Senior Advisor, The Family Office of Philanthropy – Marin Community Foundation

Marin Community Foundation is a leading philanthropic organization that mobilizes the power of community and the resources of philanthropy to advance equity for people, places, and the planet. Since our establishment in 1987, we have worked collaboratively with nonprofit partners and donors to build a better future for Marin County, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and communities around the globe. We are among the top ten largest community foundations in the country, with more than 800 charitable funds totaling $3 billion in assets. Through our strategic grantmaking, community partnerships, advocacy, impact investing, and pursuit of new ideas, we work collaboratively to develop solutions to the most critical issues of our time.

Position Purpose

The Senior Advisor, Family Office of Philanthropy (SA-TFO) manages relationships with a portfolio of individuals and families who have philanthropic vehicles at MCF with assets of $5M or more.

This position is responsible for providing ongoing advice, structure, support and/or strategy for each client’s charitable giving.

Responsibility Level

The position is an independent contributor within MCF’s Philanthropic Partnerships Department.

Essential Functions

• Manages a portfolio of Virtuoso or Bespoke funds which have assets of ≥ $5M. Serves as a philanthropic advisor to the individuals and families who have established these funds, either as sole philanthropic advisor or as a philanthropic advisor on a team. Manages MCF’s relationship with these clients and, when they request it, with their next generation(s).
• Encourages, informs, supports and facilitates clients’ grantmaking with a strategic lens. Projects with each client may include the development and implementation of a giving plan and funding strategies; facilitation of a family philanthropy program and family philanthropy retreats; issue-specific landscape research, organization analysis, and the creation of learning journeys for clients; philanthropic budget, spend down, and legacy planning; management of prospective and current grantee relationships, including site visits, proposal development, review, and negotiation; and grant monitoring.
• Works closely with clients’ wealth advisors, family office staff, and consultants so that clients’ philanthropy is coordinated with their overall wealth management and stewardship.
• Facilitates new charitable gifts to existing funds, in partnership with the clients’ professional advisors and with MCF’s Philanthropic Planning team. Maintains familiarity with major charitable giving vehicles.
• Monitors key issues, trends and policy changes affecting the philanthropic sector. Leads one or more cross-function team projects to contribute to the development and implementation of services for Virtuoso or
• Bespoke funds—including educational convenings and unique-access opportunities that work to meaningfully engage Virtuoso clients in their philanthropy, with MCF, and with each other—as well as for MCF’s three service tiers as a whole.
• Meets and communicates with nonprofit- and thought-leaders with regional, national, and international issue expertise to stay informed on programs and funding needs that fall within clients’ current and prospective areas of interests. Participates in MCF’s ongoing curation, collection, and distribution of this knowledge.
• Provides technical assistance, when appropriate, to organizations supported by or prospectively supported by clients.
• Provides coaching to junior staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Functions may shift and evolve based on the implementation of new MCF strategic priorities.

Performance Standards

The SA-TFO will be evaluated on her/his ability to perform the essential functions of the position; the ability to demonstrate the skills described below; the ability to meet annual individual and department goals, and the ability to complete job duties in a professional, cooperative, and timely manner. The incumbent will also be evaluated on her/his communication skills and professional interactions with staff, trustees, directors, and community members as well as the ability to listen carefully, think critically, and understand complex issues.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ten or more years of experience in the philanthropy, nonprofit, or other related sector. Experience as a funder or philanthropy advisor is strongly preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in a relationship management role that served high-net-worth individuals.
• Passion for philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
• Industry certification such as CAP and 21/64 preferred.
• Experience and interest in working directly with high-net-worth multi- generational families, including experience adapting workstyle to different client needs.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other third-party entities, such as wealth managers, family offices, or consultants, on behalf of a shared client is strongly preferred.
• Extraordinary interpersonal skills, including the ability and desire to build trust, respect and relationships with assigned clients; listen closely and carefully; articulate clearly and concisely; and provide outstanding client service.
• Strong skills in both strategic planning and project management.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with the ability to gather, distill, organize, and communicate information clearly.
• A self-starter with an interest and ability in both independent- and team-work.
• Excellent ability to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple competing assignments, responsibilities, and clients.
• A high degree of professionalism, initiative, confidence, humility, and flexibility that allows the incumbent to work effectively with clients, colleagues, and external constituents (e.g. elected officials, civic and nonprofit leaders, media, sector peers, boards, and the community at large) of diverse backgrounds.
• High level of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and the ability to effectively learn and utilize Salesforce and MCF’s proprietary software.
• MCF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The compensation range for this position is $145,000 to $150,000 per year plus benefits. If interested, please send resume and cover letter to careers@marincf.org.