Chief Philanthropy Officer
About California Community Foundation
The mission of the California Community Foundation (CCF) is to lead positive systemic change that strengthens Los Angeles communities. We envision a future where all Angelenos have the opportunity to contribute to the productivity, health, and well-being of our region. We believe that our common fate will be determined by how successfully we improve the quality of life for all of our residents. The impact we help create is of, by, and for Los Angeles, because the community is our foundation.
What We Fund
We are driven to find long-term, systemic solutions addressing the root causes of the most pressing issues facing Los Angeles County. Since 2000, we have given more than $45 billion in grants, impacting hundreds of thousands of lives and helping to transform entire communities. Every one of those grants represents a donor who was dedicated to creating a healthier, more prosperous, and empowered L.A. and beyond.
How We Work
Every year, we and our donors invest tens of millions in transforming Los Angeles, but real change takes more than money. Through partnerships and innovative approaches, we use our tools to maximize impact, empower communities, and strengthen the nonprofit sector for generations to come.
Learn more about California Community Foundation at http://www.calfund.org/.
The Opportunity
The California Community Foundation seeks a visionary Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) to lead a bold evolution of its fundraising strategy and help shape the future of Los Angeles.
Partnering closely with the President & CEO, Miguel Santana, the CPO will lead the transformation of CCF’s fundraising strategy into a proactive, forward-thinking, impact-driven model anchored in a new 10-year strategic plan (in place by Summer 2025). This leader will articulate CCF’s unique value—its deep LA roots, commitment to equity, and legacy of community investment—while modernizing tools, expanding the donor base, and fostering a business-minded culture of philanthropy.
CCF is the community foundation for Los Angeles—anchored in those committed to community, with deep, authentic connections across the region. CCF is not just a convener or grantmaker; they are a catalytic partner to those seeking meaningful and lasting change in LA. From individual donors to collective funds, CCF raises $200–$300 million annually, much of it from returning donors, and regularly partners with philanthropists making transformational gifts at the $10–$20 million level. The Wildfire Recovery Fund, now with over $80 million raised from more than 45,000 donors, exemplifies the scale and trust CCF has built to activate giving in moments that matter most.
The ideal candidate is a proven fundraiser and change agent with experience securing major gifts, managing high-net-worth relationships, and cultivating inclusive donor networks beyond traditional channels. They will bring strategic vision and operational rigor, driving cross-departmental collaboration and fostering a culture of giving across the organization.
Above all, the next CPO must be deeply passionate about Los Angeles and the power of community-based philanthropy to drive systemic change. Whether attracting transformational gifts or engaging a new generation of diverse and younger donors, the CPO will ensure CCF remains not only relevant—but essential.
If you believe philanthropy can shape a more just and equitable future—and you're ready to lead with purpose and integrity—this is a moment to step forward.
Candidate Profile
The Chief Philanthropy Officer will be a visionary, mission-aligned leader who brings bold ideas, deep relationship skills, and a track record of excellence to this pivotal role. This individual will play a central role in shaping CCF’s next chapter of philanthropic growth and community impact. We are looking for someone who not only understands the mechanics of modern fundraising and donor relations but is also inspired by the power of generosity to create lasting change. The ideal candidate will embody the following leadership competencies:
Strategic Fundraising & Donor Engagement Expertise
The ideal candidate brings broad fundraising expertise across major gifts, planned giving, multi-channel campaigns, and institutional support. They have a proven track record of building and sustaining robust donor pipelines, with a focus on cultivating high-net-worth individuals through personalized, white-glove stewardship. Skilled in leveraging data and CRM tools, they design targeted, strategic donor engagement plans that drive results.
This leader understands the complexities of donor cultivation and long-term financial planning and works effectively with financial advisors and external partners to build a sustainable donor base. They have successfully led complex fundraising campaigns and collaborated across departments to align stewardship, events, and communications. With experience building high-performing teams, they have advanced major gifts and legacy giving programs while driving cross-sector fundraising across foundations, corporations, and government entities.
Relationship Building & Community Trust
This leader excels at building deep, enduring relationships rooted in trust, alignment of values, and shared philanthropic vision. With a people-first mindset, they are personable, emotionally intelligent, and known for cultivating long-term donor relationships that are meaningful and mission-aligned. Their relationship-building acumen extends beyond donors—they are equally comfortable engaging with wealth advisors, corporate partners, community leaders, and internal colleagues. They have built and leveraged expansive networks with creativity and intentionality to drive toward specific outcome goals. As a public ambassador and storyteller, they confidently represent the organization at events, conferences, and across public forums, serving as a visible and trusted voice for CCF’s mission and impact. Critically, they understand how to challenge and inspire donors to think bigger, give more boldly, and deepen their engagement with the organization’s work.
Mission-Driven Leadership with Local Insight
This leader is deeply motivated by the opportunity to serve a mission-driven organization like CCF. They are grounded in a strong understanding of place-based work and demonstrate sensitivity to the communities CCF serves—particularly in Southern California. While direct ties to Los Angeles are not required, a working knowledge of the region and its philanthropic ecosystem is highly valuable. They are skilled in mission-aligned fundraising—identifying, engaging, and developing personalized strategies for donors who care deeply about social impact. Their approach is rooted in intentionality and purpose, with a keen understanding of how to design campaigns and engagement strategies that align with organizational goals and resonate with the values of donors. They bring a service mindset to both internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring high-quality interactions and experiences that reinforce trust and loyalty.
Operational Excellence & Team Leadership
The successful candidate is a proven team builder and manager with demonstrated expertise in leading fundraising departments. They have overseen all key functions of development operations, including major gifts, legacy giving, donor communications, events, and stewardship—ensuring coordination and alignment across efforts. They are well-versed in building and supporting data architecture that drives individualized donor strategy, and they have implemented systems and tools that support both accountability and agility. With strong organizational development skills, they excel at setting strategy, establishing processes, and creating systems that allow teams to scale impact. They are confident yet collaborative leaders who know how to hold their teams accountable while creating a culture of shared ownership. They’re adept at project management, financial oversight, and cross-departmental coordination—and they thrive in complexity, using structure and systems to unlock creativity and growth.
Innovation & Adaptive Thinking
At this pivotal moment for CCF, this leader brings the creative vision and adaptive mindset necessary to push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible. They are skilled in designing and executing multi-channel fundraising campaigns that align with the organization’s strategic goals and meet donors where they are—whether through digital platforms, tailored messaging, or dynamic storytelling. They are comfortable navigating evolving donor behaviors, particularly among younger generations, and understand the importance of updating systems (including CCF’s website and digital presence) to create a more engaging and responsive donor experience. With a strong technical orientation, they know how to leverage data not only to optimize fundraising outcomes but also to support organizational learning and growth. They are energized by experimentation, cross-sector collaboration, and bold thinking—bringing fresh ideas that reflect both market realities and deep alignment with CCF’s mission.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Fundraising and Partnership Development:
- Enhancing and showcasing the Foundation’s suite of philanthropic products and services including donor-advised funds, agency funds, restricted funds, scholarship funds, etc., resulting in increased conversions from the organization’s pipeline of wealth advisors
- Maintaining and systematizing the organization’s dedication to top-notch client service for the philanthropists who utilize the Foundation’s philanthropic products and services
- Identifying, cultivating, and converting clients of traditional philanthropic products to join efforts with the Foundation to maximize impact towards key outcomes affecting Los Angeles County
- Developing strategies to combine the most effective techniques and practices of traditional nonprofit fundraising with the flexibility, connections, and convening power unique to community foundations
- Designing and launching outcome-driven fundraising initiatives intended to help address some of the most pressing challenges facing Los Angeles County
- Building and optimizing data systems, including transitioning systems as appropriate, to provide Foundation staff, Board, and executives with the most relevant information for fundraising efforts
Donor Relations Management:
- Oversee the development and implementation of donor stewardship strategies, ensuring consistent, personalized engagement through events, communications, and individualized outreach
Dual-Pipeline Development:
- Leverage and grow relationships with financial advisors and other partners to create a steady pipeline of new donors to grow the base of donor-advised funds and other philanthropic services
- Simultaneously, build and socialize systems that can leverage the Foundation’s extended networks to establish and grow a traditional donor pipeline focused on mission-aligned philanthropy that operates in concert with the Foundation’s strategic framework
Campaign and Special Initiative Development:
- Lead the creation of new fundraising campaigns and initiatives that align with the foundation's strategic framework, set for completion in June 2025
Data and Systems Management:
- Guide the development and optimization of a robust data architecture to support donor tracking, identification, segmentation, and engagement and impact reporting
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $280,000 - $325,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22043 or emailing the search team directly at CCF_CPO@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
California Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/koya-partners/
To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/6129213
