Senior Philanthropic Advisor, San Francisco Bay Area

Since its formal inception in 2019, Climate Lead has empowered philanthropic leaders everywhere to take immediate and far-reaching climate action, catalyzing more than $4 billion into high-impact climate solutions and bringing over 100 new philanthropists to climate. By serving as an impartial guide, Climate Lead equips new climate philanthropists with the information and insights they need to drive transformative solutions. Climate Lead cuts through the complexity by curating roadmaps, in partnership with a diverse network of experts, to help philanthropists make a bold impact on climate from day one.

As Climate Lead invests in the growth of its philanthropy team amidst this decisive decade in the battle against climate change, the organization seeks two experienced senior philanthropy advisors (SPAs) – one to be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and one remotely based in the New York Tri-State area – to deliver transformative climate impact through strategic advising and exceptional philanthropic engagement. Reporting to the vice president, philanthropic advising (VP), the SPAs will join a highly collaborative team of individual contributors to directly support ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and families in developing transformational climate giving strategies. For those attracted to a mission-driven, dynamic venture in its scaling 2.0 stage, the SPA role is an unparalleled opportunity for a skilled philanthropy professional to contribute to an important global effort addressing the climate crisis and facilitate meaningful impact on our planet’s most pressing challenge.

The SPAs will directly engage with and provide strategic guidance to UHNW individuals and families, and their advisors, as Climate Lead supports a sophisticated global ecosystem to move billions into climate in the coming years. To be successful, the SPAs must understand how philanthropists operate at this level of giving in the eight- and nine-figure range, how to build authentic relationships with them, and how to spur them into action with the speed and scale this issue requires through engagement, learning, listening, and strategic advising. Experience in principal gifts level development or sophisticated and outcomes-oriented philanthropic advising is critical for this role. Climate Lead is also selectively interested in candidates who bring a similar track record in high-level political engagement, venture capital financing, private wealth management, or the technology sector – environments where individuals are meaningfully and regularly interfacing with UHNW individuals and influential leaders.

Notably, these positions will not assume existing portfolios, but will instead be charged with developing them from the outset, including in the New York Tri-State area where Climate Lead is establishing dedicated SPA capacity. Working in partnership with the director of new donor strategy, the SPAs will be responsible for identifying and cultivating new relationships, building and expanding a robust pipeline of UHNW individuals and families, and developing their portfolios from the ground up. Success in these positions will require an entrepreneurial mindset; a strong sense of ambition and drive; and genuine enthusiasm to leverage networks, forge new relationships, and spark connections to expand the pipeline of new philanthropists to move with urgency to meet the climate challenge.

The SPAs must also possess a collaborative disposition to engage with their peers on philanthropic strategy, as well as with internal partners on the global climate strategy and communications teams.  While direct experience in climate philanthropy is not required, the successful candidates must demonstrate a compelling passion for supporting climate action and recognize that Climate Lead’s collective environmental impact on our planet takes precedence over individual goals.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Grace Zakim, and Rebecca Lyons.

Climate Lead values diversity and always treats all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. Climate Lead does not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.