Senior Director, Foundation Relations
City of Hope · Sacramento, CA
FULL-TIME
Posted Nov 15, 2026
90K–130K a year
Job Description
Join the transformative team at City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life‑threatening illnesses. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix.
Our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission:
To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.
City of Hope’s Office of Philanthropy is a critical driver of innovation, advancing groundbreaking research, compassionate patient care, and biomedical education through strategic fundraising. The Senior Director of Development is a key leader responsible for driving foundation fundraising strategy, managing a robust portfolio of grant‑making organizations, and leading high‑impact initiatives across the enterprise. This role serves as a subject matter expert and team leader, partnering closely with faculty, leadership, and cross‑functional teams to secure philanthropic support for research, capital, and programmatic priorities while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and performance excellence.
As a successful candidate, you will:
• Lead foundation fundraising strategy and execution to achieve annual revenue and activity goals
• Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and develop strategic cultivation and solicitation plans
• Partner with faculty, leadership, and stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities
• Prepare and present grant proposals, letters of intent, and donor communications
• Facilitate donor meetings, cultivation events, and strategic briefings
• Utilize research and data to identify prospects and guide fundraising strategies
• Collaborate with development teams to expand and strengthen foundation donor engagement
• Serve as a team leader and subject matter expert within Foundation Relations, mentoring others and driving best practices
• Support fundraising efforts across key markets, including major programmatic and research initiatives
• Model accountability, professionalism, and a high‑performing, mission‑driven culture
Your qualifications should include:
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in biological sciences strongly preferred
• 8–10+ years of experience in grant development, foundation fundraising, or related field
• Experience in a complex healthcare, research, or academic environment preferred
• Deep understanding of foundation fundraising strategies, regulations, and donor engagement
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, including proposal development
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, faculty, and senior leadership
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Collaborative leadership style with strong judgment, professionalism, and integrity
City of Hope employees’ pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please .
Our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission:
To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.
City of Hope’s Office of Philanthropy is a critical driver of innovation, advancing groundbreaking research, compassionate patient care, and biomedical education through strategic fundraising. The Senior Director of Development is a key leader responsible for driving foundation fundraising strategy, managing a robust portfolio of grant‑making organizations, and leading high‑impact initiatives across the enterprise. This role serves as a subject matter expert and team leader, partnering closely with faculty, leadership, and cross‑functional teams to secure philanthropic support for research, capital, and programmatic priorities while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and performance excellence.
As a successful candidate, you will:
• Lead foundation fundraising strategy and execution to achieve annual revenue and activity goals
• Manage a portfolio of foundation donors and develop strategic cultivation and solicitation plans
• Partner with faculty, leadership, and stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities
• Prepare and present grant proposals, letters of intent, and donor communications
• Facilitate donor meetings, cultivation events, and strategic briefings
• Utilize research and data to identify prospects and guide fundraising strategies
• Collaborate with development teams to expand and strengthen foundation donor engagement
• Serve as a team leader and subject matter expert within Foundation Relations, mentoring others and driving best practices
• Support fundraising efforts across key markets, including major programmatic and research initiatives
• Model accountability, professionalism, and a high‑performing, mission‑driven culture
Your qualifications should include:
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in biological sciences strongly preferred
• 8–10+ years of experience in grant development, foundation fundraising, or related field
• Experience in a complex healthcare, research, or academic environment preferred
• Deep understanding of foundation fundraising strategies, regulations, and donor engagement
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, including proposal development
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, faculty, and senior leadership
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Collaborative leadership style with strong judgment, professionalism, and integrity
City of Hope employees’ pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please .
Additional Details
- City
- Sacramento
- State
- California
- Country
- US
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