Chief Philanthropy Officer

Job Description

Summary:

The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) is a C-suite executive and the organizational champion for a thriving philanthropic program at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaiʻi (RMHCH). Grounded in the belief that fundraising is, at its heart, the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving, the CPO leads with a donor-centric philosophy — one that places the values, passions, and philanthropic aspirations of each donor at the center of every relationship, strategy, and decision.

This role provides executive oversight of two deeply integrated departments — Fund Development and Marketing & Communications — ensuring that every donor relationship, public touchpoint, and revenue initiative reflects genuine gratitude, authentic connection, and a deep reverence for the generosity of those who make the RMHCH mission possible. The CPO cultivates an organizational culture in which philanthropy is not merely a function, but a shared value — embraced by staff, board, and community partners alike.

As a trusted thought partner to the President & CEO and a servant leader to the Board’s Fundraising Committee, the CPO aligns all philanthropic and communications activity with RMHCH’s 5-Year Long-Range Strategic Plan — driving revenue growth from its current $2.5–$3 million annual level toward $4 million within three years, while building the relational infrastructure and donor loyalty that will sustain transformational giving for generations to come.

Primary Responsibilities:

Executive Philanthropic Leadership & Organizational Vision

·        Serve as a senior member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organization-wide strategic planning, culture, and mission fulfillment.

·        Translate the 5-Year Long-Range Strategic Plan into a comprehensive, multi-year philanthropic and marketing roadmap with measurable milestones.

·        Develop annual and multi-year revenue goals, sustainable funding models, and reserve-building strategies that support operational growth, program expansion, and future capital needs.

·        Monitor, evaluate, and report progress toward long-term revenue and brand benchmarks, adjusting strategy with agility based on performance data and organizational priorities.

·        Represent RMHCH externally as a visible ambassador of the mission, cultivating strategic relationships with major donors, corporate leaders, community stakeholders, and media partners.

Comprehensive Fund Development Oversight

·        Provide executive oversight of all fundraising programs, including:

·        Major gifts and transformational donor cultivation

·        Corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships

·        Annual giving and recurring/monthly giving programs

·        Planned and legacy giving initiatives

·        Signature events (Gala, Golf Classic, Red Shoe 5K)

·        Community-based and third-party fundraisers

·        Ongoing revenue initiatives and special campaigns

·        Additional responsibilities include:

·        Building and stewarding a robust donor pipeline using structured moves-management systems and a culture of donor-centric relationship building.

·        Partnering directly with the President & CEO to cultivate, solicit, and close major and transformational gifts.

·        Ensuring exceptional stewardship practices and donor retention strategies at every level of the giving pyramid.

·        Overseeing fundraising budget performance, return-on-investment analysis, and compliance with gift acceptance policies.

Marketing, Communications & Brand Strategy Oversight

Provide executive direction over a comprehensive marketing and communications function that amplifies the RMHCH mission and builds lasting community trust:

·        Champion a cohesive brand identity, ensuring full alignment with RMHC International standards and the unique spirit of the Hawaiʻi community.

·        Oversee website strategy, email marketing, digital fundraising infrastructure, and integrated donor communications.

·        Direct social media strategy and paid media campaigns that drive awareness, engagement, and giving.

·        Lead organizational storytelling efforts — elevating the voices of families served, donors honored, and corporate partners celebrated.

·        Coordinate public relations and earned media efforts to enhance statewide visibility, media relationships, and mission awareness.

·        Ensure all communications reinforce fundraising goals and reflect the values and culture of RMHCH.

Board Fundraising Committee Leadership

·        Serve as the primary executive staff liaison to the Board of Directors' Fundraising Committee.

·        Partner with the Committee Chair to establish and advance annual and multi-year fundraising goals aligned with the 5-Year Strategic Plan.

·        Develop compelling meeting agendas, donor pipeline analyses, performance dashboards, and board-ready reports.

·        Equip and inspire board members with tools, messaging, and strategies to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.

·        Strengthen board accountability and culture of philanthropy, deepening trustees' engagement with RMHCH's fundraising mission.

Coordination & Oversight of External Consultants & Vendors

·        Serve as the primary executive liaison for all PR, marketing, and fundraising consultants engaged by the organization.

·        Establish clear scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations for all external partners.

·        Ensure all consultant strategies are fully integrated with internal staff execution and aligned with the 5-Year Strategic Plan.

·        Monitor effectiveness, budget adherence, and measurable return on investment for all external engagements.

Department Leadership, Team Development & Culture

Provide executive direction and direct supervision to:

·        Director of Fund Development

·        Director of Marketing & Communications

·        Donor Manager

·        Event Manager

·        Outreach Manager

·        Development Assistant

Leadership responsibilities include:

·        Setting measurable annual performance goals aligned with revenue, brand, and mission targets.

·        Conducting meaningful evaluations and investing in the professional development of each team member.

·        Fostering a collaborative, mission-driven, accountable team culture rooted in RMHCH values.

·        Ensuring seamless cross-departmental alignment with Programs, Finance, and Operations.

Data Intelligence, Systems & Strategic Reporting

·        Oversee the integrity, utilization, and optimization of the donor database and all fundraising systems.

·        Establish organizational KPIs tied to revenue growth, donor acquisition and retention, marketing engagement, and brand reach.

·        Deliver regular performance reporting to the President & CEO and quarterly fundraising dashboards for leadership and board review.

·        Apply data-driven insights to inform strategic adjustments, long-range planning, and board decision-making.

 Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit fund development, with demonstrated success at an executive or senior director level.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, planned giving, and corporate partnership development.
• Experience leading marketing and communications functions, with a strong grasp of digital strategy, brand management, and public relations.
• Experience serving as a strategic partner to nonprofit boards and leading fundraising committees.
• Proven ability to supervise, develop, and inspire high-performing, multi-function teams.
• Experience managing external consultants and vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and organizational capabilities; comfort with fundraising software and CRM systems.
• CFRE credential preferred or active commitment to obtaining it.
• Executive presence, exceptional communication abilities, and a deep personal commitment to the RMHCH mission.

Core Competencies

✦ Mission-Centered Cultural Fit

✦ Visionary Strategic Thinker

✦ Transformational Relationship Builder

✦ Revenue Architect & Growth Champion

✦ Brand-Focused Storyteller & Communicator

✦ Data-Informed Decision Maker

✦ Collaborative Cross-Functional Leader

✦ Board & Donor Engagement Expert

Compensation & Structure

Position Title: Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO)

Base Salary Range: $130,000 – $150,000 per year

Compensation Justification

•      C-suite executive responsibility spanning two full departments: Fund Development and Marketing & Communications.

•      Direct accountability for revenue growth from $2.5–$3M to $4M within three years, with a mandate to build transformational giving infrastructure beyond.

•      Executive leadership of the Board of Directors' Fundraising Committee.

•      Supervision of six staff members across two departments.

•      Strategic oversight and management of external PR, marketing, and fundraising consultants.

•      Statewide brand stewardship and multi-channel philanthropic strategy for one of Hawaiʻi's most beloved charitable organizations.

•      Compensation benchmarked to Hawaiʻi nonprofit market rates for C-suite development executives in growth-stage organizations.

Performance Incentive Tied To:

•      Major gift portfolio growth and transformational gift closures

•      Corporate partnership and sponsorship revenue increases

•      Donor retention and mid-level giving program growth

•      Marketing engagement benchmarks and brand reach expansion

•      Progress toward 5-Year Strategic Plan revenue milestones

This role represents one of the most impactful leadership opportunities in Hawaiʻi's nonprofit sector — a chance to help families in their most vulnerable moments while building a legacy of generosity across our community.