About the Organization

Heal the Bay is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year and has been LA’s leading environmental nonprofit since 1985. We are dedicated to keeping Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for people and marine life. Through science, advocacy, education, and community action, we raise awareness and drive solutions to tackle pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

Heal the Bay’s advocacy has dramatically improved water quality at LA’s beaches, ensuring the safety of beachgoers, lifeguards, and surfers. We actively challenge polluters, hold decision-makers accountable, and take a leadership role when government agencies fail to protect public health.

We engage thousands of volunteers in beach and community cleanups each year and have successfully removed over 2 million pounds of trash from LA’s beaches and waterways. Our real-time water quality data covering over 700 West Coast beaches makes us a critical resource for the public and local agencies. We also operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, inspiring visitors to become environmental stewards.

About the Role

As Heal the Bay, one of Greater L.A.’s most beloved environmental organizations, celebrates its 40th year, we’re seeking a communications and marketing expert to help us deepen and expand the impact of our brand as we enter a new era of safeguarding our region’s water, climate, and marine life. The ideal candidate is a sharp storyteller and innovative marketer who can expand our visibility, engagement, and support. We need a leader who balances strategic vision with hands-on execution and can drive dynamic communications and marketing initiatives that build brand awareness, mobilize supporters, and amplify our message across diverse platforms. Are you the leader who can help us build a new wave of watershed warriors through bolder and more culturally relevant engagement?

What You Will Do: 

• Spearhead the creation of high-impact communications and marketing campaigns that drive awareness, fundraising, volunteerism, and public advocacy for ocean and water protection efforts.
• Lead staff in creating compelling content—website updates, blog posts, social media, email marketing, infographics, videos, fundraising appeals, event programming, and press materials—that communicates our mission and inspires action.
• Drive media outreach strategies. Pitch media outlets to place water, ocean, and climate issues higher up on their priority lists and generate local and national press coverage of our issues and activities. Foster and manage relationships with media, influencers, and high-profile partners.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to integrate cutting-edge and “out of the box” marketing efforts into the organization’s broader strategic goals.
• Research, segment, and analyze key audiences (donors, volunteers, partners, media) to ensure targeted and effective messaging.
• Analyze marketing performance using tools like Google Analytics, email tracking, and social media metrics to refine strategies and achieve objectives. Create a marketing culture of learning and iteration.
• Manage and mentor the communications team. Cultivate and manage external contractors.
• Oversee communications marketing budget and ensure resources are allocated effectively to maximize ROI across channels.
• Serve as a member of HTB’s senior leadership team, liaising with other directors and HTB board members to shape organizational strategy and drive executional excellence.

What You Bring to the Table:

• At least 10 years of experience managing written and visual storytelling for mission-driven organizations and distilling complex scientific and policy content into clear, compelling, and motivating content for broader audiences
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to pivot quickly, prioritize initiatives, and manage tight deadlines
• Creative problem-solving skills with a proven track record of bringing innovative, bold ideas to life
• Exceptional leadership skills, with experience managing and developing a team, ensure your team is motivated and empowered to achieve their best work
• Excellent media relations skills and the ability to engage journalists, bloggers, and influencers to amplify our work
• Experience in managing fundraising, marketing, or revenue-driving campaigns
• Proven ability to prioritize and create an annual communications plan/calendar and set/meet all deadlines in a fast-paced organization
• Proficiency or strong familiarity with digital marketing, social media, and design tools (Google Analytics, Aptitude in WordPress, Shopify, Adobe Suite, Canva) and project management platforms (Asana, Trello), and social media best practices
• A sharp editor’s eye that ensures all disseminated content is clear, consistent, on-brand, and free of grammatical errors, jargon, etc..
• A creative mindset and writer’s instinct that can make wonky policy debates and science-based initiatives more relatable to the general public
• A take-charge work style that’s comfortable receiving guidance/direction from the leadership team and then executing independently
• An understanding of L.A.’s changing demographics and a commitment to better engage diverse audiences authentically and relevantly

Why You’ll Feel Good Doing It: 

• You’ll inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Your work will educate and galvanize hundreds of thousands of Angelenos each year by giving them the knowledge, tools, and engagement opportunities to bring about meaningful change in their communities, both inland and coastal
• You’ll fight for Mother Earth. Your efforts will help build climate-resilient communities, clean polluted waterways, and protect the wildlife that call greater Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Bay home

What You Might First Sink Your Teeth Into:  

• Brand relaunch through all Heal the Bay communication touchpoints, including a reskin of HealtheBay.org 
• “Ashes to Action” campaign, demonstrating Heal the Bay’s commitment to protecting public health in the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire and building new climate resilience solutions for the community
• Beach Report Card: Promote and pitch our annual water-quality ranking of the most polluted beaches in the state of California
• “Bring Back the Beach” Gala: Help drive attendance and awareness of our annual casual-chic party under the stars at the Jonathan Club
• Earth Month: Educate and encourage residents to volunteer and take direct action to create a more resilient Southland
• Heal the Bay Speaker Series: Expand influencer network by collaborating with Big Idea + Big Impact individuals on quarterly events
• LA28 Olympic Initiative: Define a clear “MVP” goal that grows relationships and milestones with elite athletes to amplify HTB’s mission as the region prepares for the Olympics. 

How You Will Measure Success:

• More volunteer sign-ups 
• More visits to our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium 
• More members acquired/donations made 
• More actions taken by the general public to support specific advocacy campaigns
• More visits/engagement on our public-facing communication platforms 
• More strategic high-impact collaborators/influencers/cultural partners 
• Overall, you’ll create community and camaraderie. You will catalyze a network of like-minded change agents across the region to share information and provide support

Expectations from the Culture: 

• Care and respect from over 40 fellow staffers working from HTB headquarters in Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and in-home offices across the region
• A commitment to helping employees find sustainable work-life balance, support for their families, and professional and personal growth opportunities
• A recognition that while our advocacy work is serious business, we can always have fun doing it
• A fast-paced environment in which you will collaborate closely with a detail-oriented CEO to achieve ambitious goals

Compensation & Work Environment  

• Salary: $100,000 – $120,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement contributions
• Location: Los Angeles County, CA (hybrid role, with at least two in-office days per week)
• Schedule: Full-time (exempt), with occasional evening and weekend events

Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, and we strongly encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County. If you don’t meet all of the preferred skills above, you are still encouraged to apply and will be considered based on diverse and equivalent skills and experience.

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made, the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered, including the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.

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About the Position 

Heal the Bay is seeking a strategic, mission-driven fundraising leader to serve as our Chief Philanthropy Officer. This senior role is an exciting opportunity for a professional who is passionate about environmental education and advocacy and skilled in generating major gifts, grants, and philanthropic partnerships. 

With climate change and pollution threatening California’s coastlines, rivers, and marine life, Heal the Bay is dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s ecosystems. The Chief Philanthropy Officer will be instrumental in securing the $6M+ in annual funding needed to advance our science, advocacy, education, and community engagement efforts. 

We’re looking for a dynamic and goal-oriented leader who can inspire donors, build strategic partnerships, and drive fundraising success to support a cleaner, healthier Santa Monica Bay and beyond. 

Position Summary 

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) will lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to sustain and expand financial support for Heal the Bay. This role requires an experienced and dynamic leader with a strong track record in developing and stewarding major gifts. The role also requires experience directing and managing staff responsible for donor relations, corporate partnerships, grant administration, and fundraising events. The CPO will play a pivotal role in driving revenue growth, fostering meaningful donor relationships, and positioning Heal the Bay for long-term financial sustainability. 

Working in close collaboration with the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and external stakeholders, the CPO will ensure that fundraising efforts align with the organization’s mission, strategic objectives, and programmatic priorities. This position requires a forward-thinking, results-driven leader who can balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution. 

Key Responsibilities 

Revenue Growth & Fundraising Strategy   

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising plan that strengthens and diversifies revenue streams, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, and special events. 

• Identify and leverage new funding opportunities within the private sector and philanthropic communities, including corporate partnerships, and cause marketing initiatives.  

• Oversee grant writing and administration, ensuring high-quality proposals, compliance with reporting requirements, and alignment with Heal the Bay’s mission. 

• Maintain up-to-date records of all fundraising activities in Salesforce and Egnyte, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and adherence to nonprofit best practices. 

Major Gifts Identification and Stewardship 

• Oversee a robust major gifts program, identifying and cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders to secure five- and six-figure contributions and multi-year commitments. 

• Manage a portfolio of 75-100 major gift prospects and donors with giving capacity of $10,000 and above.  

• Develop and execute comprehensive cultivation and solicitation strategies for individual donors. 

• Conduct face-to-face meetings, donor visits, and presentations to advance prospects through the giving cycle. 

• Support and direct the strategy collaboratively with the CEO and board members on major gift solicitations. 

• Achieve annual fundraising goals of $1.5-2 million in major gifts revenue. 

• Travel locally (up to 20%) within Los Angeles County to meet with donors, attend networking events, and strengthen funding relationships. 

Signature Events & Donor Engagement  

• Oversee the planning and execution of Heal the Bay’s three signature fundraising events, gala, golf tournament, and water agency luncheon, which collectively generate over $1.3 million in net annual income. 

• Develop strategies to enhance event sponsorships, donor participation, and community visibility to maximize revenue potential. 

• Collaborate with the communications team to design compelling event messaging, donor stewardship materials, and promotional campaigns. 

• Represent Heal the Bay as a spokesperson at public engagements, fundraising events, donor meetings, and media opportunities, ensuring the organization’s impact is effectively communicated. 

Team Leadership & Development Operations  

• Lead, mentor, and support a development team of up to four staff members, fostering a high-performance, goal-oriented, and collaborative work culture. 

• Provide ongoing coaching, professional development, and performance management to strengthen individual and team capabilities in donor relations, grant writing, and fundraising strategy. 

• Oversee the preparation of fundraising reports, financial forecasts, and key performance indicators, using data-driven insights to optimize fundraising strategies. 

• Partner with the finance team to ensure accurate revenue tracking, donor stewardship, and compliance with nonprofit financial regulations. 

• Manage external consultants, campaign specialists, and vendors to enhance fundraising initiatives as needed. 

Board & Leadership Collaboration  

• Work closely with the Board of Directors to support their fundraising efforts, providing guidance on donor engagement, personal giving, and leveraging their networks to secure funding. 

• Deliver regular fundraising updates and impact reports to the board, equipping them with the necessary tools and information to advocate for Heal the Bay’s mission. 

• Actively participate in senior leadership meetings, contributing to organizational strategy, financial planning, and long-term sustainability efforts. 

• Ensure alignment between development efforts and Heal the Bay’s communications, advocacy, and programmatic goals, fostering cross-departmental collaboration. 

Ideal Candidate  

This position is ideal for a strategic and results-driven fundraising professional who is passionate about environmental conservation and has a strong ability to build meaningful relationships with donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders. The Chief Philanthropy Officer must be both a visionary leader and a hands-on executor, capable of balancing long-term planning with day-to-day fundraising operations. 

Success in this role will require exceptional communication skills, financial acumen, team leadership, and a deep understanding of nonprofit development strategies. The right candidate will be energized by the opportunity to elevate Heal the Bay’s fundraising efforts, drive sustainable revenue growth, and secure the resources necessary to advance the organization’s mission.  

Ideal Candidate Profile 

Required Experience and Skills:  

• Senior-Level Fundraising Leadership (10+ Years): Extensive experience overseeing comprehensive fundraising strategies, with a focus on major gifts, capital campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and donor stewardship. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute multi-year fundraising plans aligned with organizational growth and sustainability. 

• Major Gifts & Donor Cultivation: Proven track record in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners. Strong ability to build lasting donor relationships through personalized engagement and stewardship. 

• Fundraising Events & Grant Administration: Experience planning and executing high-impact fundraising events, including galas, donor appreciation events, and community engagement initiatives. Proficiency in grant writing, reporting, and compliance, with a history of securing significant institutional funding. 

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: 5+ years overseeing and leading a team. A coaching-oriented leadership style with a strong ability to inspire, mentor, and develop high-performing fundraising teams. Experience in fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work culture that empowers staff and volunteers. 

• Mission-Driven Communication & Advocacy: Exceptional storytelling skills with the ability to persuasively communicate Heal the Bay’s mission, impact, and funding priorities to diverse audiences, including board members, donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners. 

• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue tracking as it relates to fundraising goals. Ability to assess financial reports, oversee donor stewardship funds, and work closely with finance teams to ensure transparency and accountability. 

• Technology & Data Management: Proficiency in Salesforce (or similar donor management systems) and OneCause, with the ability to leverage data analytics for donor segmentation, campaign performance tracking, and fundraising strategy optimization. 

• Organization & Attention to Detail: Excellent project management skills, with the ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and oversee multiple fundraising initiatives simultaneously. Keen attention to detail to ensure accuracy in donor records, financial reporting, and compliance documentation. 

• Interpersonal Skills & Communication: Strong emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and inspire donors, stakeholders, board members, and internal teams. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, fostering collaboration and partnership development. 

• Nonprofit Fundraising Ethics & Compliance: Deep understanding of 501(c)(3) fundraising ethics, legal regulations, and best practices, ensuring all fundraising activities adhere to industry standards and donor stewardship principles. 

• Fast-Paced, Mission-Driven Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced nonprofit environment, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution to drive results and sustain organizational impact. 

Preferred Qualifications:   

• Capital Campaign Leadership: Experience in leading or contributing to multi-million-dollar capital campaigns, including feasibility studies, donor prospecting, and campaign execution. Understanding of the complexities of large-scale fundraising efforts and donor engagement strategies. 

• Environmental & Conservation Expertise: Knowledge of key issues related to environmental conservation, climate change, marine protection, and sustainability, enabling the candidate to effectively connect fundraising efforts to Heal the Bay’s broader mission.  

Compensation & Work Environment:  

• Salary: $150,000 – $180,000 annual salary and commensurate with experience, plus bonus eligibility. This role offers a competitive compensation package aligned with the scope and impact of the position. 

• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement contributions. 

• Location: Los Angeles County, CA (hybrid role, with at least two in-office days per week) 

• Schedule: Full-time (exempt), with occasional evening and weekend events. 

 Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County. If you don’t meet all of the preferred skills above, you are still encouraged to apply and will be considered based on diverse and equivalent skills and experience.  

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking. 

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