Chief Philanthropy Officer

Job Description

ABOUT THE SOCIETY
For more than 175 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has served neighbors in need one person at a time. A global Catholic lay organization founded in Paris in 1833 and active in the United States since 1845, the Society empowers volunteers to offer tangible aid with dignity and respect while growing in faith themselves. Today, some 80,000 to 90,000 Vincentians in more than 4,000 local Conferences and Councils serve over five million people in the United States every year through home visits, thrift stores, food pantries, charitable pharmacies, dental and veterinary clinics, housing programs, and disaster services. The US Society ranks number 45 on Forbes' list of America's top 100 charities.

The National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP USA), headquartered in St. Louis with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C., supports this network through national programs, advocacy and public policy, Vincentian formation and training, communications, and fundraising. Its staff of roughly 30 serves Councils and Conferences, and a 25-person board of directors governs the Society.

Under a new National President, a new CEO, and a largely new leadership team, SVdP USA has embarked on an ambitious path of renewal:
- A Washington, D.C. advocacy office (opened 2025) and the first national Poverty Institute (August 2026)
- Vision SVdP, a Society-wide synodal planning process to chart the Society's direction
- A digital transformation, including a new national website, Council microsites, a storytelling platform, and a new donor CRM rolling out over 2027-2028
- A two-year independent evaluation of the Motel to Home housing initiative by the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame
- National fundraising conferences that have trained more than 100 Council and Conference staff and volunteers since spring 2026

THE OPPORTUNITY
Philanthropy is central to this ambition. SVdP USA aims to grow national fundraising substantially over the next three to five years and to build a culture of philanthropy across the entire Society. The foundational pieces are in place; what the program needs now is a leader.

The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) will build, lead, and evaluate a comprehensive national fundraising program spanning major and principal gifts, annual and mid-level giving, planned giving, foundation and corporate giving, donor stewardship, advancement services and prospect research, and fundraising communications. The CPO will bring both the science of fundraising (clear portfolios, metrics, and accountability) and the art of it (relationships, stewardship, and a compelling case for national support). For a builder with a heart for the mission, this is a rare opportunity to put a lasting stamp on one of the nation's most venerable charities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy and Leadership
- Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive national philanthropy strategy that integrates every giving channel.
- Serve as the CEO's chief advisor on philanthropy strategy, donor engagement, fundraising priorities, campaign readiness, and long-term revenue growth.
- Lead, supervise, and develop the philanthropy team, including three regionally based Directors of Philanthropy (major gift officers), a Director of Philanthropy, the Director of Annual Giving, the Director of Foundation and Corporate Giving, and administrative support for the National Leadership Council.

Revenue Generation
- Grow philanthropic revenue across individual, corporate, foundation, annual, planned, major, and principal gifts, with an emphasis on sustainable, unrestricted, mission-aligned support.
- Identify, evaluate, and implement new fundraising strategies, donor engagement models, and revenue opportunities.
- Oversee foundation and corporate giving strategy, from grant identification and proposal development to stewardship of institutional funders.
- Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects in partnership with the CEO and philanthropy staff.
- Evaluate and strengthen fundraising technology, donor data, direct mail, online giving, moves management, prospect research, and reporting tools.
- Set and monitor annual fundraising goals, budgets, revenue forecasts, pipeline activity, donor retention, and team accountability metrics.

Donor Communications and Stewardship
- Guide compelling donor communications, cases for support, proposals, reports, and stewardship materials, in collaboration with National Communications staff.
- Ensure timely, meaningful, and coordinated stewardship across all giving channels.
- Work with finance and advancement services staff to ensure accurate, timely gift processing, donor reporting, and fundraising performance reporting.

Board and Senior Leadership
- Partner with the CEO, Executive Team, National Council, National Board, and National Leadership Council to deepen donor relationships, cultivate new supporters, and align fundraising with national strategic initiatives.
- Report on philanthropy strategy, revenue progress, donor pipeline, and campaign activity at National Council, committee, and leadership meetings.
- Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the Society when authorized by the CEO.
- Work with the CEO and National President to keep board members engaged and equipped for donor cultivation and fundraising.

Opportunities and Challenges
- Make the case for National Council giving
- Build "One Society" in fundraising
- Cultivate an organization-wide culture of philanthropy
- Unlock planned giving
- Lay a stable foundation and pace growth wisely while keeping momentum

Success in the first three to five years will mean a fully built, well-functioning development system; a clear strategy the team owns; a supported, stable, and growing team; and a sustainable trajectory toward annual national fundraising well above $10 million.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
The CPO reports to the CEO and joins a leadership team that includes the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and National Director of Advocacy. Other key relationships include the National President and board of directors, the National Leadership Council, Regional Vice Presidents, leaders and development staff of (Arch)Diocesan and District Councils, major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and the Society's fundraising and marketing consultants.

QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 8-10 years of senior fundraising experience, ideally including leadership of a comprehensive philanthropy program for a nonprofit, faith-based, social services, or national membership organization.
- A demonstrated record of securing major and principal gifts, foundation and corporate support, and unrestricted revenue; experience with planned giving strategy preferred.
- A builder of infrastructure, with experience leading development professionals and building systems for portfolio management, prospect research, stewardship, advancement services, and performance accountability.
- A frontline fundraiser at ease with high-net-worth donors who enjoys participating in donor visits.
- A proven leader and developer of fundraising professionals, including teams that work remotely across several regions.
- Experience navigating a national membership organization with local affiliates, and the diplomacy to build productive partnerships across that structure.
- A confident, board-savvy partner who will advocate for the team and rally volunteer leaders around a shared plan.
- Comfort with data and technology, including CRM transitions and the use of automation and analytics to grow annual and mid-level giving.
- Knowledge of the Catholic faith and Catholic Social Teaching is strongly preferred, as the vast majority of SVdP's donors are Catholic. Being a Vincentian is not essential, but a full embrace of Vincentian values is.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- A true heart for the Society and its mission of service to people in need
- A collaborative spirit: sets goals with the team rather than dictating to them, and is a fully engaged member of the leadership team
- Decisiveness and candor, including a willingness to challenge constructively and to say no when it protects the team's focus
- Engagement without micromanagement, giving experienced professionals room to try new ideas
- Patient urgency: excitement about change and the steadiness to lay a lasting foundation
- Confident but humble, with a dynamic, genuine personality
- A long-term commitment: sees this as a multi-year opportunity to build something that lasts

LOCATION
The national headquarters is in Maryland Heights, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. SVdP USA prefers that the CPO work from an office alongside leadership colleagues in a hybrid arrangement. Preferred locations are St. Louis, Washington, D.C., or Atlanta; exceptional candidates in other major metropolitan areas may be considered. Regular travel to St. Louis and to donors and Councils across the country is expected.

FOR CONSIDERATION OR TO SUGGEST A PROSPECT
Email: SVDPCPO@BoardWalkConsulting.com or call Terri Kohan or Patti Kish at 404-BoardWalk (404-262-7392).

About the Employer

The mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is "a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need."