Coastal Community Foundation

Thank you for your interest in joining the Coastal Community Foundation team. Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer with offices in North Charleston and Beaufort, as well as four affiliate foundations. We serve all nine counties on South Carolina’s coast: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties.

Established in 1974, Coastal Community Foundation works to create vibrant communities by identifying the challenges facing the region and bringing together resources to address them. Coastal Community Foundation is the largest community foundation in South Carolina, managing more than 700 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations and awarding tens of millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year.

Financial resources are among the many tools we employ in our effort to create vibrant communities. Throughout our history we have served as conveners to bring residents and leaders together to facilitate solutions to community-wide challenges such as housing affordability, economic mobility, quality education and physical and mental well-being. We also have a long history of helping nonprofits build their capacity, and incubating grassroots causes to provide them with structural support, so they grow into fully operational organizations.

Why work for us?

When you join Coastal Community Foundation, you join a dedicated staff and Board of Directors who have earned the trust of donors and grantees alike, helping them advance positive outcomes in the communities they seek to serve and adapting to their evolving needs so that our region thrives together.

We take that same approach and dedication to supporting our staff members to ensure their success at work and outside of the work environment. We offer a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including Paid Time Off, Holidays, Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), 401(k), and professional training and development opportunities.

Our Commitment to Inclusion with Equity

Inclusion with equity is one of our four core values at Coastal Community Foundation, so we not only work to recruit diverse candidates, we work to ensure our team members have all the tools they need to be successful. Our purpose is most effectively fulfilled through proactively supporting the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Diversity may be measured by, but is not limited to, differences in age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, class, religion, disability, geography, and profession. We acknowledge and respect the many differences that comprise thriving communities and seek diversity in our staff to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions and experiences are recognized and acted upon in achieving our purpose.

It is our intention to promote a fully equitable philanthropic sector that justly represents and serves all our constituencies. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, of LGBTQ+ identity and of other historically marginalized communities.

About the Philanthropy Department

The Philanthropy Department cultivates meaningful relationships with fundholders, donors, families, businesses, and community partners to advance the Foundation's mission and strategic priorities. Through personalized philanthropic advising, donor engagement, stewardship, and fundraising, the team helps donors maximize their impact while building sustainable philanthropic resources that strengthen Coastal South Carolina. 

Position Summary

The Philanthropic Advising Officer serves as a trusted philanthropic advisor and relationship manager responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and expanding relationships with current and prospective donors, fundholders, families, businesses, and community stakeholders.

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropic Advising, the Officer manages a portfolio of donor and fundholder relationships, provides strategic philanthropic guidance, develops charitable investment opportunities, and helps donors align their philanthropic goals with community needs and Foundation initiatives. The Officer works collaboratively across departments to deliver an exceptional donor experience while growing charitable assets, deepening donor engagement, and advancing the Foundation's mission throughout Coastal South Carolina, with specific emphasis on Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Colleton counties. 

The successful candidate embraces a relationship-centered approach to philanthropy, demonstrates a commitment to donor service excellence, and serves as an ambassador for Coastal Community Foundation in the communities it serves.

Essential Functions

Philanthropic Advising & Relationship Management

Fund and Asset Development

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments that support existing and new charitable funds—including donor-advised, unrestricted, field-of-interest, scholarship, designated, special initiative, planned gifts, and other giving vehicles—as well as the Foundation’s Community Partnership Program and specials initiatives.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects and philanthropic opportunities that align donor interests with Foundation priorities and community impact goals.
• Collaborate with Foundation leadership and philanthropy colleagues to develop and execute strategies for major gifts, blended gifts, and charitable investments.
• Collaborate with Foundation colleagues to ensure fund agreements, donor expectations, stewardship practices, and charitable activities remain aligned with Foundation policies, regulatory requirements, and donor intent.

Community Engagement

• Represent Coastal Community Foundation at community events, civic organizations, donor gatherings, and Foundation-sponsored activities.
• Develop a strong understanding of regional issues, nonprofit organizations, community needs, and Foundation initiatives to effectively connect donors with meaningful opportunities.
• Support efforts to increase awareness, visibility, and utilization of Foundation services throughout the region.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Foundation and help strengthen relationships that advance philanthropy and community impact across the Foundation's service area.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Philanthropy, Grantmaking Community Leadership, Finance, and Marketing & Communications to ensure a seamless and exceptional donor experience.
• Work in conjunction with the Donor Experience & Engagement Team to support donor stewardship programs, educational events, donor recognition activities, engagement opportunities, and fundraising initiatives designed to strengthen donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
• Partner with Foundation colleagues to create meaningful donor experiences that enhance fundholder satisfaction, deepen engagement, and demonstrate the impact of charitable giving.
• Support fundraising campaign gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies by identifying prospective donors, advancing donor relationships, facilitating donor engagement opportunities, and aligning philanthropic interests with campaign funding priorities.
• Support organizational goals through participation in cross-functional teams, collaborative projects, and Foundation-wide initiatives.

Data Management & Reporting

General Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to Coastal Community Foundation's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, integrity, service, accountability, and community impact.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding donor, fundholder, financial, and organizational information.
• Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries from donors, fundholders, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Remain knowledgeable about emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in philanthropy, fundraising, and community foundations.
• Acquire and maintain knowledge of Foundation programs, initiatives, policies, procedures, and community impact priorities.
• Actively participate in Foundation meetings, training opportunities, professional development activities, and organizational events.

 Required Skills

 Education and Experience

  Physical Requirements