Vice President of Philanthropy

Location: Orange, CA (999 Town & Country Road, Orange, CA 92868)
Organization: Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC)
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $120,000 - $150,000 annually (plus annual performance incentive of up to 15% of base salary)

About LSSSC:
Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout Southern California with over 45 programs/services at 18 locations. LSSSC is part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strives to serve those in need with dignity and respect.

Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God's love by embracing, equipping and empowering vulnerable individuals, families and communities toward self-sufficiency.

Job Summary:
The Vice President of Philanthropy is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive philanthropic revenue strategy that generates sustainable funding to advance the mission and strategic priorities of LSSSC. This position cultivates and stewards relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, faith-based organizations, and community partners to secure philanthropic investments that support organizational growth and sustainability. The VP serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and works collaboratively with the Executive Leadership Team to strengthen and diversify revenue streams. The position will be evaluated on measurable fundraising outcomes, donor portfolio growth, and long-term revenue sustainability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with LSSSC's mission, strategic priorities, and annual revenue goals.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, corporations, faith-based organizations, and community partners.
- Develop and maintain a robust portfolio of major donors and prospective supporters.
- Research, pursue, and secure foundation and grant funding opportunities.
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships that generate philanthropic investment and increase community engagement.
- Collaborate with program and executive leadership to identify funding priorities and develop compelling funding proposals.
- Establish and maintain donor stewardship practices that strengthen donor retention and long-term engagement.
- Utilize fundraising data, donor analytics, and performance metrics to guide strategy and decision-making.
- Provide regular fundraising, pipeline, and performance reports directly to the CEO.
- Support Board engagement opportunities and fundraising initiatives as directed by the CEO.

Annual Performance Expectations:
- Achievement of annual philanthropic revenue goals (approximately $1.5 million to $3 million annually).
- Growth in unrestricted funding; foundation and grant funding secured.
- Major donor acquisition, cultivation, and retention.
- Expansion of corporate, community, and faith-based partnerships.
- Growth and sustainability of the donor pipeline.

Qualifications and Experience:
Education: Bachelor's degree required in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, communications, philanthropy, social sciences, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising, philanthropy, advancement, or nonprofit revenue development experience.
- Minimum of three (3) years of senior-level leadership experience managing fundraising strategy, donor portfolios, revenue goals, and strategic partnerships.
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts and cultivating high-value donor relationships.
- Experience securing foundation and grant funding.
- Experience working directly with a CEO, executive leadership team, and Board leadership.
- Experience utilizing donor database systems, CRM platforms, fundraising analytics, and grant tracking systems.
- Experience within social services, housing, homelessness services, behavioral health, healthcare, human services, or faith-based nonprofit organizations preferred.

Certificates and Licenses: CFRE certification preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position currently functions as an individual contributor and does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.