Director of Philanthropy & Community Growth

Brave Like Me is seeking a Director of Philanthropy & Community Growth to lead major gifts, donor engagement, and community-driven fundraising events across Cincinnati and emerging markets. This dynamic nonprofit fundraiser will manage a major donor portfolio while shaping flagship events that build powerful donor communities and generate sustainable revenue. We’re looking for a high-energy relationship builder who thrives on networking, cultivating high-capacity donors, and being part of a winning team creating transformational impact for children with complex medical conditions.

About Brave Like Me Foundation: Brave Like Me Foundation creates moments of joy for children with complex medical conditions. Through Brayden’s Books, we bring comfort and connection; through Brave Friends Adventures, we create unforgettable experiences; and through Brave Pets, we reunite kids with the pets who love them most. Inspired by Brayden Otten, we exist to bring courage, hope, and joy when families need it most. Description

Brave Like Me is seeking a bold, relationship-driven Director of Philanthropy & Community Growth to build thriving donor communities and drive philanthropic expansion across multiple markets. This is more than a fundraising role. It is an opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships, lead strategic community events, and personally secure major gifts that fuel moments of courage and joy for children with complex medical conditions.

Based in Cincinnati and reporting directly to the CEO, this full-time role will manage and grow a portfolio of major donors while leading earned revenue fundraising events in Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Indianapolis. This position blends a major gift strategy with community building, ensuring events serve as catalysts for long-term donor engagement and transformational giving.

Success in this role means building thriving donor communities in each market that generate sustainable, relationship-driven revenue growth.

This is an individual contributor leadership role for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong networking instincts. As Brave Like Me expands into multiple markets, this leader will help establish local fundraising committees, cultivate high-capacity donors, and convert community momentum into lasting philanthropic partnerships.

If you believe in the power of joy to heal, connection to uplift, and storytelling to move hearts, and you are confident asking for meaningful investments in a mission you believe in, this is your invitation to help build something brave.

About Brave Like Me Foundation

Brave Like Me Foundation creates moments of joy for children with complex medical conditions. Through Brayden’s Books, we bring comfort and connection. Through Brave Friends Adventures, we create unforgettable experiences. Through Brave Pets, we reunite kids with the pets who love them most. Inspired by Brayden Otten, we exist to bring courage, hope, and joy when families need it most.

Our programs:

• Brayden’s Books (Mind): Literacy, connection, and ease of delivery for children in medical care.
• Brave Friends Adventures (Body): Joyful experiences for kids and their best friends.
• Brave Pets (Spirit): Reuniting children with their pets in medical settings.

We operate with the values of Bravery, Belief, Hope, Love, Joy, Relentless Pursuit, Integrity, Spartan Stewardship, and Aspiration for Growth.

Key Responsibilities

Philanthropic Growth and Market Leadership

• Lead community-driven philanthropic growth across Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.
• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Maintain a clear and active major gift pipeline with consistent movement from cultivation to solicitation and stewardship.
• Initiate, cultivate, and solicit 5- and 6-figure gifts through strategic relationship building.
• Lead earned revenue fundraising strategy for one flagship event in each core market.
• Form and guide volunteer fundraising committees to support market-based growth.
• Identify and cultivate community champions, connectors, and influential leaders in each city.
• Partner with the CEO to align major gift strategy with corporate sponsorship opportunities and long-term expansion goals.

Major Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Build lasting relationships that translate into meaningful philanthropic investment.
• Develop individualized cultivation and stewardship plans for major donors and prospects.
• Conduct donor meetings, site visits, and personalized engagement experiences.
• Move donors from event engagement into deeper philanthropic commitment.
• Ensure timely, thoughtful, and values-aligned communication with donors.
• Track donor engagement and pipeline progress using Givebutter and related systems.

Community-Based Fundraising Events

• Use events as strategic engines for donor growth and community building.
• Design fundraising events that prioritize relationship-building over transactional revenue.
• Lead event revenue strategy, sponsorship alignment, and donor experience design.
• Guide volunteer committees in executing successful flagship and mid-sized events.
• Integrate peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities where appropriate to expand reach and engagement.
• Ensure every event strengthens the donor pipeline and advances long-term revenue goals.

Strategic Collaboration and Storytelling

• Align philanthropic growth with mission storytelling and brand presence.
• Partner with the CEO and marketing contractors to shape donor messaging and campaign narratives.
• Contribute to storytelling that inspires generosity and deepens emotional connection.
• Support strategic corporate relationship development tied to events and major gifts.
• Maintain alignment between program impact and philanthropic growth initiatives.

Organizational Leadership and Culture

• Strengthen Brave Like Me’s culture of generosity and community connection.
• Model confident, relationship-centered fundraising leadership.
• Foster collaboration between programs, finance, marketing, and volunteers.
• Engage volunteers as ambassadors and advocates for community-based growth.
• Help build a sustainable structure for multi-market philanthropic expansion.

Schedule and Work Conditions

• Based in Cincinnati, OH at Brave Loft HQ on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)
• Hybrid flexibility on Mondays and Fridays
• Occasional travel to emerging markets for donor cultivation and campaigns
• Some evening and weekend availability required for events and donor outreach

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent professional experience in fundraising and relationship-based revenue leadership will be considered.
• 5+ years of fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in securing major gifts.
• Proven ability to initiate, cultivate, and close significant individual gifts.
• Experience leading or strategically guiding fundraising events that drive revenue and deepen donor engagement.
• Strong networking instincts and comfort initiating high-level conversations with business leaders, community influencers, and high-capacity donors.
• Experience building and guiding volunteer committees or community-based fundraising teams.
• Ability to translate storytelling into philanthropic investment.
• Demonstrated comfort in directly asking for financial investment in a mission-driven organization.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in a growth-stage environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a donor portfolio and event strategy simultaneously.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and donor tracking platforms such as Givebutter or similar tools.
• Experience with peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns is a plus.
• Comfort collaborating with marketing partners to align donor messaging and brand storytelling.

Performance Expectations

• Demonstrated growth in major donor relationships, including successful cultivation and closure of significant individual gifts.
• Development of thriving donor communities in Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Indianapolis through strategic flagship and mid-sized fundraising events.
• Consistent expansion of donor pipeline depth, engagement, and long-term retention.
• Effective conversion of event participants and community supporters into ongoing philanthropic partners.
• Strong stewardship practices that deepen donor connection to mission and increase repeat giving.
• Clear collaboration with the CEO and internal teams to align philanthropic strategy with organizational growth.
• Measurable progress in building sustainable, relationship-driven revenue streams across multiple markets.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $68,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience and title
• Full-time exempt role with benefits including:
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement for insurance premiums (up to $425/month single, $1,275/month family)
• Healthcare FSA with $500 annual employer contribution
• Wellness Reimbursement Account
• PTO (10 days annually), paid holidays (including Bravesgiving Day), birthday holiday, summer and winter breaks
• Two paid service days annually
• Professional development support

Salary

$68,000 - $80,000 per year

Pay: $68,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible spending account
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Fundraising: 5 years (Required)

Location:

• Cincinnati, OH 45298 (Preferred)

Security clearance:

• Confidential (Preferred)

Work Location: In person