Northern California Grantmakers: Director for Donor and Trustee Engagement
Northern California Grantmakers is seeking a Director for Donor and Trustee Engagement to spearhead its philanthropic leadership initiative. This role involves facilitating the educational journey of philanthropists, building partnerships with regional institutions, and cultivating networks focused on implementing the Five Shifts for Advancing an Equitable Region. Launched in 2022, NCG's multi-year action plan aims to support philanthropy in sharing power, centering equity, and adopting effective practices for lasting change. The Director will be responsible for program development, project management, and maintaining relationships throughout these networks, while working closely with the CEO and Vice President for Philanthropy and Impact to achieve strategic goals. With 2026 as a pivotal moment, this position is crucial for enhancing trustee commitment, leveraging CEO leadership, and increasing individual giving to better support nonprofit and movement infrastructure.
About Northern California Grantmakers:
Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) is a dynamic, growing membership organization that brings the philanthropic community together to shift resources, capital, and power back to historically marginalized communities that are leading transformational change. Northern California has a rich cultural legacy and commitment to social justice. NCG’s membership is made up of stakeholders across philanthropy including program officers, board members, donor trustees, movement organizers, communicators, visionaries, advocates, dreamers, and believers. We started as the “Lunch Bunch” in the 1960s, a group of philanthropic leaders committed to growing together. We formalized ourselves in the 1980s with the goal of supporting a base of philanthropic members. Currently we have more than 195 institutional and 4,500 individual members. For the past forty years, we have been working to gather, mobilize, and transform philanthropy. We believe in our collective power for good. Learn more about NCG at www.ncg.org.
Responsibilities
Lead and Manage NCG’s Philanthropic Leadership Initiatives (60%).
Develop a strategic approach and refined vision for engaging the philanthropic leadership ecosystem, including CEOs, trustees, donors, high net wealth wielders, and their advisors to meet the urgency of the crises confronting local communities.
Develop strategic messaging in partnership with NCG’s Communications Team that resonates with donors, trustees, and high net wealth wielders to invest in equity for community impact.
Cultivate new relationships with members and other philanthropic leadership and key partners that expands participation in NCG offerings.
Provide overall management of NCG’s philanthropic leadership activities, including salons, exchanges, micro-trainings, and other gatherings.
Integrate programming and activities with the long-term strategic vision for NCG that provides maximum influence on philanthropy’s impact for community.
Develop the slate of programming NCG targets to trustees, donor advisors, and other philanthropic leadership.
Collaborate with the Strategic Initiatives team to cultivate and integrate philanthropic advisors, high-net-worth individuals, and trustees into NCG's broader body of work, strengthening audience engagement across all initiatives.
Partner with the Equity, Leadership, and Practice team to strengthen existing governance offerings and co-develop new programming that builds on emerging trends in the field.
Coordinate internal NCG information sharing on emergent trends amongst philanthropic leadership, including tracking participation and promising practice.
Partner with Allies to Increase Philanthropic Investment for Community Based Organizations and Movement Leaders (30%).
Build intentional relationships with experts and ecosystem allies that identify, develop, and disseminate tools, frameworks, and resources that support equity-focused investments.
Leverage the existing infrastructure to build stronger bridges between institutional and non-institutional philanthropy.
Steward the 5 Shifts Kitchen Cabinet, an advisory committee that influences the trajectory of NCG’s philanthropic leadership work.
Grow the informal partnership network that comprises NCG’s interaction with philanthropic leaders throughout the region.
Support Membership Cultivation and Development Opportunities that Result from Philanthropic Leadership Initiatives (10%)
Contribute to NCG membership growth through programming, targeting new audiences in the philanthropic leadership arena, evolving the work to fit the changing needs of this growing audience.
Working with the Director for Strategy and Partnerships, identify, cultivate, and secure funding support that reinforces the philanthropic leadership initiative.
Integrate philanthropic leadership programming into signature NCG events, including the Annual Conference and the Corporate Philanthropy Institute.
Core Competencies
NCG works with great intention to build an organizational culture rooted in equity, inclusion, diversity of experience and perspective, and belonging. As we continue to build a hybrid work environment, we refined and affirmed the core competencies necessary to succeed in this role in alignment with our values. These competencies, in priority order for this role, include:
Working understanding of philanthropy: Has a sense of current challenges and best practices influencing the broader philanthropic sector, with a particular emphasis on CEO, trustees, donors, and philanthropic advisors.
Partnership Development and Support: Maintains and develops effective, productive, and synergistic relationships with members, fellow community foundations, vendors, and other relevant stakeholders.
Inclusive leadership, management, and relational organizer: Exhibits stellar interpersonal skills with a collaborative style and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of diverse stakeholders. Appreciation for a collegial and learning work environment and capacity to manage, inspire, and develop staff and colleagues.
Educational Programming Facilitation: Creates and delivers educational programs that enhance philanthropists' understanding of NCG’s mission and encourage best practices in philanthropy. Aims to develop impactful learning experiences that align with organizational goals and resonate with participants
Project Management: Manages project logistics to ensure timely, efficient, and effective execution within established budgets. Involves strategic planning, coordination with stakeholders, and ongoing process improvement to achieve successful outcomes.
Strong communication skills: Speaks and writes values-driven, evidence-based, action-oriented content that mobilizes philanthropy.
Racial equity experience, skills, and values: Understands the historical context for racial inequity and its present-day implications. Holds strong alignment to the values and mission of NCG and clear commitment to the principles of racial equity and economic justice.
Organized with an eye to results: Moves proactively to achieve results; focuses on achieving results that promote organizational success. Organizes, prioritizes, and manages complex, multidimensional projects with the ability to meet work goals.
Collaboration: Consistently displays teamwork, adaptability, and flexibility in the execution of job responsibilities to achieve NCG’s mission and vision.
Continuous Learning, Problem Solving, and Innovation: Brings deliberate and proactive commitment to acquiring new knowledge, skills, and competencies in the pursuit of sustained excellence.
Character and Commitment: Consistently displays good judgment, drive, diplomacy, and responsibility in all interactions with colleagues, members, potential members, stakeholders, and the broader community.
Qualifications
The following qualifications serve as a guide to the optimal experiences and knowledge the Director might bring. However, NCG encourages candidates to submit their applications even if they do not meet all the requirements stated below. Applicants should feel free to identify additional relevant experience or transferrable skills that would contribute to their effectiveness in this role.
Minimum 7 years of experience in philanthropy, donor advising, nonprofit management, board development, or related, transferable experience.
Familiarity with the Northern California region, including various ecosystems of non-institutional philanthropy.
Project management experience and success, demonstrating the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage complex, multidimensional projects to successful completion within desired timeframes and to define goals.
Proven experience and a demonstrated approach to designing and executing strategies and programs that center community-based movement builders in driving policy agendas.
Prior experience managing cooperative efforts, partnerships, and/or collaborative initiatives strongly preferred.
Proven success in leading strategic initiatives and developing/executing successful plans to achieve strategic goals.
Proven ability to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities.
Experience and comfort with facilitation, public speaking, and relationship management.
Must be located in greater San Francisco Bay Area with the ability to travel throughout the region as necessary.
Preferred/Additional Qualifications
Experience in operationalizing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion tools and frameworks in for community impact.
Demonstrated effectiveness and comfort working with committees and volunteers including strong, effective facilitation skills.
Knowledge and comfort with technologies for association management: Salesforce, Drupal, Microsoft Suite, Adobe, and social media; technical literacy and a natural curiosity to find solutions through data-driven results.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $138,000, commensurate with experience. NCG also offers competitive benefits that reflect our values and commitment to our team members’ well-being and resilience, including:
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Vacation, Sick and Holiday pay
403(b) Voluntary Plan
Short and Long-Term Disability
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Staff Development and Wellness Funds
NCG is a hybrid work environment with the current expectation that staff are able to be at the office two days per week. The Director for Donor and Trustee Engagement is joining a joyful team of individuals committed to social impact, a healthy working culture, and a respect for the many different aspects of life. Racial equity, belonging, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are baked into everything we do, and we encourage applicants of diverse race, ethnic culture, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, and physical abilities to bring your lived experiences along with your professional selves.
To Apply
To apply, click here.