Build Something Lasting: Lead Philanthropic Growth at a Mission-Driven Organization with a Foundation Ready to Evolve

Position Overview

As the Director of Advancement & Foundation Operations at Sigma Nursing, you will partner with the CEO to advance the philanthropic growth and development strategy for the Sigma Foundation, guiding it through an important evolution from a traditional fundraising model toward a more contemporary, relationship-driven, and growth-oriented approach. This role combines strategic vision, frontline fundraising, and operational oversight in equal measure.

You will serve as the Foundation’s lead fundraising and operations professional, responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that expands and diversifies the donor pipeline. That means cultivating major donors, stewarding existing relationships, pitching philanthropic opportunities with confidence and conviction, and engaging supporters across varying stages of philanthropic engagement and giving capacity. You bring not just the strategy, but the presence and the persuasion to make it work. 

Storytelling is central to this role. You will articulate the Foundation’s mission, impact, and opportunities in ways that are compelling, clear, and motivating to donors, board members, and community partners. You know how to connect a donor’s values to an organization’s purpose, and you bring that gift to every conversation, proposal, and campaign. 

You will also oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation, managing a small, high-performing team anticipated to include approximately three to four staff members. You will build and sustain the systems, processes, and infrastructure that support a well-run development operation, including gift processing, donor database management, reporting, and compliance. Your leadership will shape both the culture of the team and the operational effectiveness of the Foundation. 

Collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team is essential. You will work closely with organizational leadership to align the Foundation’s priorities with broader organizational goals, and you will be a visible, credible representative of the Foundation to the board, to major donors, and to the communities the organization serves. You understand that in this structure, final decision-making authority for Foundation-related matters may sit elsewhere in the organization, and you are a confident, skilled leader who works effectively within that dynamic. 

Success in this role looks like a Foundation that is growing its donor base, deepening its relationships, increasing philanthropic revenue, and operating with the discipline and clarity of a best-in-class development shop. It looks like a team that is well-led and well-supported, a board that is well-informed and well-engaged, and a mission that more people know, believe in, and invest in. 

Location, Travel & Compensation

This is a hybrid and remote-friendly role, open to U.S.-based professionals nationwide. 

Travel is expected approximately every four to six weeks for donor engagements, organizational events, and in-person leadership gatherings.

The starting salary range for this position is $100,000 - $125,000; offers are made within this range to ensure equity, consistency, and fiscal responsibility. 

A Week in the Life

Your week does not follow a single script, but certain rhythms define it. Early in the week, you are reviewing the status of active donor relationships and cultivation activities: where conversations stand, what follow-up is needed, and what upcoming touchpoints require preparation. You are thinking several moves ahead on your major gift pipeline and making sure nothing sits unattended. 

A meaningful portion of every week is spent in direct donor engagement. This might be a discovery call with a prospective donor, a stewardship meeting with a long-tenured supporter, or a pitch presentation for a major philanthropic opportunity. You bring preparation, authenticity, and a genuine sense of mission to each of these interactions, and you follow up with the care and consistency that builds lasting relationships. 

Internally, you are a regular presence in cross-functional conversations. You are meeting with colleagues in communications to align on donor-facing messaging, coordinating with the Global Events team on how upcoming gatherings can serve as engagement moments, and connecting with organizational leadership on strategic priorities that inform philanthropic positioning. Your work does not happen in a silo; it is woven into the fabric of the broader organization. 

Team leadership is a constant thread. You are checking in with your staff, removing obstacles, reviewing progress toward fundraising goals, and providing the kind of coaching and support that helps a small team perform above its size. You are hands-on when needed and strategic when that’s what the moment calls for. 

Research and pipeline development also have a place in your week. You are identifying prospective donors, reviewing giving trends, analyzing what is working in your cultivation and stewardship strategies, and looking for opportunities to engage donors at new or deeper levels. You stay current on trends in philanthropy and bring fresh thinking to how the Foundation approaches growth. 

No two weeks are identical, and that is part of what makes this role engaging. Whether you are preparing for a board presentation, traveling for a donor visit, developing a new campaign concept, or thinking through how to evolve the team’s structure and operating model, you approach the work with energy, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the mission you are raising resources to advance. 

Know Your CliftonStrengths? Here’s What We’re Looking For

The strengths most needed to thrive in this role are: 

1. Woo - You light up in new relationships. You have a natural ability to make people feel seen and comfortable quickly, and that gift is what opens doors with prospective donors. In a frontline fundraising role, your ability to warm a cold room and create genuine connection from scratch is one of your greatest assets. 
2. Relator - Once you open the door, you go deep. You are invested in the people you cultivate, not just the gifts they give, and donors feel that authenticity over time. Long-term stewardship requires someone who genuinely cares about the relationship, and that is you. 
3. Strategic - You see the field clearly. Whether you are building a multi-year donor cultivation plan, thinking through how to evolve the Foundation’s operating model, or deciding how to sequence your highest-priority asks, you identify the best path forward efficiently and keep your team oriented toward it. 
4. Communication - You tell the story that moves people. From a compelling case statement to a one-on-one donor conversation to a board presentation, you know how to translate mission into meaning and opportunity into action. Your words carry weight because they are well-chosen and well-delivered. 
5. Activator - You do not wait for conditions to be perfect before moving. You have a bias toward action, and you bring energy and momentum to a team and a function that is ready to grow. Where others see a long runway, you see the first step and you take it. 

You Would Thrive in This Position If

• You are an experienced development professional who is viewed by peers and partners as a fundraising leader. You’ve successfully led initiatives in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and a strategic, relationship-based approach to philanthropic engagement. CFRE certification is preferred; candidates not yet certified must be willing to obtain it within one year of hire.
• You are an excellent storyteller with strong executive presence. You can compellingly articulate the Foundation’s mission, impact, and opportunities to donors, board members, and senior leaders alike, and you do so with the confidence and credibility that inspires investment. You can pitch, and you can close. 
• You are a warm, personable leader who builds authentic relationships and represents the organization with professionalism. You bring the interpersonal range to connect genuinely with a wide variety of donors, from first-time supporters to long-standing philanthropic partners and across varying levels of giving capacity.
• You are performance-driven with the ability to set measurable goals, track progress, and deliver results. You are proactive and intentional in your fundraising approach, and you demonstrate success in expanding and diversifying donor pipelines. 
• You are open to reimagining and evolving the Foundation’s operating model, and you understand how to lead a small, high-performing team of approximately three to four staff through that kind of growth and change. You are comfortable operating within an organizational structure where final decision-making authority for Foundation-related matters may reside elsewhere. 
• You are a strong cultural and interpersonal fit for a collaborative Executive Leadership Team and Directors Advisory Council. You lead with a relationship-oriented style, engage constructively with peers across the organization, and contribute to a leadership culture defined by trust, transparency, and shared purpose. 
• You are willing and able to travel approximately every four to six weeks for donor engagements, organizational events, and in-person leadership gatherings. 

Who We Are

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (also known as Sigma Nursing or Sigma) is a global nursing organization with more than 100 years of impact, but what really sets us apart is how we support people—both the nurses we serve and the team members who make our work possible. We’re a community-oriented group of approximately 50 employees based in Indianapolis, Indiana, working in a remote-friendly environment. At Sigma, you’ll find a culture that values accountability, growth, and purpose. We offer strong health and retirement benefits, support professional development, and encourage open communication and collaboration across teams. If you’re looking for a place where your work matters and your growth is supported, you’ll feel right at home here.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success and are committed to creating a workplace that reflects the global nursing community we serve. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ready to Join Us?

Apply today and help drive Sigma’s mission forward—building a stronger, more connected global nursing community.