Description
Organization
Just 30 miles south of San Francisco, Filoli Historic House and Garden is a historic home and vibrant landscape situated on the ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone people in Woodside, California. Encompassing 654 acres along the slopes of California’s coastal range, Filoli was built in 1917 as a private residence and was opened to the public in 1975. Its centerpiece is a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival style mansion that was designed by the architect Willis Polk and is considered one of the nation’s finest remaining 20th century country estates. The historic home is situated on 16 acres of formal gardens, over six acres of orchards, and hundreds of acres of natural land with six distinct ecosystems and nature trails. Filoli is on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated California State Historic Landmark. Filoli is also a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Filoli is dedicated to connecting its rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature, and shared stories, providing an opportunity for all people to honor nature, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. Throughout the year, nearly 750,000 visitors explore the historic house, stroll through the meticulously maintained gardens, and enjoy the natural lands. Shopping and dining options are offered daily. Filoli hosts various events throughout the year, including seasonal celebrations and engagement programs, enriching the visitor experience and fostering a deeper connection to the estate's history and natural beauty. Filoli has been a continuously working estate for over 100 years. The original owner, William Bourn, planned Filoli to be self-sustaining, with agricultural fields, livestock, and orchards. Filoli continues today to produce fruit butter, hard cider, honey, dried lavender, and culinary herbs. On the site, there are six distinct ecosystems with 60% of the land covered in secondary growth redwoods. In recent years, Filoli has expanded the network of trails open to the public and is focusing on increasing public engagement with nature and land conservation.
Filoli’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan is centered on deepening community connection, including Filoli's first-ever capital campaign, a $25 million initiative to expand guest access to nature and shape the future of this historic estate.
Filoli has a 29-member board of directors led by Board Chair Sydney Leung, and Kara Newport serves as President & CEO. The Chief Development Officer reports to the CEO and has three direct reports, including the Director of Development Operations, Writer and Grants Coordinator, and Major Gifts Officer. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, Filoli reported a total revenue of $30.2 million, with 10% from contributions and grants, 16% from memberships, 60% from program services, 11% from the retail gift shop, and 3% from other revenue.
Community
Filoli is located in unincorporated San Mateo County and has access to amazing towns, including Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, and Woodside. The surrounding area is known for its natural rural beauty, serene and wooded landscapes, rolling hills, and open landscapes. The location is further complemented by its proximity to Silicon Valley and world-class schools, including Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Santa Clara University. Its proximity to San Francisco provides effortless access to an array of charming destinations, such as the scenic Half Moon Bay with its dramatic coastal cliffs along the Pacific Coast Highway, the world-renowned vineyards of Napa Valley, the alpine beauty of Lake Tahoe, and the awe-inspiring cliffs and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park.
Sources: visitcalifornia.com; census.gov; siliconvalleyguide.com; livability.com
Position Summary
The Chief Development Officer leads a professional Development Department and serves as a key Executive Team member and a strategic leader for Filoli Historic House and Garden (Filoli). The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is instrumental in partnering with the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the leadership team in the creation and implementation of a long-term development strategy that builds a philanthropic program designed to engage a broad audience in ongoing programs as well as ambitious projects.
The CDO leads the development of relationships to build the organization’s visibility and support by designing and implementing a vision for cultivating philanthropic commitments. In direct partnership with the CEO, the CDO serves as Filoli's top fundraiser and provides counsel and influences high-stakes decisions and big-picture elements of the $25 million comprehensive campaign, Cultivating the Future.
Centered around developing and deepening donor and supporter relationships, this position serves as a key senior external representative for the organization and carries a portfolio of leadership donors. The successful candidate for this position is a results-oriented leader whose passion for Filoli’s mission is matched with strong executive leadership, outstanding collaborative interpersonal skills, nimble decision-making in the face of complex challenges, and a proven track record of soliciting and closing significant gifts.
Roles and Responsibilities
Leadership
Work closely with the CEO, the Executive Team, and the Board of Directors on comprehensive long-term planning that supports sustainable growth, and provide leadership in the development and implementation of a comprehensive contributed revenue strategy.
Serve as a knowledgeable leader for philanthropic advancement, providing expertise in all development functions and working with the CEO to build fundraising strategies that secure the financial health of Filoli in line with the overall strategic direction.
Serve as a collaborative leader and a member of the Executive Team in establishing growth direction, developing creative solutions, and representing a unified voice for the overall strategic direction for Filoli.
Serve as an independent leader of Filoli and represent the organization as requested in the absence of the CEO.
Analyze fundraising results, evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising programs, and forecast annual and long-term fundraising projections for use in organizational financial planning.
Staff and provide leadership to fundraising committees, including the Gala and Development Committees, and the Campaign Cabinet; proactively plan meeting agendas, present robust data, and develop direct relationships with board members and volunteer leaders through direct committee work.
Professionally and effectively, represent Filoli to external audiences, including individual and organizational contacts and the broader philanthropic community; Use external meetings, conferences, and speaking engagements to build the brand visibility and financial support that advances Filoli’s mission.
Play a significant leadership role in identifying and prioritizing fundraising projects, keeping current on cross-departmental project development and implementation, and providing institutional reports for project process and completion.
Development and Donor Relationships
Strategically lead, manage, and execute a complex and growing development function to sustain and grow the revenue base of Filoli:
- Build and grow a sustainable major gifts program, informed by prospect management and research;
- Execute a comprehensive individual giving program that includes annual fund and leadership annual giving;
- Create platforms and opportunities for Corporations and Foundations to engage with Filoli and build a sustainable base of institutional support;
- Build a planned giving program through the Filoli Legacy Society;
- Create a fundraising and cultivation event platform that is designed to generate revenue and deepen relationships while being streamlined and efficient.
Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Filoli's top major and principal gift prospects.
Serve as a primary partner with the CEO to advance their fundraising activities.
Partner with the Board of Directors, Development Committee, and other volunteer fundraisers to engage them directly in all phases of fundraising.
Create performance measurables and ensure regular internal and external tracking and progress reports are in place.
Maintain a thorough and current knowledge of Filoli’s programs and develop ongoing donor communication plans and strategies that create layers of giving opportunities within the annual plans.
Develop comprehensive cultivation and stewardship programs that do not just acknowledge gifts but builds from them for future giving potential.
Ensure that all fundraising efforts are well organized, well executed, and lay the foundation for future increases in donor support.
Keep abreast of federal and state tax laws and gift tracking standards that may be relevant to major donor gift administration.
Ensure that development communications across the department meet the quality and brand standards of the organization.
Engage external partners, consultants, and other resources for training and professional development to ensure staff has the latest tools and techniques and the board has confidence in the solicitation process.
Campaign Management
Oversee the overall campaign plan, including phasing and prioritization, leadership recruitment, prospect management, performance targets, communications, budgeting, policy oversight, campaign recording, and donor management and recognition.
Ensure campaign strategies and reporting systems are in place to monitor and communicate progress to keep the campaign on track.
Partner with professional campaign counsel, Huron, to ensure following the highest standards in campaign development.
Drive the solicitation process through the engagement of executive Leaders and Development staff.
Oversee the Campaign Cabinet, the volunteer leadership of the campaign, including recruitment, onboarding, staffing, evaluation, communications, and events.
Ensure proper management of gifts, ensure ongoing gift stewardship is in place for all donors, and create robust recognition and acknowledgment programs.
Provide regular updates and reports to the CEO, staff, and board leadership, tracking campaign statistics, evaluating progress based on established benchmarks, recommending next steps, and adjusting when necessary.
Create programs and activities to raise public interest in the project.
Responsible for the implementation and equitable delivery of the campaign policies; regularly reviews and updates to meet evolving campaign needs.
Management and Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Develop annual department plans and budgets that support the overall needs of the organization.
Hire, train, manage, evaluate, develop, and supervise Development staff with an emphasis on succession and professional development.
Lead team members in setting work goals and maintaining accountability for goal achievement.
Ensure that staff members are resourced with individual professional development plans.
Provide oversight and continually improve to ensure excellent internal processes and systems.
Collaborate with the Executive Team to develop project overviews, create an internal support network for donor meetings and events, and ensure that the organization’s needs and priorities are being met.
Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to ensure development and campaign messaging and materials are aligned with overall institutional messaging and brand standards.
Coordinate with the Property team, including Horticulture, Collections, Learning & Engagement, and Interpretation, to maintain an institution-wide fundraising project grid and support the creation of overviews and budgets to have project information available for conversation and solicitation.
Traits and Characteristics
The Chief Development Officer will be an experienced and charismatic leader with a passion for Filoli’s mission and a deep appreciation of its beautiful setting. Highly motivated and energetic, they will possess highly developed organizational skills and be well versed in development best practices. A dynamic and experienced development professional with a proven fundraising track record that includes capital campaigns, they will also be experienced in leading and mentoring teams. An inspiring communicator and authentic relationship builder, the CDO will be committed to Filoli’s efforts to integrate accountability to support and sustain a racially equitable organization.
Other key competencies include:
Leadership & Teamwork – The ability to cooperate with others to meet objectives, leading with authenticity, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence, inspiring trust through personal example.
Interpersonal Skills & Appreciating Others – The ability to communicate effectively, building rapport, and relating well to all kinds of people, and the disposition to identify with and care about others. Committed to Filoli’s dedication to integrating accountability across all efforts to support and sustain a racially equitable organization.
Flexibility & Personal Accountability – The dexterity to be a change agent who can readily modify, respond, and adapt, paired with the commitment to being answerable for personal actions.
Decision-Making – The capability to gather and analyze relevant information to make sound, timely, values-aligned decisions.
Qualifications
A minimum of seven years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven track record of closing major gifts, campaign oversight, and communication responsibilities in a comparable institution, program, or function is essential. Direct experience managing a professional team of fundraisers in a campaign environment with proven success in directly securing gifts is required. Experience serving on a senior staff or executive team and direct relationships with board and volunteer fundraisers is required. A working knowledge of databases, with experience in Blackbaud Altru or similar customer relationship management systems (CRM), is required. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of trends and best practices in the philanthropic sector, and a successful experience with large, comprehensive campaigns is needed. A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree and/or specialized training or certification in fundraising are a plus. The flexibility to work a schedule that includes evenings and weekends, with 20% to 40% remote work optional, is required. The ability to sit for long periods at a computer and occasionally stand, walk across uneven terrain, climb stairs, reach, lift, carry, bend, and lift or carry items up to 25 pounds is necessary. The successful candidate will embody leadership, collaboration, and innovation in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
Compensation and Benefits
Filoli provides a competitive and equitable compensation package. The range for the annual salary is estimated between $220,000 and $245,000. Employee benefits include paid vacation (15 days based on management status), sick leave, personal days, holidays, health, long-term disability, life insurance, and a voluntary 401(k) retirement plan.
Applications and Inquiries
To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please visit https://artsconsulting.com/opensearches/filoli-historic-house-and-garden-seeks-chief-development-officer/
Filoli is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam-era veterans, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
