Vice President of Philanthropy

Position Overview: The Vice President of Philanthropy plays a vital role in advancing Kupu’s mission to empower youth through environmental stewardship, service-learning, and place-based leadership development. This executive leadership position oversees all aspects of fund development, donor engagement, philanthropic strategy, and revenue growth. Responsible for overseeing fundraising and Kupu’s MALU initiative. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the VP of Philanthropy partners closely with the Board to develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy. This leader must be both strategic and relational, grounded in ethical fundraising practices, culturally responsive engagement, and long-term sustainability planning. The role requires a seasoned fundraising professional who builds and sustains high-level partnerships, stewards major donors, grows institutional funding, and cultivates a strong, cohesive philanthropy team aligned with Kupu’s CHOSEN values through place-based philanthropy leadership. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Cultural & Organizational LeadershipConduct oneself with aloha and exemplify Kupu’s culture, mission, and CHOSEN Values Conduct oneself with integrity, credibility, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kupu’s mission Actively contribute as a strategic leader within the Executive Committee Support cross-departmental alignment Champion a culture of philanthropy across the organization Support organizational initiatives including strategic planning, annual budgeting, and long-range forecasting Represent Kupu at community, civic, and philanthropic events Maintain confidentiality and ethical fundraising standards Strategic Fund Development LeadershipProvide overall strategic direction and oversight for all fundraising efforts, including major gifts, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, annual fund, events, and planned giving In collaboration with the CEO and Board, create and maintain a comprehensive, multi-year development plan Develop revenue projections aligned with organizational growth targets Design and implement diversified revenue strategies to mitigate funding risk Lead data-informed decision-making across fundraising programs Lead feasibility studies for major campaigns or endowment initiatives Establish measurable KPIs and dashboards for fundraising performance Monitor and evaluate progress toward annual and long-term fundraising goals Partner with Accounting to ensure accurate revenue forecasting and reconciliation Partner with External Affairs to align fundraising messaging with organizational brand and strategic priorities Institutional Giving & Grant Strategy OversightDevelop strategic corporate partnership models beyond sponsorships Oversee strategy for foundation, government, and institutional funding Ensure alignment between program outcomes, reporting requirements, and further expectations Collaborate with all stakeholder departments on grant budgets, compliance, and deliverables Cultivate long-term relationships with institutional funders Monitor grant performance and renewal pipelines Major & Principal Gift LeadershipOversee gift acceptance, donor privacy, and ethical standards Maintain a portfolio of principal and major donors Personally solicit and steward high-capacity donors Develop customized cultivation and stewardship plans Support CEO and Board in donor engagement and solicitation strategies Lead campaign strategy and execution when applicable Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to charitable giving compliance Board & Volunteer EngagementPartner with the Board of Directors and appropriate committees Provide regular fundraising reports and strategy updates Support Board member engagement in cultivation and solicitation efforts Develop Board fundraising training and capacity-building sessions Team Leadership & ManagementBuild future fundraising leadership capacity Establish performance expectations and conduct evaluations Support professional development and succession planning Ensure ethical fundraising standards consistent with AFP guidelines Oversee CRM utilization, data integrity, and reporting processes