Job Openings | Trust for Public Land

Director of Philanthropy - Northwest - Tacoma, WA; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR, United States

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:42:29 GMT

Who We Are:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.

“For over 50 years, Trust for Public Land has been working tirelessly towards our vision that every individual should have close-to-home access to the benefits of nature. In today’s world, our land-for-people solutions are even more relevant than ever. Quality parks and natural spaces are a fundamental requirement for sustaining healthy, equitable communities that are resilient and prepared for change. Parks and public lands connect us to each other and to the outdoors. As we enter our fifth decade, we have much to celebrate and even more promising work to pursue. We are a vibrant organization with a new strategic plan that builds on our success. Join us to become part of a growing and forward-thinking team focused on growing our philanthropic partnerships to ensure healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”
- Patricia Watson, Chief Advancement Officer

Position Summary:
Reporting directly to the Pacific Region Director of Philanthropy, the Northwest Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for building relationships with and securing six- and seven-figure major gifts from high net-worth individuals located in across the two state region (Washington and Oregon) in support of the Northwest program, the Pacific Region, and the organization’s highest priorities and initiatives. We are seeking an entrepreneurial and results-oriented individual who is self-motivated with proven track record of working with this segment of donors, committed to working at the highest level of quality, able to work both independently and in collaboration, manage multiple priorities, and thrive within a results-oriented team.

The Director of Philanthropy will join a team focused on growing existing as well as identifying and engaging new, highly philanthropic individual prospects and work closely with executive, program, and philanthropy leadership to leverage resources across the organization to elevate the work taking place locally, regionally, and nationally. The position is responsible for directly overseeing a portfolio of individuals, corporate, and foundations, with an emphasis on individual high-capacity major gift prospects and donors.

This position will serve as a member of the Pacific Region team and expected to work closely with a variety of internal partners including State Leadership, National Programs, Finance, Marketing, Philanthropy Operations, Philanthropy Programs, and Planned Giving teams to drive the integration of an organization-wide philanthropy program.

Responsibilities:
50% Relationship Manager: Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects with an emphasis on individual major gift ($100K+) donor prospects. Includes donor visits; qualification, cultivation and stewardship activities; and solicitations. Pursues identifying and qualifying new prospects. Creates comprehensive engagement strategies, leads cultivation teams, and leads in the creation and delivery of final solicitation and stewardship materials. Promotes blended gifts, planned giving, and involves peer volunteers, executive leadership, senior management, and project staff in cultivation as needed.

30%    Program Oversight: Oversee and accountable for all fundraising activities in the Northwest program. Collaborate with program team to design and implement annual and long-range plans to realize annual on multiyear revenue goals and setting the priorities and focus for the philanthropy team. Track and report progress toward revenue and programmatic goals. Monitor philanthropy associated expenses ensuring proper investment of resources. Oversee donor communications and recognition, coordinating with regional and national marketing and donor relations departments. Has oversight of donor events and tours. Direct and coordinate the involvement of leadership and program staff with donors and in overall fundraising.

         Collaborate with Northwest State Director and Advisory Board Chair to identify, recruit, cultivate, and retain Advisory Board members, fostering an environment for continued programmatic and philanthropic success. Leads philanthropy-related board activities, including 100% advisory board giving, philanthropic outreach, and donor cultivation events.

15%      Management: Supports the success of a cross functional philanthropy team, including two direct reports (Associate Director of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Coordinator) through clear communication, guidance, and management to meet the program’s philanthropy, donor, and volunteer goals. Supports professional development opportunities. Monitors progress and provides positive and constructive feedback. Delivers annual performance assessment.

5%        Regional Program & National Initiative Strategy: Interacts with internal contacts such as the Pacific Region philanthropy team, national program directors, state directors and other fundraising staff to consult on organizational needs, to formulate strategies to promote donor prospect engagement with the organization and to identify potential donors. Assist with the strategy for and creation of written communications from various program leaders appropriate to a donor’s interests. Typically participates in (often in concert with others) gift solicitations to fund organization-wide or regional programs and to enhance the fundraising efforts of key state programs.

Expectations:
The Director of Philanthropy is expected to:

Carry a balanced portfolio and actively move them through the four stages (qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship) of the donor cycle.
Make at least 100 visits with donors and prospects and meet solicitation targets, annually.
Contribute to Philanthropy’s overall success by assuring budget and goals are met or exceeded.
Develop and implement annual and long-range Philanthropy plan.
Model TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) to effectively work across the organization.

Experience, Education, and Skills Required:

Minimum 11 years of professional experience with five+ years demonstrated major gift fundraising success.
Ability to organize and motivate others, including peers and volunteers.
Demonstrated understanding of best practices across all disciplines of fundraising (institutional giving, working with volunteers, major gifts, planned giving, etc.)
Experience in planning, leading, and managing action plans, campaigns, and projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, tracking, and reporting on progress to management.
The ability to focus efforts and train non-philanthropy staff in the discipline of fundraising as appropriate.
Strong skills in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. The ability to convey complex ideas via presentations, e-mails, and face to face communications.
The ability to work with others to reach common goals and objectives.
Experience establishing and cultivating strong relationships with staff and ability to use good judgment, take initiative, and make recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to utilize database tools to manage donors and build fundraising strategies.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and with complex databases or donor management software.
Available for significant, independent travel (up to 25%)

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment; the Director of Philanthropy will ideally be in the greater Seattle/Tacoma or Portland areas. As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, sick leave, and ten holidays. We also offer a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with an up to 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the hiring range for this position is $115,000-$125,000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.

Project Manager - Bay Area Parks for People Community Partnerships - San Francisco, CA, United States

Tue, 19 May 2026 23:57:11 GMT

Develop, plan, coordinate, and implement a robust coalition-building campaign involving diverse team members, partners, and local media;
Research and assist in managing and distributing information on public and private grant opportunities, and manage park activation grants;
Research and analyze park-related policies, master plans, general plans, etc. in Richmond and Oakland;
Use data and analysis gathered through TPL’s GIS team to support and inform the work, and ensure focus on program goals;
Work with partner organizations and elected officials to strengthen and leverage relationships;
Track and represent TPL with partner organizations at City Council, relevant committee meetings and/or other delegation visits as needed;
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner organizations and other community-based organizations, and assist with their community supportive strategies;
Work with consultants, and internal and external marketing professionals to create consistent messaging around park advocacy.
In Richmond, participate in meetings, and lead our collaborative work with the existing Richmond Park Equity Project (RichPEP) group;
Manage Parks Funding Roadmap project in Richmond, including coordination of work with TPL’s 10-Minute Walk and Conservation Finance teams;
Support project management of individual park improvements projects.

Qualifications:

A degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Environmental Design, Urban Planning or other related field from an accredited university or equivalent work experience
5+ years experience in successful coalition building and community empowerment, policy analysis, or urban planning;

Understanding local government budgeting and operations;
Experience working with community-based organizations in a collaborative and community lead coalition;
Experience managing partner relationships;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Experience with public speaking to promote a project, or program or organizational goals;
Experience working for or with community-based organizations and public agencies;
Ability to manage complex projects from start to finish with moderate level of supervision;
Must have the ability to determine procedures on new assignments;
Demonstrated ability to function well as a team member;
High degree of creativity, vision, and resourcefulness, and ability to problem solve;
Ability and willingness to work outside regular business hours with frequent local travel;
Awareness and understanding of environmental justice and park equity issues in disinvested urban communities;
Ability to collaborate and negotiate with diverse groups and interests in dynamic environments;
Excellent time management skills;
Familiarity with East Bay political landscape is a plus;
Fluency in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog or other frequently spoken languages in the East Bay is a plus.

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near our San Francisco Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $72000-82000. This role may be eligible for additional locality pay based on the candidate’s work location.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and ca

Institutional Giving Director - California, United States

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:16:59 GMT

Who We Are

At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us!

Position Summary:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is seeking a dynamic and accomplished Institutional Giving Director (IGD) to elevate and optimize corporate and foundation giving relationships, ensuring sustained success and impact. As an integral member of the California Philanthropy team, the IGD will play a pivotal role in achieving revenue targets that support TPL’s initiatives across California and nationwide.
This position calls for an individual with a proven track record of building and growing strong relationships that inspire both new and established partners to contribute generously. We seek a mature institutional giving director with strong leadership qualities and exceptional internal and external communication strategic thinking, and collaboration skills.
The IGD's portfolio will encompass local, regional and national foundations and corporations who currently give in the $50,000 to $500,000+ range and who have potential for growth. Additionally, the IGD will progressively add new institutional donors to the portfolio. The role entails identifying, nurturing, soliciting, and stewarding corporate and foundation contributors and prospects, managing a donor portfolio, orchestrating donor interactions, coordinating corporate engagement initiatives, tracking prospects, composing persuasive proposals and reports, and upholding effective donor stewardship. By undertaking these responsibilities, the IGD will be instrumental in advancing our thriving programs and expanding Trust for Public Land impact throughout the region and nationwide.
The IGD will have a strategic focus within California. Developing fundraising opportunities for National program support is also expected.

Key Responsibilities:

Forge collaborative gift opportunities in partnership with internal stakeholders (state directors, philanthropy colleagues, program directors, and project managers) to align organizational priorities and secure funding for vital initiatives.
Identify and assess corporate and foundation prospects. Develop impactful proposals and letters of inquiry, compelling corporate pitches, concept papers, and research briefings.
Conduct purposeful visits with corporate and foundation prospects to establish meaningful connections, gather insights, evaluate prospects, present innovative ideas, expand networks, enhance understanding of TPL's initiatives, seek invitations for proposals, and ensure effective stewardship. Collaborate strategically with TPL Leadership, volunteers, and staff for such engagements, preparing meticulously for pre-meeting planning and post-meeting follow-up.
Strategize, create, and implement prospect engagement strategies, encompassing prospect identification, qualification, and cultivation. Determine optimal timing and amounts for funding requests, oversee complex proposal creation including collaboration with budgeting and finance personnel, personally solicit prospects during face-to-face meetings, supply requisite verbal and written communications to secure donations, and deliver comprehensive stewardship, including corporate engagement and volunteer events. Report on donations made to the organization.
Develop a structured work plan, managing activity timelines for each donor or prospect, encompassing proposal deadlines, reporting dates, cultivation and stewardship events, and simultaneous proposal and strategy management, all within specified deadlines.
Collaborate with colleagues in Philanthropy, Finance, Legal, Marketing, State and Program and National departments to construct proposal budgets, facilitate engagement opportunities, and oversee grant agreement deliverables and reporting.
Collaborate with fellow philanthropy team members on cross-functional TPL-wide initiatives, such as joint grant solicitations and stewardship activities.
Prepare internal teams for foundation site visits and corporate engagements and facilitate donor recognition (when applicable).
Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned.

Expectations:

Strategically manage and expand a portfolio comprising 60-75 institutional and corporate prospects and donors, primarily within the Southwest, capable of granting $50,000 - $500,000+.
Regularly conduct purposeful donor visits, aiming for 45-60+ meaningful engagements annually, with a target of qualifying at least 24 prospects each year.
Submit a minimum of three solicitations of $500,000+ and thirty solicitations ranging from $50,000 - $499,999 annually.
Contribute significantly to Philanthropy's success within the region and nationwide.

Qualifications:

A minimum of nine years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, demonstrating expertise in devising strategies, securing substantial funding from, and effectively stewarding major institutional partners. A track record of consistently meeting or exceeding fundraising targets.
Familiarity with and experience in navigating California’s philanthropic landscape.
Proficiency in crafting compelling written and verbal fundraising communications. The ability to convey intricate concepts through presentations, emails, and direct interactions. Substantial experience in composing complex grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and institutional reports.
Proven and substantial history of cultivating and maintaining fruitful relationships with foundations and corporations.
Experience conceiving and executing corporate engagement initiatives, encompassing networking events, volunteer participation activities, and more.
Proficiency in utilizing fundraising databases, Microsoft Office applications, and online research tools.
Basic proficiency in accounting and comprehension of nonprofit financial practices, with the capability to collaborate with Finance and Program staff to devise proposal budgets.
Self-driven, adept at managing multiple priorities, paying meticulous attention to detail and deadlines, and achieving success with minimal supervision.
The capacity to excel both independently as a strong individual contributor and as an active team participant, introducing fresh concepts and opportunities.
Genuine interest in and commitment to Trust for Public Land's mission.
A willingness to adopt flexible work hours and occasional travel throughout the region is essential.
A bachelor's degree or comparable experience is a prerequisite.

Compensation

Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near our San Francisco office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $101,000-$115,000 annually.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.