Philanthropic Advising Officer

Reports to: Director of Philanthropic Advising

Status: Exempt, Full-time employee

Pay Range: $65,000-$75,000

Thank you for your interest in joining the Coastal Community Foundation team. Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer with offices in North Charleston and Beaufort, as well as four affiliate foundations. We serve all nine counties on South Carolina’s coast: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties.

Established in 1974, Coastal Community Foundation works to create vibrant communities by identifying the challenges facing the region and bringing together resources to address them. Coastal Community Foundation is the largest community foundation in South Carolina, managing more than 700 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations and awarding tens of millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year.

Financial resources are among the many tools we employ in our effort to create vibrant communities. Throughout our history we have served as conveners to bring residents and leaders together to facilitate solutions to community-wide challenges such as housing affordability, economic mobility, quality education and physical and mental well-being. We also have a long history of helping nonprofits build their capacity, and incubating grassroots causes to provide them with structural support, so they grow into fully operational organizations.

Why work for us?

When you join Coastal Community Foundation, you join a dedicated staff and Board of Directors who have earned the trust of donors and grantees alike, helping them advance positive outcomes in the communities they seek to serve and adapting to their evolving needs so that our region thrives together.

We take that same approach and dedication to supporting our staff members to ensure their success at work and outside of the work environment. We offer a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, Holidays, Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), 401(k), and professional training and development opportunities.

Our Commitment to Inclusion with Equity

Inclusion with equity is one of our four core values at Coastal Community Foundation, so we not only work to recruit diverse candidates, we work to ensure our team members have all the tools they need to be successful. Our purpose is most effectively fulfilled through proactively supporting the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Diversity may be measured by, but is not limited to, differences in age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, class, religion, disability, geography, and profession. We acknowledge and respect the many differences that comprise thriving communities and seek diversity in our staff to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions and experiences are recognized and acted upon in achieving our purpose.

It is our intention to promote a fully equitable philanthropic sector that justly represents and serves all our constituencies. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, of LGBTQ+ identity and of other historically marginalized communities.

Essential Functions

Philanthropic Advising & Relationship Management

Serve as the primary relationship manager for an assigned portfolio of fundholders, donors, and prospective donors.
Provide personalized philanthropic advising that aligns donor interests, charitable goals, and values with community needs and Foundation priorities.
Develop and implement individualized cultivation, engagement, stewardship, and solicitation strategies that deepen donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of donor objectives, family interests, philanthropic priorities, and charitable aspirations.
Guide donors through philanthropic conversations and opportunities that maximize charitable impact.
Facilitate donor meetings, educational experiences, community engagement opportunities, site visits, and strategic introductions.
Support the stewardship of donor intent by ensuring donor engagement strategies and fund activity remain aligned with fund agreements and Foundation policies.
Collaborate with colleagues across the Foundation to connect donors with meaningful grantmaking, leadership, and community impact opportunities.
Develop engagement strategies that connect fundholders with the impact of their giving through stewardship communications, educational updates, and donor engagement opportunities.
Identify opportunities to align donor interests with the six CCF Pillars of Impact: Economic Mobility, Physical and Mental Wellbeing, Education, Coastal Resilience, Culture and Inclusion & Family Philanthropy and Leadership.

Fund and Asset Development

Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments that support existing and new charitable funds—including donor-advised, unrestricted, field-of-interest, scholarship, designated, special initiative, planned gifts, and other giving vehicles—as well as the Foundation’s Community Partnership Program and specials initiatives.
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects and philanthropic opportunities that align donor interests with Foundation priorities and community impact goals.
Collaborate with Foundation leadership and philanthropy colleagues to develop and execute strategies for major gifts, blended gifts, and charitable investments.
Collaborate with Foundation colleagues to ensure fund agreements, donor expectations, stewardship practices, and charitable activities remain aligned with Foundation policies, regulatory requirements, and donor intent.

Community Engagement

Represent Coastal Community Foundation at community events, civic organizations, donor gatherings, and Foundation-sponsored activities.
Develop a strong understanding of regional issues, nonprofit organizations, community needs, and Foundation initiatives to effectively connect donors with meaningful opportunities.
Support efforts to increase awareness, visibility, and utilization of Foundation services throughout the region.
Serve as a visible ambassador for the Foundation and help strengthen relationships that advance philanthropy and community impact across the Foundation's service area.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate closely with colleagues across Philanthropy, Grantmaking Community Leadership, Finance, and Marketing & Communications to ensure a seamless and exceptional donor experience.
Work in conjunction with the Donor Experience & Engagement Team to support donor stewardship programs, educational events, donor recognition activities, engagement opportunities, and fundraising initiatives designed to strengthen donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
Partner with Foundation colleagues to create meaningful donor experiences that enhance fundholder satisfaction, deepen engagement, and demonstrate the impact of charitable giving.
Support fundraising campaign gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies by identifying prospective donors, advancing donor relationships, facilitating donor engagement opportunities, and aligning philanthropic interests with campaign funding priorities.
Support organizational goals through participation in cross-functional teams, collaborative projects, and Foundation-wide initiatives.

Data Management & Reporting

Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed documentation of donor interactions, stewardship activities, opportunities, and prospect strategies within CommunitySuite.
Ensure portfolio activity and donor records support effective relationship management, performance measurement, and organizational reporting.
Prepare donor briefings, relationship strategies, and reports for Foundation leadership and collaborative planning purposes.
Utilize data and performance metrics to evaluate portfolio activity and identify opportunities for increased engagement and philanthropic investment.

General Responsibilities

Demonstrate a strong commitment to Coastal Community Foundation's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
Foster a culture of collaboration, integrity, service, accountability, and community impact.
Maintain confidentiality regarding donor, fundholder, financial, and organizational information.
Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries from donors, fundholders, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.
Remain knowledgeable about emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in philanthropy, fundraising, and community foundations.
Acquire and maintain knowledge of Foundation programs, initiatives, policies, procedures, and community impact priorities.
Actively participate in Foundation meetings, training opportunities, professional development activities, and organizational events.

Required Skills

Exceptional relationship building, networking, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong fundraising and donor cultivation experience, including familiarity with moves management principles.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrated ability to build trust with donors, families, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and colleagues.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and constituent relationship management systems such as CommunitySuite.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Knowledge of charitable giving vehicles, scholarship funds, planned giving, and philanthropic advising principles preferred.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of five years of experience in philanthropy, fundraising, donor relations, financial services, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.
Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding philanthropic relationships and securing significant charitable commitments.
Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, families, businesses, and community leaders preferred.
Knowledge of community foundations, donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, endowment building, and planned giving vehicles strongly preferred.
Professional credentials such as CFRE, CAP®, CFP®, CPA, JD, or related certifications are desirable.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
Frequently communicate with donors, colleagues, community stakeholders, and Foundation partners.
Ability to travel regularly throughout Coastal Community Foundation's service region to attend donor meetings, events, community activities, and Foundation functions.
Ability to occasionally lift and transport materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

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