Chief Philanthropy Officer

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Location Milwaukee, WI 53212 Date Posted June 17, 2026 Job ID 14508 Employment Type Retained

Scion Executive Search is honored to partner with Greater Milwaukee Foundation in the search for its next Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO), a transformational executive leadership opportunity with one of the region's most influential community foundations dedicated to building a Milwaukee for all through an economic mobility focus. Reporting directly to the President & CEO. The CPO will drive enterprise-wide philanthropic growth, deepen engagement with donors, professional advisors, and community stakeholders, and help shape the Foundation's long-term strategic impact across the Greater Milwaukee region. This is a full-time, hybrid opportunity based in Milwaukee.

ABOUT GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION:

Through philanthropy, community leadership, and strategic partnerships, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation works to address systemic inequities, mobilize resources, and create lasting impact across the region. As one of the largest and most influential community foundations in the country with $1 billion in assets, Greater Milwaukee Foundation partners with donors, professional advisors, nonprofits, corporations, and civic leaders to transform generosity into measurable community change.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Chief Philanthropy Officer will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and lead the Foundation's enterprise-wide philanthropic growth strategy. This executive will be responsible for building and executing a comprehensive multi-year asset development strategy focused on expanding philanthropic investment, strengthening donor engagement, cultivating high-net-worth individuals and families, and deepening relationships with professional advisors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.

This leader will oversee the Development and Philanthropic Services (DPS) function, guiding a sophisticated fundraising and donor engagement strategy that supports both immediate revenue objectives and long-term asset growth. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will partner closely with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, leadership team, and external stakeholders to foster a culture of philanthropy while positioning the Foundation for continued growth and transformational community impact.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in comprehensive fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, planned giving, principal gifts, advisor engagement, and campaign leadership, paired with a demonstrated commitment to equity-centered philanthropy and relationship-driven leadership. Equally important, this leader will be a seasoned people manager who develops talent, creates psychological safety, navigates difficult conversations with directness and care, and leads with an even-keeled, collaborative presence. A genuine connection to Milwaukee and its communities is essential; this leader must be deeply invested in the city and able to connect donors across diverse perspectives to the Foundation's mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive multi-year philanthropic growth and asset development strategy designed to increase annual revenue, expand organizational assets, and deepen donor engagement across individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, and institutional partners.
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, partnering closely with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership to advance the Foundation's strategic priorities, organizational growth, and community impact - including leading the operationalization of the Foundation's newly board-approved Strategic Plan within the DPS function.
• Partner with legal counsel and internal stakeholders, as appropriate, to structure complex philanthropic gifts and ensure alignment with regulatory, fiduciary, and organizational requirements.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with professional advisors, including attorneys, accountants, trust officers, wealth managers, and financial planners, to expand referral pipelines and drive philanthropic investment opportunities.
• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and oversight to the DPS team, fostering a high-performing culture of accountability, psychological safety, and excellence - while actively building trust and collaboration across the full organization to embed a culture of philanthropy enterprise-wide.
• Cultivate and manage a personal portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, families, advisors, and philanthropic partners, securing major, planned, and legacy gifts while expanding long-term donor investment in the Foundation's mission and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Board leadership, committee members, and key volunteers to strengthen fundraising engagement, activate networks, and support strategic donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation efforts.
• Lead the transition and future implementation of the Foundation's philanthropic technology infrastructure, including an active CRM evaluation, ensuring systems support data-driven donor engagement, relationship management, and long-term operational scalability.
• Collaborate with Community Impact and cross-functional leadership teams to align philanthropic strategy with the Foundation's priority initiatives, ensuring donor investments translate into measurable and equitable community outcomes.
• Champion innovative donor engagement and stewardship strategies that elevate donor experience, strengthen affinity, and position the Foundation as a trusted philanthropic partner and community leader.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to enhance the Foundation's visibility, philanthropic brand presence, and public profile across the greater Milwaukee region and among key target audiences.
• Advance the Foundation's commitment to building a Milwaukee for all by developing intentional strategies to engage diverse donors, advisors, volunteers, and community stakeholders in meaningful philanthropic partnerships.
• Oversee departmental budgeting, performance metrics, operational planning, and philanthropic infrastructure to ensure strong fiscal stewardship, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
• Cultivate strong relationships with supporting organization boards and affiliated stakeholders, providing strategic partnership, governance support, and leadership to advance shared philanthropic objectives.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree required. Graduate degree, financial planning designation, CFRE, CPA, or J.D. with estate/tax planning experience preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, advancement, donor development, stewardship, and/or strategic relationship-based sales.
• 10+ years of leadership experience managing a fundraising and development team, with demonstrated ability to develop talent, delegate effectively, handle strong personalities, and build a high-trust team culture.
• Proven experience leading planned giving strategy, trusts and estates, and comprehensive philanthropic campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with donors, financial professionals, legal advisors, and other stakeholders across diverse professional and social settings.
• Seasoned executive presence and emotional intelligence, including the ability to navigate conflict directly and constructively, hold the line on difficult decisions, and lead with self-awareness and composure in a complex, high-stakes environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally in support of donor cultivation, stewardship, and community engagement priorities.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Greater Milwaukee Foundation offers a competitive compensation package, including a salary of up to $198,850, commensurate with experience, alongside a robust benefits program featuring medical, dental, and vision coverage; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA); short and long term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match; a 457(b) deferred compensation plan; 30 days of paid time off; 11.5 paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:

Greater Milwaukee Foundation has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/14508.

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM:

Scion Executive Search is an award-winning retained executive search firm. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.

Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.

For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.