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Position Description:
Head of PhilanthropySt. Louis, Missouri
Position Summary
Since 2001, BioSTL has laid the foundation for St. Louis' innovation economy with a comprehensive set of transformational programs that advance St. Louis’ leadership in solving important world challenges in human health and agriculture. BioSTL has introduced nationally acclaimed initiatives in startup creation and investment (BioGenerator), strategic business attraction (BioSTL Global), physical environment (including Cortex and BioGenerator Labs), entrepreneur support, seed and venture capital, a diverse and inclusive workforce, and public policy. Learn more about us online at biostl.org.
The Head of Philanthropy is a BioSTL senior executive leader responsible for driving measurable growth in philanthropic investment that fuels BioSTL’s mission to build a world class innovation economy to ensure St. Louis thrives. This role builds and sustains high-trust, long-term relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and civic partners, translating shared priorities into transformational philanthropic commitments.
Partnering closely with the CEO, executive leadership team, and program leaders, the Head of Philanthropy sets and achieves ambitious revenue goals, secures significant gifts and builds a high-performing, data-driven process. This position is accountable for donor retention and growth, pipeline diversification, and the consistent delivery of clear, outcome-focused impact reporting.
The Head of Philanthropy holds primary responsibility for philanthropic strategy and execution and works in close collaboration with BioSTL’s VP of Grants to ensure alignment, continuity, and consistency of messaging across philanthropic, state, and federal funding requests.
The Head of Philanthropy is expected to maintain flexibility to meet with donors, partners, and stakeholders when and where relationships are best advanced, including occasional evenings and weekends. Work hours will frequently align with donor availability, board engagement, and key cultivation and stewardship opportunities.
We’re a small, collaborative team with an outsized impact. Given the breadth and dynamic of our work, no two days look the same. If you’re motivated by mission, enjoy working across teams, and want to help shape the future of St. Louis, you’ll feel at home here.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Develop and lead a multi-year philanthropic strategy aligned with BioSTL’s priorities in startup creation, global recruiting, inclusive workforce programs, and public policy leadership.
Translate strategy into annual revenue goals, multi-year projections, and clear performance metrics with accountability for results.
Provide leadership to an internal and external development team and collaborate with BioSTL’s VP of Grants and other senior leaders.
Build and reinforce a culture of philanthropy across staff, program leaders, and board partners emphasizing shared ownership of donor relationships.
Major Gifts & Donor Relations
Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.
Secure six-and seven-figure philanthropic investments through relationship-based fundraising grounded in trust, alignment, and demonstrated impact.
Develop compelling cases for support tied to measurable impact, regional economic outcomes, and innovation’s positive impact on the human condition, that connect donor interests to BioSTL’s work.
Foundation & Corporate Relations
Lead strategy for foundation and corporate philanthropy, including proposal development, reporting, and stewardship for major funders.
Expand BioSTL’s funding base by cultivating relationships with national and global funders aligned with BioSTL’s role in helping to solve important global challenges in human health and agriculture.
Create partnership models for corporate donors interested in innovation, STEM workforce pipelines, and startup collaboration.Campaign & Initiative Development??Partner with senior leadership on potential capital or strategic campaigns aligned to BioSTL’s priorities, including regional infrastructure (e.g., labs, greenhouses, innovation districts).
Package and communicate clear fundable opportunities across BioSTL’s portfolio, ensuring alignment between donor interest and organizational priorities.
Support the CEO and Board in donor strategy, solicitation planning, and high-level relationship management.
Stewardship, Systems, & Reporting?
Ensure donor-centric stewardship and timely high-quality impact reporting that reinforces trust and long-term engagement and legacy building.
Use CRM and analytics tools to maintain a healthy diversified pipeline and forecast revenue accurately and track performance.
Partner with Finance for accurate gift accounting and compliance, and financial transparency.
Qualifications
Required
8+ years progressive fundraising leadership experience with direct accountability for setting and achieving annual and multi-year revenue goals.
Demonstrated success securing major gifts at the six- and seven-figure level, including managing a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
Proven ability to build and sustain long-term, trust-based relationships with senior philanthropic corporate and civic leaders.
Experience translating complex programs or initiatives into digestible stories for donors (or the ability to quickly learn).
Understanding of philanthropic funding dynamics in universities, healthcare, foundations, and regional ecosystems.
Strong strategic planning, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Demonstrated ability to partner with executive leaders, and civic stakeholders.
Preferred
Experience in economic development, bioscience, technology innovation, or STEM-related philanthropy.
Familiarity with cross-sector fundraising, federal/private grants, and impact-driven reporting.
Knowledge of St. Louis philanthropic landscape.
Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and systems orientation
Donor-centric engagement
Exceptional communication and storytelling
Self-Driven to achieve results with an ability to work with autonomy
Demonstrated skill in cultivating trust and rapport with diverse individuals and groups
Cross-sector collaboration (corporate, university, civic, foundation) Leadership and talent developmentData-driven planning & forecasting
Ability to function as a sole contributor responsible for delivering outcomes independently and managing workload without an extensive team.
Key Performance Indicators
Total philanthropic revenue growth (annual + multi-year commitments)
Portfolio health (moves, proposals, close rate, gift size)
Individual, foundation, and corporate award growth
Donor retention and upgrade rates
Pipeline diversification (local, regional, national donors)
Impact reporting quality and timeliness
Team effectiveness and partnership satisfaction across BioSTL programs
CompensationCompetitive salary commensurate with leadership roles in the St. Louis nonprofit sector.
Generous benefit package including annual bonus potential
Equal Opportunity Statement
BioSTL is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team reflective of the community it serves.