Department: Philanthropy
Reports to: Chief of Philanthropy
Hours and Location: Full Time/Exempt. Oakland, CA, must live in Northern CA and be able to easily travel to Oakland
Starting Salary: $149,865 – $170,000
About the East Bay Community Foundation
Founded in 1928, East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is one of the nation’s first community foundations. Named the country’s “boldest” community foundation in 2019 by Inside Philanthropy, EBCF is dedicated to employing innovative strategies to advance an inclusive, fair, and just East Bay through four core program strategies.
- Arts and Culture for Social and Racial Justice
- Capacity Building with a Racial Equity Lens
- Community Organizing, Power Building, and Movement Building
- Fostering Inclusive Economic Models
As a community foundation, our donors are a critical partner in addressing the racial and economic inequities in the region. We take the time to understand what’s important to donors, provide opportunities to align their giving to the priority areas of the foundation, and work in collaboration with our programmatic team that has a thorough understanding of the social and economic challenges in the East Bay and has deep relationships with the nonprofits and policymakers that are most effectively tackling those challenges.
With a strategic regional focus on Alameda and Contra Costa counties, EBCF works towards its framework of “A Just East Bay,” which includes grantmaking, impact investing strategies, and a new way of taking steps to build solidarity among donors and community. We commit to employing all of our resources in service to our mission and push beyond industry norms to offer uniquely impactful opportunities for our fund advisors to help build economic equity for all. As a result, EBCF allows fund advisors to make impact investments from their Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and grants as a part of their overall giving strategy.
Approaching 100 years of service in the East Bay, join EBCF in eliminating structural barriers, advancing racial equity, and transforming political, social, and economic outcomes for all who call the East Bay home for generations to come. For more information, please visit: ebcf.org
About the Opportunity
East Bay Community Foundation is at a pivotal moment in its history. Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and President and CEO Brandi Howard, the Foundation is redefining its role to fuel the intersecting economic and racial movements as it prepares to celebrate its centennial. The Foundation seeks a seasoned philanthropy leader, a strong organizational cross-teams collaborator, and a community changemaker who understands the cultural context for using philanthropy to advance systems change and inspire the radical re-imagination of economic freedom in the East Bay.
The Senior Director for Philanthropic Planning, reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, leads the business development function for the Foundation and is the primary point of contact for all incoming donors. The Director is responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing all of the Foundation’s business development strategies, leading the business development team, and meeting annual development goals.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Strategy and New Product and Service Design, Development, and Implementation
- Lead the Foundation’s efforts to fulfill the business development goals and strategies, including a particular emphasis on annual goals related to the fit, quality, and size of new funds.
- Monitor legislative changes regarding philanthropic vehicles, and changes to estate and tax laws that may affect charitable giving and/or planning.
- Continually research and monitor trends in philanthropy and the ultra-high net worth sector, locally, nationally, and globally and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Work with other partners within the Philanthropy Team and across Finance, Grants Management and Community Investment. in the design, development, and launch of new products and services, to keep the Foundation relevant and at the cutting edge of the philanthropic space.
New Business Development - Act as a trusted philanthropic resource for prospective clients and their professional advisory team or family office, particularly those who are larger and more complex, investing time to understand their specific situation, needs, and pain points to determine fit with EBCF.
- Craft and present proposals and act as the central point of contact for the Foundation until the deal closes. This can include requesting all relevant gift information, particularly regarding complex gifts (real estate, limited partnerships, cryptocurrency etc.), collating all required information, working internally with Finance, and externally with client’s advisory team to ensure appropriate legal issues have been covered, and that appropriate signatures are in place.
- Craft a fund agreement that clearly outlines the client wishes and ensure that all the necessary documentation is signed, collated and ready for Finance to establish the philanthropic vehicle. Oversee receipt and appropriate investment allocation of the gift.
- Ensure a smooth handoff to the relevant philanthropic advisor/advisory team.
- Partner with others to support the department’s efforts, enable cohesive cross-team collaboration, and foster the department’s mission and goals.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all new gifts into existing funds, partnering with the philanthropic advisor for the fund, and finance department.
- Serve as the central knowledge base for all things fund-related within the department; for example: investment allocation, endowment earnings, and legacy planning.
- Oversee the handling of all legacy gifts into the Foundation, both internally and externally, all monthly Financial Reporting on gifts into the Foundation, fund trend reports and fund amendments.
- Responsible for invitation and engagement of the Foundation’s Professional Advisory Leadership Council (PALC).
- Engage and build relationships with the professional advisory community – targeting firms serving ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals and families — to position EBCF as a strategic tax planning resource for their clients. Relationship building can be done by hosting events, attending one-on-one meetings, delivering presentations to relevant client facing teams, and representing the organization at advisor meetings, continuing education seminars, and networking events.
- Proactively monitor changes within the professional advisory community, including the emergence of new firms and spin-off groups. Priority is to be placed on firms targeting Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals and families, with the goal of establishing new strategic relationships that will allow EBCF to deliver value-added services to their clientele.
- Perform additional responsibilities as delegated.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Over five years of progressively responsible experience in development, legal, and sales roles, with a specialized focus on cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals
- Proven track record of setting and achieving sales/revenue goals.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of law as it relates to charitable planning.
- Demonstrate strong leadership skills towards achieving departmental goals.
- Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and precision in all aspects of work.
- Exceptional customer service and communication skills
Racial Equity Competencies
Understanding and Applying Racial Equity
Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening the understanding of racial equity: - Demonstrates a strong grasp of racial equity principles, including structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness.
- Understands how race and bias affect relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture.
Working for Racial Equity - Regularly evaluates the racial impact of decisions and policies, with attention to intersectionality.
- Adheres to equity-focused practices in hiring, retention, and promotion, and actively works to identify and disrupt bias.
Leading on Racial Equity - Effectively encourage people to have honest conversations about racial equity, and accept feedback openly, non-defensively, and from a posture of learning.
- Consistently address structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions by identifying and implementing changes that can produce more equitable outcomes. This applies not only in terms of race/ethnicity, but also at the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $149,865 – $170,000 depending on experience.
EBCF offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement savings plan with a 5% employee match, group term life insurance, disability insurance, 15 days of paid time off in year one, 20 days in year two and thereafter, sick leave, and 17 paid holidays per year. Plus, a Flexible Spending Account, an Employee Assistance Program, an annual professional development budget, commuter benefits, and a matching gifts program.
Worksite.
Candidates must live within Northern California and be able to travel to the Oakland office with ease. East Bay Community Foundation operates in an employee-driven hybrid work model: Employees can use EBCF’s office space in downtown Oakland any number of days per week. The policy is subject to change.
COVID-19 Vaccination: All employees are required to adhere to EBCF’s COVID-19 policies.
About the Application Process
Resume and cover letter should be emailed to jobs@eastbaycf.org for consideration
* Position is open until filled, but the first round of screening will commence on or after Monday, October 27, 2025.
The East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is an equal opportunity employer committed to racial justice and equity. EBCF does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law and is an employment-at-will organization. The Foundation welcomes and encourages people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and members of other historically disenfranchised groups to apply.
