Director, Strategic Philanthropy

XPRIZE Overview 

XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing and executing large scale competitions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. As a 501(c)3, our unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all.  Since our founding in 1994, we’ve launched $519 million in prize competitions that are driving more than $31 billion in social and economic impact—a 60x return on philanthropic investment. These competitions not only de-risk early-stage breakthrough ideas, but also mobilize capital, talent, and momentum to accelerate solutions from concept to real-world scale.

We operate across 5 areas of impact, including: 

• Deep Tech + Exploration
• Energy + Climate + Nature
• Food + Water + Waste
• Health
• Learning + Society

Join XPRIZE to help create meaningful impact as we strive to empower humanity to achieve breakthroughs and architect a more equitable and abundant future for all.

Position Overview

We are seeking a mission-driven, entrepreneurial Director of Strategic Philanthropy to lead fundraising efforts for XPRIZE’s Deep Tech & Exploration domain.

This is a key domain-specific role on the Advancement team, ideal for a passionate fundraiser with a solid understanding of the deep tech (and ideally space exploration) ecosystem and a track record of securing significant funding (six figures and up). This position will report directly to the SVP of Strategic Philanthropy, Advancement, and serve as an active member of the larger Advancement team. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a targeted fundraising strategy to support the Deep Tech & Exploration domain prizes, aligned with organizational goals and domain roadmaps.
• Fully owns quarterly, annual, and multi-year fundraising goals as it pertains to the Deep Tech & Exploration domain and wider Advancement team.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with prospective donors and partners, including philanthropists, foundations, and corporations.
• Translate technical content into clear, compelling narratives and proposals tailored to funder interests.
• Work cross-functionally with prize design leads, marketing, and impact teams to align on strategy, messaging, and prospecting.
• Thoughtfully represent XPRIZE at relevant events, conferences, and virtual engagements to build visibility and cultivate a qualified pipeline.
• Maintain accurate tracking of donor engagement and pipeline development in XPRIZE’s CRM system.
• Report pipeline activity and fundraising status to executive leadership at regular intervals.
• Successfully negotiate agreements that are consistent with XPRIZE’s organizational strategy while also driving mutually agreed upon value to sponsors, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation within the broader Advancement team.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of experience in philanthropy, partnerships, sales, engineering or business development with a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success of raising $1,000,000+ for a company or cause.  
• Strong understanding of or willingness to learn deep tech, space exploration, or emerging frontier technologies (e.g., quantum, AI, robotics, satellite tech).
• Strong organizational skills and can manage detailed CRMs.
• Ability to self-manage timelines and follows through consistently.
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills—both written and verbal.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and cross-disciplinary environment.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and an ability to thrive in ambiguity.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving, research, and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational and strategic planning skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field a plus. 
• Experience negotiating contracts for complex deal structures with aggressive timelines a plus.
• Willingness to travel up to 15% both domestically and internationally.
• Willingness to attend quarterly on-site company meetings in Los Angeles, CA.

Competencies required for this role: 

• Creates Clarity and Energy
• Organized and Action Oriented 
• Communicates effectively and professionally 
• Comfortable with paving paths where needed  
• Collaborative and Team first mentality
• Global Perspective 
• Builds Networks and Ecosystems 
• Situational Adaptability 

The anticipated base salary for this position is $120,000 to $150,000 and may also qualify for an annual incentive. This role is eligible for our extensive benefits package and generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and holidays. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors including the qualifications of the individual applicant, years of relevant experience for the role, level of education attained, and certifications and/or other licenses held. XPRIZE is a remote-first environment.

The XPRIZE FOUNDATION is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate in employment. Equal access to employment, services, and programs is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify a representative of the organization. 

Please note: Though submitting a resume to the XPRIZE FOUNDATION implies that you are interested in a position(s), it does not imply that you are an applicant. You are not considered an applicant until you have been contacted directly by a Talent Acquisitions representative requesting that you begin the designated application process, which may involve phone and/or in-person interview(s), job-related testing, and background checks.