Senior Executive Director of Development, Philanthropy Communications

City of Hope

Irwindale, CA

Job posting number: #7128580 (Ref:10020450)

Posted: March 15, 2023

Salary / Pay Rate: $68.61 - $114.57 / hour

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment organization for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin, monoclonal antibodies and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. AccessHope™, a subsidiary launched in 2019 serves employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope’s specialized cancer expertise.

A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is ranked among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report and received Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California and in Arizona.

City of Hope’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding. We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary

The Senior Executive Director of Development (SEDOD) will contribute to this vision by participating in key processes and programs that sustain an office-wide focus on collaboration, efficiencies and metrics-based outcomes. Through individual contribution, the SEDOD will be a part of creating our evolution into a perpetually campaign-ready, donor-centered, leading industry program to support City of Hope’s mission. In pursuit of this outcome, we are committed to growing careers within the Office of Philanthropy to attract and retain the most talented professionals in the country, and excel as a highly collaborative, efficient and creative team.

Key Responsibilities include:

Serve as a key leader of the Donor Relations & Philanthropy Communications team and contribute to reaching its goal of meaningfully engaging a wide variety of donors, volunteers, faculty and administrators who are committed to ensuring the long-term success of City of Hope’s mission through philanthropic support and advocacy. Includes:

  • Lead high-level Donor Relations & Philanthropy Communications activities to ensure donor retention, increased giving and support long-term relationships with COH. Manage the comprehensive and long-term strategy for donor engagement for COH; including, but not limited to individualized stewardship plans for high-level prospects and donors, recognition society activities, stewardship reporting, chapter and industry stewardship, and donor engagement materials that reflect the unique needs of COH’s various donor constituencies. Activities should acknowledge and thank donors for their gifts, reflect their unique relationship with COH, and lay the groundwork for future giving.
  • Lead the development of donor-driven communications related to philanthropic opportunities, stewardship and engagement, promotion of City of Hope initiatives and announcements of major commitments. Provide a wide range of communications materials and support for diverse audiences across the institution. Serve as a communications project management resource within the Office of Philanthropy. Craft and oversee messaging for and implementation of individual and group communications, sharing best practices on an ongoing basis. Seek opportunities to partner with frontline development team on the development of customized communications materials to advance cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies. Ensure that complex and technical information is conveyed in a way that is understandable and exciting to donors, understanding what is important to donors and addressing the underlying motivations that fuel giving and inspires long-term support. Manage the concerns of multiple stakeholders, among them development officers, physicians and leadership. Lead efforts to encourage consistency in messaging, graphic design and brand for all development communications.
  • Oversee a team of writers to produce donor-centered reports, letters and communications. Manage a dynamic calendar of program reports to individual donors, assign writers, and ensure scientific accuracy and donor messaging. Oversee the development of compelling speaking points for senior leadership. Manage written acknowledgements and special correspondence on behalf of enterprise leadership to steward individual donors and engage groups of donors. Work closely with Donor Relations team to ensure well-thought out strategy and messaging for high-level donors.
  • Establish strong relationships with colleagues in Marketing and Communications. Develop robust calendar of impact reports across the institution’s programs and help to identify strategy for reaching donors by mail and email in order to strengthen donor engagement and retention. Ensure donor communications, both copy and design, aligns with and supports campaign priorities and messaging. Support development of communications via digital and visual media, including online campaigns and videos.
  • Lead execution of the strategic vision and plan for donor experience activities and communications to recognize and steward City of Hope donors, volunteers, chapters and industry partners. Collaborate with relevant Office of Philanthropy partners to support donor-centric, accurate and efficient data practices surrounding the program, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures governing the use of patient data and maximizing program potential.
  • Provide guidance as appropriate to the Coordinator supporting the Donor Relations & Philanthropy Communications team.

Serve as a role model for the Office of Philanthropy. Includes:

  • Participate and model vision, culture and change implementation throughout the Office of Philanthropy and City of Hope.
  • Participate in search committees, task forces, and other special projects.

Follows established City of Hope and department policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines, including adherence to the workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Plan. Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in business, philanthropy or related field. Experience may substitute for minimum education requirements.
  • 7+ years in donor relations experience, with strong preference for experience in development, philanthropy, stewardship role within a fundraising, development, or related field in non-profit environment.
  • Minimum 5 years supervisory experience required.

Additional Information:

  • As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.

Salary / Pay Rate Information:
Pay Rate: $68.61 - $114.57 / hour

The estimated pay scale represents the typical [salary/hourly] range City of Hope reasonably expects to pay for this position, with offers determined based on several factors which may include, but not be limited to, the candidate’s experience, expertise, skills, education, job scope, training, internal equity, geography/market, etc. This pay scale is subject to change from time to time.



City of Hope is a community of people characterized by our diversity of thought, background and approach, but tied together by our commitment to care for and cure those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The innovation that our diversity produces in the areas of research, treatment, philanthropy and education has made us national leaders in this fight. Our unique and diverse workforce provides us the ability to understand our patients' needs, deliver compassionate care and continue the quest for a cure for life-threatening diseases. At City of Hope, diversity and inclusion is a core value at the heart of our mission. We strive to create an inclusive workplace environment that engages all of our employees and provides them with opportunities to develop and grow, both personally and professionally. Each day brings an opportunity to strengthen our work, leverage our different perspectives and improve our patients’ experiences by learning from others. Diversity and inclusion is about much more than policies and campaigns. It is an integral part of who we are as an institution, how we operate and how we see our future.


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