Director of Philanthropy

Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we are engaged in providing excellence in patient care, embracing multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidenced based practice, experience, innovation, and critical thinking. Our compassion, integrity, accountability, and resilience define us as leaders in pediatric specialty care for our children and their families.

All employees are eligible for medical coverage on their first day! In addition, upon hire all employees are eligible for a 403(b) and Roth 403 (b) Retirement Saving Plan with matching contributions of up to 6% after one year of service. Employees in a FT or PT status (40+ hours per pay period) will also be eligible for paid time off, life insurance, short term and long-term disability and the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans and a Health Savings Account (HSA) if a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is elected. Additional benefits available to FT and PT employees include tuition reimbursement, home & auto, hospitalization, critical illness, pet insurance and much more! Coverage is available to employees and their qualified dependents in accordance with the plans. Benefits may vary based on state law.

We are a premier pediatric specialty, research, and academic teaching hospital with a medical and research partnership with Massachusetts General Brigham. It is the world’s leading center for pediatric burn care and is the only American Burn Association (ABA) exclusively pediatric verified burn center in New England and New York.

The Director of Philanthropy identifies and cultivates prospective donors from communities within the hospital’s service territory for the purpose of soliciting major gifts. The Director nurtures donor relationships through regular contact, communication, and recognition, and develops and maintains relationships with hospital/clinic-affiliated Shriners Temples and the community for the purpose of fundraising. They are responsible for following and fulfilling the objectives and goals developed by the Executive Director of Location Philanthropy and Chief Philanthropy Officer. The position requires the willingness and ability to travel as needed and occasionally work evenings and weekends when necessary.

Major Gifts Fundraising

• Assists in developing, building, and maintaining a comprehensive, hospital/clinic-based philanthropy program focused on major gifts, planned gifts, annual giving, and corporate and foundation giving.
• Supports the development and implementation of long and short-range operational plans to strengthen and grow major gifts and planned giving programs.
• Possesses a fundamental working knowledge of ways to make planned gifts, including Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA’s), bequests, real property, etc.
• Grows understanding of gift agreements, endowment giving, capital projects, and other key major gift processes.
• Demonstrates a solid performance record for closing major gifts at levels of six figures and higher.
• Reviews donor stratification reports, among others to ensure team’s focus on top-tier donors and grow support within those levels.
• Supports the Senior Director of Philanthropy in efforts to increase retention of mid and major gift-level donors.
• Assists in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding prospect relationships through personal visits and written and oral communication for the purpose of obtaining fundraising gifts to support Shriners Children’s (SC).

Prospect Engagement & Stewardship through Centralized Services

• Helps lead an appropriate and collaborative third-party fundraising approach to leverage greater funding for location efforts.
• In collaboration with the digital team, implements strategies using Classy or other platforms to engage more donors more seamlessly.
• Maintains a knowledge base on real estate, vehicle, and stock donation and other tools that were developed to provide better experiences for our donors and more streamlined efforts for the team.
• Supports the Senior Director of Philanthropy’s collaboration with the corporate and foundation team to ensure engagement strategies are implemented for key employers/foundations operating within the community; Supports 31 Days to Amaze and other efforts that grow visibility and funds for the hospital/clinic.
• Builds stronger connections with chambers of commerce, executive leadership groups, local and national foundation groups, and business councils to grow our visibility in the business, philanthropic, foundation, and religious communities so our communities can better support our outreach efforts.
• Ensures records of all donor-related activities and gifts are recorded accurately and timely in SHC’s central donor database.
• Demonstrates a solid performance record for building relationships with and obtaining gifts from corporations and foundations.
• Assists in developing solicitation priorities and donor/prospect visitation schedules for the top-level staff and volunteer board members.

Strategic Planning

• Assists the Senior Director of Philanthropy in responding to strategic hospital and corporate institutional priorities by meeting annual donor activity and philanthropic revenue goals.
• Assists the Senior Director of Philanthropy in implementing a location-specific annual plan that maps out key strategic priorities for the team; included in this plan are the annual fundraising goals and key activities metrics.

Staffing & Administration

• Assists in the development of personnel including recruitment, retention, and mentoring of philanthropy assistants, stewardship coordinators, and other team members.
• Initiates, develops and maintains cooperative relationships with hospital/clinic-affiliated Shrine Temples (fraternal organizations) and within the local community for the purpose of raising philanthropic support.
• Assists in planning and managing location-specific events such as Walks for Love, 100th Anniversary celebrations, Shrine temple presentations, and child life activities.
• Supports hospital/clinic communication systems to ensure an open and continuous flow of accurate and reliable information.
• Represents the hospital/clinic and administration, its mission, goals, policies, and priorities to employees, patients, other organizations, the community and the public.
• Effectively communicates philanthropy goals to stakeholders and team members.
• Promotes positive relationships with the Board of Governors, Shrine Centers, and affiliated Shrine groups.
• Establishes and promotes positive, interactive relationships with professional, non-professional, and administrative staff.

This is not an all-inclusive list of this job’s responsibilities. The incumbent may be required to perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum:

• 5 years of fundraising experience
• 3 years of major giving and planned giving program experience
• A demonstrable track record of fundraising accomplishments is essential, including experience in building a major gifts program into a core component of philanthropic activity
• Experience closing major and planned gifts from individual, corporations, foundations and community organization and a working knowledge of all planned giving vehicles

Preferred:

• Prior experience with Charitable Gift Annuities
  
• Healthcare fundraising and supervisory experience
  
• Experience with Blackbaud or other CRM systems