POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for the strategy, direction, and execution of all fundraising for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. As a member of the Leadership Team, the Director works closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and directors across the organization to facilitate a culture of philanthropy and to embed fundraising strategy into daily decision making and operations.
The Director will develop and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy and identify priorities across the Philanthropy team. They will cultivate relationships throughout the region and beyond, requiring strategic prioritization and tailored messaging. They will help to scale PCTA’s major gift program, hone the strategy of its annual fund, and diversify and expand its revenue streams, using data to inform decisions and actions. The Director will mentor and lead the geographically distributed Philanthropy and Membership team, ensuring team members have support and accountability to meet their goals.
The Director must be a collaborative connector who can translate complex program needs into inspiring donor opportunities. They must be an experienced and effective fundraiser and individual contributor who possesses the high emotional intelligence needed to supervise a talented team and the gravitas to build trust and alignment with a dedicated Board of Directors. They must be a creative problem solver, committed to continual process improvement, data-driven decision making, and innovation. They must have a genuine passion for the work and landscapes to which PCTA is dedicated.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership and Vision
Establish and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy and plan to increase private revenue to meet PCTA's strategic goals, including major donors, annual membership, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and planned giving
Work closely with the CEO, CFAO, and Leadership Team to plan for the future of PCTA, collaborate on overall organizational priorities and budget, and support critical real-time leadership decisions
Set goals and priorities for all philanthropic programs and oversee development of the annual philanthropy revenue budget to meet annual and long-term revenue goals
Encourage a thriving culture of philanthropy at PCTA, honoring all contributions from our community, including financial and in-kind donations, volunteerism, advocacy, partnership, and talent
Represent PCTA externally and help raise its profile and visibility to funders, partners, and the community
Stay current with fundraising and nonprofit trends
Board Collaboration
Serve as the lead staff liaison to the Board Fundraising Committee, supporting board engagement in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Partner with the CEO and board to ensure they are prepared and supported in fundraising efforts
Empower the staff and board as effective spokespersons for the organization
Fundraising Management
Direct all aspects of the Philanthropy Program, including but not limited to securing donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations across the West Coast
Expand and diversify the donor base and work closely with the CEO to secure funding for new initiatives
Act as a strategic partner to program areas, ensuring fundraisers deeply understand the trail’s needs and can communicate them with passion
Serve as the primary driver, in partnership with the CEO and board members, on all major fundraising initiatives and campaigns
Manage a portfolio of donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations with six-figure and above capacity
Oversee the creation of tailored donor-facing communications, including digital and paper newsletters, social media, direct mail, and email appeals in collaboration with the Director of Communications and Philanthropy team members
Partner with the Finance, Accounting and Operations, and program teams to ensure accurate gift tracking and reporting
Team Leadership
Hire, manage, mentor, evaluate, and retain an effective fundraising team overseeing major donors, the annual fund, membership, foundation, and corporate programs and ensure team members have the resources and accountability to reach goals
Ensure timely and successful execution of fundraising goals, strategic plan goals, and other tasks
Regularly convene the Philanthropy team to review progress, align on strategies, act on opportunities, and address challenges
Manage task-specific consultants as needed
Foster a culture focused on PCTA's organizational values and community building
Systems, Data, and Reporting
Champion a culture of data-driven learning by utilizing Salesforce to analyze behaviors, identify trends, and optimize fundraising tactics
Utilize data and resources to identify and prioritize potential prospects
Establish clear KPIs, benchmarks, and performance metrics to guide the team toward budget targets, increased donor engagement, and timely execution of fundraising goals and strategic plan objectives
Prepare quarterly reports for the board that include performance against KPIs, strategy updates, and transparent data-backed insights
Partner with the Salesforce administrator to ensure systems capture meaningful donor insights and learnings from every campaign
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
Strategic Leader
Proven ability to design and implement ambitious, multi-channel fundraising strategies that deliver measurable revenue growth
Senior executive with experience thriving in collaborative leadership environments and contributing to organization-wide strategic decisions
Skilled at nurturing a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and its supporters
Experience coaching board members to become active fundraisers and confident champions for the organization
Fundraising Expert
Minimum of six to eight years of direct fundraising experience with a strong track record of closing six-figure gifts across multiple revenue streams, including annual fund, major gifts, corporate, foundation, and planned giving
Builds authentic, lasting relationships with high-capacity donors and thinks strategically about pipeline development
Skilled at translating program work into compelling cases for support through cross-functional collaboration
Equally comfortable crafting strategy and executing tactical fundraising activities
Proven success overseeing multiple projects through completion, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners
Budget management experience, including forecasting and tracking expenditures
Capable Manager
Minimum of four years of experience leading a professional philanthropy team with demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and retain top-tier fundraising talent
Skilled at creating accountability structures and delivering outcomes while providing the support teams need to succeed
Values-driven leadership approach that models inclusion, collaboration, and excellence
Innovative Thinker
Detail-oriented organizational skills with proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), information management systems, business software, and other tools needed to build an effective fundraising program
Systems thinking approach that uses data to drive decisions and ensures technology captures actionable insights that enable continuous improvement
Entrepreneurial approach to prospect development that leverages data and research to build and cultivate a robust pipeline
Skilled at crafting tailored reports that use clear metrics to interpret performance and opportunities
Mission-Driven Advocate
Genuine passion for PCTA’s mission and the trail, landscapes, and people it serves
Charismatic external presence with the ability to open doors, build credibility and support, and position the organization for long-term success
Exceptional writing and persuasive speaking skills that inspire action and support and the ability to connect authentically and passionately with diverse trail communities
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position. The anticipated annual salary range is $100,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience.
PCTA offers comprehensive benefits, including:
Full benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid life and long-term disability
Paid time off, including 12 holidays
2 weeks vacation, increasing with length of service
12 sick days per year
5 additional days of paid personal time to enjoy time outside
Eligible for a 401(k) plan with 3% employer contribution plus a 5% employer match
Discounts to many outdoor industry brands
LOCATION AND REQUIREMENTS
The position will be remote, but must be located near a major metropolitan airport in California, Oregon, or Washington.
Up to 20% travel is expected to attend donor, partner, staff, board, and committee meetings, as well as fundraising events and conferences. Meetings are primarily conducted in Washington, Oregon, and California, though travel to other regions is possible.
TO APPLY
Please visit potrerogroup.com/pcta and select “Apply Here.” Applications should include a resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications and your personal passion for the mission of the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Interested candidates should apply by March 9, 2026, for priority consideration.
START DATE
Summer 2026
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
More information on the organization can be found at pcta.org.
For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact
Jena Kuznik, Senior Consultant
jkuznik@potrerogroup.com
