Description
THE ORGANIZATION:
Wayfinder Family Services is the place to turn for people facing the greatest challenges. The organization provides expert, individualized support and services to children, youth, adults and families through child welfare programs, including foster care and adoption; vision impairment and disability programs and medical and mental health programs.
With an operating budget of $47 million, Wayfinder provides an array of services in 17 locations in 58 counties throughout California. Wayfinder provides a range of trauma-informed services to help children, youth and adults discover their path to sustained well-being.
A CHANCE TO THRIVE
Child development services, special education, recreation, independence, workforce development and mental health programs give people of all ages who have disabilities the opportunity to thrive.
A SAFE HAVEN
Safe, temporary shelter for youth who have been removed from their families due to maltreatment; medical and mental health services for youth who are in the child welfare system.
A LOVING FAMILY
Foster care, adoption, and children and family services to ensure that children have safe, loving homes.
Wayfinder prides itself on a culture built upon core values. Those values are:
Collaborative
We can’t do it alone and we must do it together. We believe that fostering an
environment where every voice is valued and respected leads to innovation. We work in partnership to address the holistic needs of children and families.
Driven
We do whatever it takes. We never give up. We take every opportunity to move forward in our strategic direction and to create meaningful change. Our tenacity and passion drive us to innovate and persist, no matter the challenge.
Empathetic
We seek to develop a deeper understanding of our children, families and one another
by being inclusive, caring and authentic. We work to embed empathy into our decision-
making, interactions, and actions.
To learn more about Wayfinder Family Services, please visit www.wayfinderfamily.org.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Wayfinder Family Services seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship-driven Executive Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer (EVP/CPO) to lead the organization’s next chapter of philanthropic growth and community engagement.
Reporting to the President & CEO, the EVP/CPO will provide strategic leadership for Wayfinder's fundraising and communications efforts while maintaining an active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects. The EVP/CPO will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive philanthropy strategy that expands philanthropic investment, strengthens donor engagement, and advances the organization's long-term fundraising capacity and visibility.
As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the EVP/CPO will serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO, a trusted partner to the Board of Directors, and a visible ambassador for Wayfinder in the community, positioning philanthropy as a strategic driver of mission impact and long-term sustainability.
The EVP/CPO will lead a team of eight professionals, including four direct reports: the Associate Vice President, Foundation Relations; Associate Vice President, Development & Donor Relations; Associate Vice President, Development; and Associate Vice President, Communications.
Fundraising & Community Engagement
Assumes primary accountability for achieving and significantly growing Wayfinder's annual $5.8 million in private revenue by developing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed fundraising strategy that expands and diversifies the organization's donor base.
Leads comprehensive major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, donor stewardship, and community engagement programs to maximize philanthropic support.
Builds and maintains a robust prospect pipeline by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and community partners to expand philanthropic support.
Partners closely with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to cultivate strategic donor relationships, strengthen Board engagement in fundraising, and personally solicit leadership and major gifts.
Ensures an exceptional donor experience through meaningful stewardship, cultivation activities, fundraising events, and timely communications that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic investment.
Establishes and maintains a sophisticated advancement infrastructure, including donor systems, prospect management, fundraising processes, gift recognition, and performance metrics to support sustainable fundraising growth.
Leadership
Serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, ensuring fundraising and communications strategies are aligned with organizational priorities while contributing to agency-wide strategic planning, decision-making, and organizational growth.
Functions as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO by identifying philanthropic opportunities, informing organizational strategy, refining messaging, and advancing Wayfinder's external positioning.
Fosters a collaborative, high-performing culture built on trust, accountability, belonging, transparency, and continuous improvement while strengthening partnerships across departments.
Recruits, develops, coaches, and retains a high-performing team through effective leadership, performance management, succession planning, and ongoing professional development.
Participates in the development and implementation of organizational goals, strategic initiatives, policies, priorities, and performance measures for assigned areas of responsibility.
Partners with the Board of Directors by supporting Board and committee activities and presenting fundraising performance, strategic priorities, and emerging opportunities.
Promotes a culture of quality, accountability, and operational excellence by overseeing risk management, continuous quality improvement, and departmental performance.
Ensures leadership and departmental practices reflect the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the individuals, families, and communities Wayfinder serves.
Communications & Marketing
Provides strategic leadership for communications and marketing, partnering with the President & CEO and Executive Leadership Team to strengthen Wayfinder's reputation, elevate brand awareness, and advance philanthropic and organizational priorities.
Shapes a compelling organizational narrative through mission-driven storytelling, overseeing the development of donor communications, the annual report, publications, website, digital communications, social media, marketing collateral, and other external communications.
Oversees media relations, public relations, and digital engagement strategies that increase community awareness, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and support fundraising and organizational priorities.
Operations, Budgeting, & Analytics
Develops and manages departmental budgets, ensuring fiscal stewardship and alignment with organizational priorities.
Uses data, analytics, key performance indicators, and fundraising metrics to evaluate performance, identify trends, measure return on investment, and inform strategic decision-making.
Ensures departmental policies, procedures, systems, and regulatory compliance effectively support sophisticated fundraising operations, donor relations, gift processing, and organizational effectiveness.
TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED:
The EVP/CPO will be a collaborative, relationship-driven executive who leads with authenticity, integrity, and humility. An exceptional communicator and strategic thinker, they possess the executive presence and emotional intelligence to inspire confidence, build trust, and cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, Board members, colleagues, and community leaders.
A demonstrated track record of success in principal and major gifts, individual giving, foundation and corporate relations, Board engagement, and donor stewardship is essential, along with experience personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing six- and seven-figure gifts. The ideal candidate will have the ability to develop and execute innovative fundraising strategies that deliver measurable results. A skilled people leader, they will excel at coaching and developing high-performing teams, leading through change, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and building a culture of accountability, respect, and belonging. They will be comfortable representing the organization publicly, making direct fundraising asks, and influencing diverse audiences. Innovative, adaptable, and results-oriented, they will balance strategic vision with hands-on execution while approaching challenges with optimism, creativity, and resilience.
The ideal candidate will combine strong business acumen with financial and analytical expertise, using data, key performance indicators, and sound judgment to inform decisions, evaluate performance, and maximize fundraising effectiveness. Above all, they will be committed to advancing Wayfinder Family Services' mission through collaboration, stewardship, and service.
CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION:
The ideal candidate will have progressed through increasingly responsible leadership roles in philanthropy, advancement, or development. They will bring a demonstrated record of success leading comprehensive fundraising programs, growing contributed revenue, building strategic partnerships, advising executive leadership and Boards of Directors, staffing Board development committees, and developing high-performing teams. The successful candidate will possess significant experience in leading major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, donor stewardship, and other comprehensive fundraising initiatives. They will have experience managing sophisticated principal and major gift portfolios, including the successful solicitation of six- and seven-figure gifts. Overseeing communications and marketing, serving as a strategic partner to executive leadership , and using data and performance metrics to inform fundraising strategy and organizational growth is highly desirable. Experience in human services, behavioral health, disability services, child and family services, healthcare, higher education, or another complex, mission-driven organization is preferred.
COMPENSATION:
The salary range is from $250,000 to $275,000. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive benefits package will be provided.
Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Wayfinder Family Services supports a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment background and drug screenings.
