Job Title: Director of Philanthropy
Reports To: Chief Development Officer
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Date: 10/13/2025

Join Our Mission – Lead with Heart and Strategy!

About Us:
Welcome to Grace Place for Children and Families, where we believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Nestled in sunny Naples, FL, we’re a vibrant nonprofit community that empowers children and families through transformative educational programs. If you're passionate about making a real difference and love connecting people to purpose, we’d love to meet you!

Position: Director of Philanthropy (Major Gifts)
Are you a visionary fundraiser who thrives on building meaningful relationships and crafting unforgettable donor experiences? Do you love turning big ideas into bold action? As our Director of Philanthropy, you’ll be the heartbeat of our major gifts strategy—leading with creativity, inspiring generosity, and helping us grow a movement that changes lives.

What You’ll Be Doing (and Loving!):

Strategize Like a Pro

Design compelling giving opportunities that tell our story through the voices of students, families, and donors.
Build and evolve our gift pyramid with smart, data-driven tactics.
Create a menu of naming opportunities that spark excitement and pride.
Empower our board to be fundraising champions through training and engagement.

Discover Hidden Gems

Dive into our donor database to uncover major gift potential.
Use smart tools and social media to find new philanthropic partners.
Host inspiring campus visits that connect donors to our mission.
Collaborate with board members to expand our donor family.

Cultivate Connections

Lead a dynamic major gifts campaign with heart and vision.
Personalize engagement plans for top donors and prospects.
Host intimate events that build community and spark generosity.
Launch a leadership giving society that celebrates impact.

Ask with Confidence

Craft tailored proposals that speak to donors’ passions.
Lead face-to-face conversations that inspire transformational giving.
Use peer-to-peer strategies to expand our reach.
Recognize every donor’s journey with thoughtful touches and gratitude.

Celebrate and Steward

Share powerful impact stories through reports, videos, and events.
Create joyful recognition experiences that honor generosity.
Build lasting relationships through personalized stewardship.
Keep donors informed, appreciated, and inspired to stay involved.

Track the Magic

Monitor progress, measure success, and celebrate wins.
Use data to refine strategies and elevate outcomes.
Report to leadership with clarity and confidence.

What You Bring to the Table:

Proven success in major gifts fundraising and donor engagement.
A natural leader who inspires teams and builds trust.
Stellar communication skills—written, verbal, and visual.
A love for data and storytelling.
Experience in grant writing is a plus.
A deep passion for education and community transformation.

Ready to Lead with Purpose?
Submit your resume and cover letter to join a team that’s changing lives every day. At Grace Place, you won’t just raise funds—you’ll raise hope, opportunity, and futures.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Grace Place values diversity in the workplace and among our partners and other stakeholders.
It is the policy of Grace Place to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company sponsored employee activities. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity, or age limitations will be adhered to by Grace Place where appropriate.

Employees and applicants shall not be subjected to harassment, intimidation or any type of retaliation because they have (1) filed a complaint; (2) assisted or participated in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal employment opportunity; (3) opposed any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercised any other legal right protected by federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity.
The above-mentioned policies shall be periodically brought to the attention of supervisors and shall be appropriately administered. It is the responsibility of each supervisor at Grace Place to ensure affirmative implementation of these policies to avoid any discrimination in employment. All employees are expected to recognize these policies and cooperate with their implementation. Violation of these policies could be considered a disciplinary offense.

Disclaimer:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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