Chief Philanthropy Officer

About College Track

College Track is the nation’s most comprehensive college completion program, partnering with students from historically underserved communities who aspire to become the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. Through our holistic, 10-year Promise, we partner with scholars to unlock their brilliance—supporting them through high school, college, and into their careers with the tools, networks, and opportunities they deserve to thrive.

Our deliberate approach supports scholars as they work to minimize student debt, secure paid internships, and reduce the need to work excessive hours while in school—ensuring they can focus on learning, leadership, and personal growth. By preparing our scholars to capture the full value of their degree, we position them to thrive in the 21st-century economy and lead lives of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power.

What began in 1997 with 25 students in East Palo Alto has grown into a national movement of more than 5,400 scholars and alumni who are driving change in their families, campuses, workplaces, and communities. Today, we operate 13 centers rooted in communities across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. Metro Area, with our newest site opening in Baltimore, thanks to a bold partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank, and Baltimore City Public Schools.

Our scholars are leaders on more than 300 college campuses nationwide, including at partner institutions like Middlebury College, Tulane University, the University of California, Merced, Trinity University, Paul Quinn College, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They graduate at rates that are three times the national average for first-generation students, proving what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. One year after college, 80 percent of our alumni are employed, and by age 30, they earn an average of $89,823—outpacing the national median and demonstrating the long-term economic mobility a bachelor’s degree unlocks.

A powerful network of partners—including JPMorgan Chase, the Gates Foundation, Emerson Collective, Salesforce, and Electronic Arts—actively invests in this mission, creating an exceptional opportunity for our next Chief Philanthropy Officer to leverage these relationships and expand our impact as we continue strengthening our economy, communities, and future through first-generation college graduates.

Our Values

At College Track, our values drive how we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged.

COMMITMENT: With every choice and every decision, we center the 10-year promise.
PASSION: It is the fire that drives us, and we’re in it for the long haul.
JOY: Energized by the hopes, ambitions, and growth of our scholars, we celebrate the impact of our community.
AUTHENTICITY: What each brings to the table contributes to deep and trusting relationships.
EXCELLENCE: Every day is better than the last, we’re always learning, always progressing, always evolving.

Please visit www.collegetrack.org to learn more about the organization.

The Opportunity

College Track seeks a Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) with a proven track record of creating effective, long-lasting fundraising approaches that can grow with our organization. This individual will be a visionary leader who can guide and support our talented 20-person fundraising team and help us expand our philanthropy program during this critical time of organizational growth. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, recognize the robust donor management infrastructure already established, and possess the technical expertise to architect workflows and systems that will dramatically elevate our fundraising outcomes.

College Track is a lean and focused organization that has more than doubled in size over the last 4 years, reaching a substantial $60m annual budget. Our ambitious vision extends beyond this growth as we seek to create lasting systemic change for scholars and communities nationwide. The ideal CPO will be a compelling storyteller who can articulate College Track's impact with clarity and passion. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CPO will strategically lead all aspects of College Track's fundraising initiatives. This role demands a sophisticated leader who can transform our philanthropic culture, implementing a coordinated, forward-thinking approach to fundraising that aligns with our mission and long-term objectives. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CPO will serve as a powerful advocate for philanthropy within the organization, working in close partnership with the CEO, other members of the Senior Leadership Team, and the Board of Directors to engage and inspire critical stakeholders to champion our mission through their support.

Key Responsibilities:

Visionary Fundraising Strategy and CEO Partnership

Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-million dollar, national fundraising strategy to include major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving, ensuring alignment with College Track’s mission and vision.
Maintain a donor portfolio with a focus on cultivating and closing major gifts.
Actively seek strategic partnership opportunities that result in additional revenue generation.
Lead efforts to diversify and expand the donor base, focusing on pipeline development, donor acquisition, and stewardship.
Partner with the CEO to position the organization for future funding opportunities.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on all fundraising-related matters, setting and executing a long-term strategy for College Track’s philanthropy efforts.
Guide the creation and execution of the annual fundraising plan and calendar, ensuring all goals are tracked and met.

People Leadership, Collaboration, and Capacity Building

Lead, mentor, and develop a talented Philanthropy Team of 20 professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and trust.
Ensure the team has the resources, tools, and systems to effectively execute fundraising strategies (e.g., Salesforce, donor briefs, reporting tools).
Identify and nurture team members' strengths, providing professional development opportunities to enhance team effectiveness.
Develop a staffing and operational strategy to increase capacity within the philanthropy team, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
Partner with key leaders across the organization, including Senior Leadership, Communications Teams, and Executive Site Directors, to ensure alignment between philanthropy efforts and program delivery.

Story Telling and Stakeholder Engagement

Possess the presence and storytelling ability to articulate College Track's mission and impact in ways that inspire significant philanthropic investments from individuals and institutions.
Possess full belief in the mission to inspire others on behalf of the organization.
Build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with current and potential donors, ensuring personalized, strategic engagement.
Foster productive partnerships with College Track's National Board and Local Advisory Boards, implementing targeted strategies that activate their networks and maximize philanthropic contributions.
Act as a key representative for College Track’s philanthropic mission, both internally and externally, speaking at key events, meetings, and engagements.

Data-Driven Innovation & Systems Thinking

Lead the development and implementation of systems to evaluate and measure fundraising performance, ensuring clarity on goals, metrics, and accountability.
Drive and support innovation within the philanthropy function.
Bring data-driven decision-making skills with a strong understanding of donor management systems like Salesforce.
Partner with the Vice President of Program Evaluation and Research to develop metrics and assessment plans for funding opportunities.
Work closely with the Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO) to align the fundraising strategy with organizational financial objectives, ensuring a clear connection between fundraising goals and the organization's overall financial health.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strong leadership, strategic thinking, and fundraising expertise to the role. This individual will understand the importance of developing a national pipeline utilizing a robust portfolio management system. The position is based in the Bay Area, and candidates must either reside there or be willing to relocate. Regular travel to College Track's 13 sites is required to build meaningful connections with donors and philanthropy team members across our network. In addition to a passion for College Track's mission, candidates will have:

Extensive experience in donor strategy, annual fundraising, major gifts, and planned giving.
Demonstrated sound judgment in knowing when to make independent decisions, delegate effectively, and involve the team in collaborative decision-making processes.
Experience building relationships with high-net-worth individuals and institutions.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft compelling donor communications and build relationships across all levels of the organization.
A high degree of emotional intelligence and excellent listening skills, with the patience and ability to inspire and motivate others.
An ability to work in a fast-paced, growing organization, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to new challenges.
The propensity to model College Track's values of commitment, passion, joy, authenticity, and excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $224,250 to $317,400, commensurate with experience. College Track offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health care, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. We value work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements to ensure our team thrives.

College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 27 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 28 paid office closures and holidays in your first year of employment. Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).

Physical Demands: Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a mouse to use a computer's operating system/internet. Ability to move around an office environment and communicate with stakeholders (conveying and receiving information).

Contact

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trevor Hooper, Alex Corvin, and Nikki Lynch. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

College Track is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

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