Description

TITLE:  Chief Philanthropy Officer  

DIVISION: Philanthropy  

REPORTS TO: Chief Operating Officer

SUPERVISES: Vice President of Philanthropy

LOCATION: Remote 

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

GROUP: Core

HOURS: Full-Time averaging 40 hours per week

BENEFITS: Refer to benefit guide and handbook

JOB PURPOSE

The Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) is responsible for American Prairie’s comprehensive philanthropic strategy in support of annual operations, campaign goals, long-term revenue growth, and financial sustainability. As a member of the Executive Team, the CPO plays a central role in organizational leadership and decision-making, ensuring philanthropy is fully integrated across organizational priorities and long-term strategy. 

Internally, the CPO leads our philanthropy function, directly manages senior philanthropy team members, and oversees campaign execution, outcomes, performance management, and philanthropy systems, including goal setting, forecasting, performance metrics and accountability frameworks that drive results. This leadership role spans growth and retention of giving at all levels.The CPO has direct responsibility for cultivating and securing high-value donor commitments while managing a focused portfolio of high-capacity relationships. In addition to management of the philanthropy division team, the CPO is also responsible for growing our annual fund with support from our Vice President of Marketing and Communications and their team. 

Externally, the CPO serves as an ambassador for the organization, strengthening relationships within the philanthropic, conservation, and community networks to expand awareness, deepen engagement, and advance fundraising opportunities on behalf of American Prairie.

JOB DUTIES  

Philanthropy Strategy, Campaign, and Oversight (60%)

• Develop, lead, and evolve a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to grow American Prairie’s fundraising program including annual operating, campaign, restricted giving, and long-term revenue.
• Lead the Forever Wild comprehensive campaign planning and execution including donor engagement strategy, revenue forecasting and tracking while ensuring a balanced funding model that sustains core operations and advances transformational investments.
• Provide executive leadership for the Forever Wild Campaign Committee of the National Board of Directors by establishing its strategic direction, recruiting and engaging influential philanthropic volunteer leaders, and leveraging committee members to advance transformational philanthropy, campaign objectives, and long-term philanthropic growth. This role partners closely with the Vice President of Philanthropy, who leads day-to-day management of the committee.
• Advance a donor-centered cultivation and stewardship strategy that strengthens new donor acquisition and pipeline building, long-term engagement, retention, and transformational philanthropic investment.
• Partner with the Executive Team and National Board of Directors to align philanthropic priorities with organizational strategy and decision-making.
• Serve as a strategic advisor for planned giving program development, growth and stewardship through the Prairie Legacy Society.
• Oversee the Vice President of Philanthropy, who is responsible for directing frontline fundraisers, donor engagement, operations, and campaign execution, fostering a high-accountability, collaborative, and mission-driven culture across the division.
• Oversee philanthropy division budgeting, annual planning, and donor pipeline growth.
• Partner with fellow Executive Team members to ensure strong alignment between philanthropy, finance, marketing, communications, and program leadership to support organizational priorities, campaign success, and long-term sustainability.
• Partner closely with the National Board of Directors, Executive Team, and Vice President of Philanthropy to support donor strategy development, proposal planning, and portfolio advancement efforts, while maintaining accountability toward campaign and fundraising objectives.
• Foster and strengthen a commitment to philanthropy priorities across the organization, ensuring donor engagement and fundraising strategies are integrated into organizational leadership, strategic planning, and external engagement efforts.

Transformational and Principal Gift Fundraising (20%) 

• Secure transformational, principal, and planned gift commitments in support of annual and campaign fundraising priorities.
• Build, manage, and strategically advance a focused portfolio of 10–20 high-capacity donors and prospects, while cultivating and stewarding transformational and principal-level philanthropic investments.
• Conduct regular donor engagement activities, including strategic cultivation meetings, prairie experiences, events, and relationship-building visits.

Executive and Board Leadership (20%) 

• Serve as a member of the Executive Team and strategic partner to the National Board of Directors, contributing to organizational leadership, organization-wide decision-making, and long-term organizational strategy.
• Represent the organization as a visible external leader within philanthropic, conservation, business, and community networks, advancing mission awareness, organizational credibility, and transformational fundraising opportunities.
• Partner with the Executive Team and National Board of Directors to support board development and succession planning efforts, including the identification, cultivation, engagement, and recruitment of prospective board members aligned with organizational priorities.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

• Enthusiasm for and positive representation of American Prairie’s mission, values, goals, and culture.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business, public administration, or related field strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 13+ years of progressive experience in philanthropy, fundraising, or related development leadership roles within complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
• At least 7+ years of executive-level leadership experience (e.g., Chief Development/Philanthropy Officer, Vice President of Development, or equivalent), with direct responsibility for organizational fundraising strategy, team leadership, and revenue accountability.
• Demonstrated success developing and leading comprehensive fundraising strategies for a nine-figure comprehensive campaign—including pipeline building, planning, pacing, forecasting, and achievement of ambitious goals—while building donor engagement, institutional alignment, and executive partnership to advance long-term philanthropic growth.
• Proven track record of securing transformational, principal, and major gifts, including closing multi-million-dollar commitments and managing high-value donor portfolios through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship management.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop senior philanthropy leaders and cross-functional teams, including managing through direct reports responsible for frontline fundraising, operations, and donor engagement.
• Deep experience building and managing philanthropy performance systems, including KPI development, forecasting models, pipeline management, and data-informed decision-making.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting and alignment of philanthropic strategy with organizational financial planning and sustainability goals.
• Experience building and strengthening commitment to philanthropy priorities across an organization, ensuring alignment between fundraising, programmatic priorities, and institutional strategy.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated credibility among high-net-worth donors, board members, and senior executives.
• Experience representing an organization externally as a spokesperson and ambassador within philanthropic, conservation, business, and/or community networks.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently and a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and ability to drive.

Preferred

• Knowledge, understanding, and familiarity with the state of Montana.
• Experience in conservation, land stewardship, environmental, or similarly mission-driven nonprofit sectors.
• Experience with Salesforce.