Senior Director, Growth, Strategy, and Donor Relations

What You'll Do

As the Senior Director of Engagement, you will serve as the chief architect of the donor experience during a transformative era for the organization. Joining a high-impact team with a $50 million annual budget and a staff of 70+ professionals, you will help lead the engagement strategy for our historic $1 billion, 10-year capital campaign.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, you will manage a dynamic portfolio of events and initiatives designed to deepen relationships with institutional, corporate, and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) partners. Over time, you will have the opportunity to build and develop this portfolio to align with our collective campaign goals and strategic initiatives. Your work will not only raise resources but will help transform the practice of philanthropy into a force for whole-system change.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Campaign and Donor Engagement Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive engagement strategy to deepen relationships with UHNW, corporate, and institutional partners.
• Drive the engagement initiatives for the $1B, 10-year capital campaign launching in early 2027.
• Design "campaign readiness" activities, including regional salons, high-level briefings, and donor convenings to cultivate future lead investors.
• Create personalized, high-touch stewardship experiences for the organization's most significant funders and campaign champions.
• Cultivate and manage a dedicated portfolio of relationships over time to support ongoing campaign and organizational growth.

Events and Sponsorship Leadership

• Oversee the strategic vision, planning, and fundraising for the PolicyLink Summit 2026 and subsequent biennial summits.
• Directly lead the strategy to secure $7 million in sponsorships for the 2026 Summit.
• Design and deliver "signature" events, such as campaign launches and exclusive leadership gatherings, that enhance organizational visibility.
• Build and steward corporate and philanthropic sponsorship programs, ensuring alignment between investor goals and PolicyLink's mission.
• Manage complex event budgets, vendor relationships, and cross-departmental coordination to ensure seamless execution.

Campaign Infrastructure and Stewardship

• Co-lead the development of campaign infrastructure, including the design of donor recognition levels, gift societies, and stewardship plans.
• Partner with the Communications team to produce high-impact donor-facing narratives, messaging, and collateral.
• Collaborate with Development Operations to utilize CRM data and engagement metrics to track progress and inform strategy.
• Provide training and capacity-building for internal and external ambassadors, including board members and the campaign cabinet.
• Integrate digital storytelling and engagement tools to enhance the visibility of donor impact across the organization.

Team Management and Organizational Integration

• Manage and mentor a growing Engagement & Events team, including event producers, engagement officers, and consultants.
• Align outreach and engagement strategies with the work of the Institutional Partnerships and UHNW teams.
• Represent the Development department in cross-organizational planning meetings related to public affairs and external relations.
• Foster a team culture rooted in "Love & Accountability," ensuring high performance and professional growth for all staff

Who You'll Work With

You will report directly to the Chief Development Officer and supervise a growing Engagement & Events team.

You will frequently collaborate with the Institutional Partnerships and Communications teams to ensure a consistent, inspired donor experience.

• 10+ years of experience in nonprofit development, campaign management, or high-level donor engagement.
• Proven success in leading complex events and securing sponsorships at the $5 million+ scale.
• Direct experience with capital campaign readiness or high-net-worth donor engagement initiatives.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex policy issues into inspiring donor narratives.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments and engage senior leadership, board members, and high-profile partners.
• Strong operational skills, including disciplined project management, budgeting, and vendor oversight.
• Deep commitment to PolicyLink's mission and values of equity, justice, and systemic change.

Compensation

The target salary for this role is $190K, and commensurate with experience.

Location and Travel

While this role is fully remote, candidates based in San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; or New York, NY are highly preferred as these locations are where many of PolicyLink's current partnerships exist. Candidates based in these regions can expect 10 to 15% of travel, while candidates not based in these locations can expect up to 35% of travel.

PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work toward a more inclusive world, and as such, we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.

Proof of eligibility to work in the United States must be provided if selected for hire.