Director of Philanthropic Engagement

October 26, 2026

Job Description:

Co-create the organization's fundraising strategy to reach at least $600,000 in annual recurring operating funding
Ensure the Yolmo capital campaign runs smoothly, currently $3.9M in Phase 2 with an additional $10M planned in later phases
Design the revenue mix across donor tiers, major donors, foundation relationships, and campaigns
Set tier targets, engagement plans, and stewardship sequences
Carry and cultivate a portfolio of at least 50 major-donor relationships and prospects with the Executive Director
Own visit targets, solicitation, and closing for the portfolio, utilizing the Executive Director for key prospects
Maintain personal pipeline and moves-management records in Keela CRM
Cultivate principal- and program-officer-driven foundation relationships
Structure and optimize the Executive Director's donor-facing time
Supervise the Community Giving & Events Manager
Align staff-run fundraising activity with the annual strategy
Recommend workflow and staffing refinements
Partner with the Board on fundraising and support Board recruitment, retention, and engagement
Shape the case for support and donor communications framing
Design cultivation moments and support event operations as needed

Requirements:

8+ years of progressively responsible frontline development experience
Demonstrated record of building a major-donor pipeline from a cold or thin base
Personally closing five- and six-figure gifts; seven-figure gifts a plus
Experience supervising, coaching, or mentoring
Comfort owning pipeline and moves-management records in a CRM
Experience with Keela CRM
Fluency, or fast credibility, in US and Asia major-gift philanthropy
Strong US high-capacity individual networks are a significant plus
Comfort in a very small, distributed, high-autonomy team
Genuine resonance with the mission and ability to speak authentically to Basic Goodness and the model of learning
Ability to translate a founder's vision into strategy and execution
Inspiring, grounded, collaborative, highly relational communication style
Education- or mission-space fluency is a plus, not a requirement
A Buddhist practice is not required

Benefits:

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