Chaloner has partnered with the Seattle Foundation on their search for a Chief Growth Officer.

Position Overview:

Seattle Foundation is at an exciting inflection point—primed to expand its partnership with philanthropists to advance key community priorities while pursuing sustained growth to ensure the foundation remains an effective and influential agent of change. The Chief Growth Officer (CGO) will lead and manage Seattle Foundation’s strategic approach to philanthropy, integrating community impact, customer engagement, and revenue generation. The CGO will play a key role in ensuring sustained growth through the creation of a business development strategy that produces pathways, products, and services to deepen current customer engagement, grow the customer base, and scale discretionary resources to drive systemic, transformative change across the region.

Reporting to the President & CEO and serving on the Senior Leadership Team, the CGO is responsible for aligning fundraising and revenue generation with the Foundation’s vision and mission while ensuring high-value customer experiences that result in retention and growth. This person will lead a team to develop strategies that cultivate new customers of donor advised funds and/or advising services, steward current customers, and enhance the Foundation’s community-centered approach to giving. 

The ideal candidate is a proven growth leader with strong experience stewarding high-net-worth relationships and shaping and executing clear business development strategies that result in sustained revenue growth. They will be a powerful storyteller and relationship manager, bringing strategic vision, entrepreneurial acumen, and operational rigor to drive cross-departmental strategies to support the customer journey and revenue growth. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Execute a long-term vision for philanthropy, product development, and business growth that aligns with the organization’s overall mission and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the CEO and leadership team to set measurable business growth goals and strategies that drive systemic impact.
• Leverage social entrepreneurship to implement business-like strategies to enhance sustainability, drive innovation, and scale impact.
• Monitor trends, policies, and best practices to ensure the organization remains innovative and competitive within philanthropic advising. 
• Serves as a key liaison to relevant board committees. 

Revenue Generation & Business Development:

• In partnership with Marketing & Communications, drive the creation of a go to market and growth strategy to reach new clients through revenue-generating philanthropic services and products, including donor advised, area of interest, nonprofit, and designated funds; bequests; mission-related and social impact investing opportunities; and philanthropic consulting services. Ensure these products and services remain innovative and competitive over time. 
• Regularly assess the foundation’s market position and competitive advantage to continuously refine and implement an advisory services approach that generates sustainable growth. Monitor shifts in donor behavior as well as trends in the wealth ecosystem to inform the foundation’s market positioning. 
• Expand the organization’s client base by identifying and cultivating new high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners for collaborative investments and/or philanthropic services. Ensure strategies are in place and implemented to secure transformational, long-term investments from donors and partners.
• Leverage and grow strategic partnerships with financial advisors, services firms, and others to create a steady pipeline of new clients to grow funds under management and revenue generated from philanthropic consulting services. Build credibility with wealth advisors through education, tools and collaboration that align investment opportunities with client values and fiduciary standards. 
• In partnership with Impact, co-design products that meet community and donor needs. 

Operational Excellence & Performance Measurement:

• In partnership with Finance and Operations, ensure that data systems provide foundation staff, board, and executives with the most relevant information for revenue growth efforts. Ensure mechanisms are in place to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track revenue performance and customer engagement.
• Ensure operational efficiency within the philanthropy division by optimizing workflows, technology, and CRM systems to enhance customer engagement.
• In partnership with Finance, implement financial forecasting, pricing, and revenue projections to support organizational sustainability and growth. Co-create annual and quarterly revenue growth targets and systematically review performance against those targets.

Customer Engagement & Stewardship:

• Maintain and systematize the organization’s dedication to top-notch customer service for those who utilize the Foundation’s philanthropic products and services.
• Identify, cultivate, and convert clients of traditional philanthropic products to join efforts with the Foundation to maximize impact towards key outcomes affecting the Seattle region.
• In partnership with Marketing & Communications, organize high-impact donor convenings, learning sessions, and philanthropic experiences that deepen donor commitment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Alignment:

• Ensure alignment across the foundation’s teams on revenue growth, fundraising, and customer experience priorities.
• In partnership with finance and operational leadership, ensure effective infrastructure (e.g., human capital, technology tools, key performance indicators, work plans, etc.) is in place to drive towards business development goals. 

Team Leadership & Development:

• Sharpen the team structure to ensure the right focus on philanthropic advising, fund growth, fundraising, and market expansion with philanthropic advising services to achieve sustained business growth, customer satisfaction, and donor alignment.
• Identify and cultivate team skillsets and resources necessary to deliver against new business growth vision, long-term strategy and to drive new revenue sources. 
• Lead and manage a team, fostering an inclusive and high-performance work culture.
• Provide mentorship, professional development, and strategic guidance to staff.
• Align and execute an integrated team strategy that maximizes the organization’s ability to provide resources for and establish long-term partnerships that drive community impact.

Community Engagement & Public Representation:

• Act as a thought leader and spokesperson on philanthropy, representing the organization at key industry events, panels, and media opportunities.
• Champion the role of philanthropy as a driver of equity and justice, advocating for policies and practices that create lasting change.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in business development, sales, marketing, strategy or a related field, with a proven track record of leading clear, results-driven strategies to drive revenue growth and community impact. Experience with complex wealth advising is a plus. 
• Experience and knowledge of the philanthropic sector, including philanthropic advising, donor-advised funds, impact and mission-related investing, and the broader wealth and nonprofit ecosystems, with a demonstrated ability to translate sector insight into sustainable revenue growth and scalable philanthropic products.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills. Inspiring and persuasive speaker and presenter. Consensus builder, community convener and advisor. 
• 7+ years demonstrated ability to hire, supervise, motivate, develop and lead diverse teams.
• Fluency in data-driven decision-making, data analysis and CRM systems for customer management.
• Understanding of liquid and illiquid investment vehicles, with the ability to navigate both financial-first and impact-first strategies to support partnerships, product positioning, and mission-aligned growth.
• Demonstrated experience building strategic partnerships within the wealth management ecosystem, with an understanding of money transfer models, advisor motivations, and fiduciary responsibilities. Familiarity with investment structures (e.g., donor advised funds, environment, social, and governance (ESG) funds) and impact/financial return frameworks preferred.  
• Strong strategy planning and execution skills. Proven track record of moving effectively and efficiently from concept to results. 
• A collaborative and adaptive leader who exudes executive maturity, confidence and credibility to a diverse range of stakeholders including staff, high-capacity philanthropists, investors, corporate executives, fundholders, community organizations, and regional partners. 

Department: Philanthropy

Reports to: President & CEO

Classification: Full-time/Annual, Salary/Exempt

Salary: $247,000-270,000

BENEFITS:

• 100% Paid by employer: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, LTD.
• 403(b)Retirement matched at 5%; increasing to 10% over time, 100% immediate vesting.
• PTO: 15 days accrued vacation, 10 days accrued sick, 4 wellness days, 13 holidays.
• $1,200 annual remote work benefit.
• $750 annual wellness benefit.
• $1,200 annual transit benefit.
• Optional Flex plan and dependent coverage.

WORK LOCATION:

• Flexible; can be fully in-person, or hybrid (remote and in-person). This position is expected to be in-person for some required team and organization-wide meetings (e.g. monthly All-Hands meetings). Office located downtown Seattle. Must live in WA state.

Interested candidates should apply by using the application form. Chaloner will review all applicants and, upon qualification, contact you to determine next steps.