We’re Hiring: Senior Philanthropic Advisor

At CFSC, our team is made up of people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for investing in the promise of Sonoma County. We are deliberate, intentional, and purposeful about the kind of culturally diverse team we are building.

If this resonates with you, we encourage you to read on to learn more!

About Community Foundation:

Community Foundation Sonoma County is a nonprofit organization established in 1983 and based in Santa Rosa, California. Led by a diverse board and a dedicated staff of 17, we manage charitable funds, lead grantmaking, and bring donors, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders together to address community needs across Sonoma County. Since our founding, the Community Foundation and our donors have awarded more than $325 million in grants.

Our Vision: A vibrant, just, and inclusive community for all

Our Mission: We advance the power of people, ideas, and resources to solve Sonoma County’s most pressing problems.

Our Core Values:

• Leadership – We lead with courage and compassion, approach challenges with empathy and humility, and ensure that diverse community voices and perspectives are included in decision-making
• Equity – Fairness and belonging are the lens through which we address pressing issues and disparities in our community, ensuring everyone feels valued, that their voice matters, and that they have what they need to thrive
• Community – We are made for and by community—donors, nonprofits, and community members—enriched by the diversity of Sonoma County. We foster community through meaningful relationships; sharing resources and power, we cultivate transparency, accountability, and trust

Position Purpose

The Senior Philanthropic Advisor is responsible for providing exceptional philanthropic guidance to fund holders to inspire increased philanthropic giving, maximize their philanthropic objectives, deliver impactful client services, and contribute to the growth of philanthropic funds at CFSC. In addition, the Senior Philanthropic Advisor implements strategies to fundraise into foundation generated pooled funds and expand relationships with professional financial advisors and create opportunities to accomplish the Foundation’s long-term growth strategies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Philanthropic Advising

• Manages a portfolio of high net worth fund holders and serves as a Philanthropic Advisor to fund holders by providing attentive, proactive, customized advising services to all donors or agencies in their portfolio.
• Oversees portfolio of donors’ grantmaking, legacy giving, and other critical relationships within the Foundation.
• Creates donor engagement and stewardship plans and supports donors when accomplishing their short-term objectives and long-term goals.
• Plans, implements, and refines donor meetings while guiding them to determine what is to be accomplished through their charitable experiences with the Foundation.
• Gathers information about community needs as requested and invites donors to participate in events or other opportunities which may be relevant to their charitable preferences.
• Conducts site visits, organization analysis, and research projects and shares community needs and information with donors.
• Builds relationships with nonprofit leaders, community stakeholders and donor’s advisors.

Fundraising

• Collaborates closely with VP of Philanthropic Advancement to develop and implement creative opportunities and materials, including case statements, to inspire donors to increase unrestricted and pooled fund gifts.
• Creates opportunities to engage and steward relationships with professional financial advisors across the region.
• Proactively build relationships with new, existing, and past donors; seek new funding by cultivating, stewarding and soliciting.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Competencies and Qualifications

A successful candidate has 5 or more years progressively responsible experience working in nonprofit development, a familiarity with non-profit policies and procedures, and client related services, knowledge of the use of alternative charitable gift-giving methods, communications and/or donor relations. The Senior Philanthropic Advisor must possess a range of creative fundraising and client engagement skills including the ability to motivate and engage community leaders, donors and prospective donors, board members, and professional financial advisors to invest with CFSC. They have proven success in acquiring substantial charitable contributions and gifts of increased amounts over time.

• Experience working with major donors and family systems around issues related to wealth and giving including soliciting major gifts.
• Self-starter who can work effectively both independently and with colleagues as contributing member of the team.
• Diplomatically offer insight, advice, and recommendations to donors so they can best support the organizations in our community and beyond who are closest to the issues and the solutions.
• Possess strong internal and external customer service skills
• Enables and inspires trust with people by listening, asking questions, being responsive to feedback, and building authentic relationships around the issues they care about.
• Ability to analyze changing community conditions and develop creative solutions in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines. Results-oriented.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain complete confidentiality.
• High level of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
• Computer proficiency
• English proficiency required, second language, especially in Spanish, would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of the local Sonoma County community is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 pounds), bend, etc.
• Hand and wrist dexterity needed to work on a computer
• Visual acuity
• Ability to travel locally

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance – 100% covered for employee
• Life Insurance
• Employer annual contribution to 403b Retirement Plan after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development
• Sick and vacation pay
• Bereavement pay
• 18 Paid Holidays
• Health and wellness time
• Flexible Summer and First Fridays
• Current Hybrid work model (3 days on-site office/ 2 days remote) – subject to change

Salary Range:

• $90,000-$110,000
• Compensation will depend on experience and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Community Foundation Sonoma County is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, disability, or sexual orientation.

How To Apply

Applications open on December 17, 2025. The position will be open until filled. Interested candidates may submit an application here. All questions related to this opportunity should be directed to jobs@sonomacf.org.