
• Familiarity with the Greater Cleveland nonprofit landscape and ability to research donor interests.

Work Environment

• The role is primarily office-based, involving frequent interaction with executives, staff, and external partners.
• The position may require prolonged periods of sitting, as well as occasional lifting of light office supplies and materials.
• Occasional extended hours to meet deadlines or support special events.
• Frequent travel may be required for meetings, events, or conferences.