Director, DAF Solutions – Strategic Engagements

Role Overview

• Lead collaborative, structured discovery conversations with prospective clients and partners (corporate, advisor, institutional, and nonprofit) to understand their goals, values, governance needs, risk appetite, economics, and operational realities.
• Translate complex needs into clear, practical DAF program options (typically 1–3), helping stakeholders understand roles, tradeoffs, risks, and implementation considerations so they can make confident, aligned decisions.
• Design end-to-end DAF program architectures that balance ambition with feasibility, including sponsor and platform roles, contribution and distribution flows, custodial and investment design, fee structures, and operating workflows and SLAs.
• Create client-ready narratives and materials (decks, memos, term outlines) that tell a compelling story, build trust, and move conversations toward action.
• Partner closely with the Charityvest board, major donors, and specialized third parties (legal and tax counsel, impact intermediaries, international grantmaking partners) to co-design bespoke philanthropic solutions.
• Stay engaged through early implementation and launch for complex or strategic wins, helping translate solutions into clear, executable plans with defined owners, milestones, and communication rhythms.
• Develop and maintain reference architectures and playbooks for DAF programs across key segments (corporate, workplace, advisor-led, nonprofit, etc.).

Requirements

• Deep, hands-on familiarity with donor-advised funds and philanthropic structures, developed in environments such as a DAF sponsor, financial institution, family office, advisory firm, or philanthropy / impact consulting organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience required; advanced training or credentials (MBA, JD, or specialization in philanthropy or impact investing) are a plus.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (approximately 5–10%) to support key clients and partners.
• Experience navigating and shaping complex or non-standard philanthropic engagements, either directly or in close partnership with specialists, including recoverable grants, PRIs/MRIs, impact investments, guarantees, and international grantmaking.
• A proven ability to lead nuanced client and stakeholder conversations, synthesize diverse perspectives, and guide groups toward clear, well-reasoned recommendations and decisions.
• Strong solution design and systems-thinking skills, with a track record of turning ambiguity into structured options, transparent tradeoffs, and practical implementation plans.
• Clear, confident communication skills, including executive presence and the ability to translate complex concepts into simple, accessible language for a wide range of audiences.
• A highly collaborative working style, with comfort partnering across Sales, Client Success, Product, Legal/Compliance, and Operations, as well as coordinating external advisors and partners.
• An ownership-oriented mindset, with the judgment and follow-through to stay accountable from early solution design through initial implementation and launch.
• Comfort and curiosity in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment, where products, processes, and priorities continue to evolve and improve.

Benefits

• Dedicated Workspace: Must have a home office or workspace that is free of distractions and interruptions to ensure productivity and focus during work hours.
• Reliable Internet Connection: High-speed internet is required to support video conferencing, file sharing, and other work-related technology needs.
• Travel: Must be able to travel occasionally for key client, partner, or internal meetings as needed.