Head of Philanthropy

Job Description

Job Description

About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America—a vibrant, collaborative community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and ecosystem builders committed to accelerating energy and climate solutions through innovation.

With campuses in Boston and Houston, Greentown has supported more than 575 startups that have collectively raised over $8.2 billion, created nearly 14,000 jobs, and deployed breakthrough technologies across the agriculture, buildings, electricity, manufacturing, transportation, and resiliency & adaptation sectors.

At Greentown, we believe that entrepreneurs are the heart of the energy transition. Our job is to accelerate their success—and provide the shared services, infrastructure, partnerships, and community that make that possible.

As we enter an ambitious new chapter of growth and impact, we’re building our first-ever philanthropic function. Why? Because philanthropy can be one of the most powerful levers to support early-stage climatetech entrepreneurs—and we’re ready to scale that impact. For more information, visit www.greentownlabs.com and follow Greentown on LinkedIn.

About the Role

We’re seeking a mission-driven, entrepreneurial Head of Philanthropy to build and lead this function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of climate innovation—not by building startups directly, but by fueling the ecosystem that supports them. You’ll work closely with the CEO, board, and team to develop and execute a high-impact fundraising strategy, cultivate mission-aligned donors and foundations, and design campaigns that unlock bold growth—all in service of the startups and community at the heart of Greentown.

What You'll Do

• Design and Drive Strategy: You have the ability to think strategically and possess strong execution skills, as well as operational discipline, to build and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with Greentown’s values and growth goals. Establish clear targets and systems to grow philanthropic revenue exponentially.

• Engage and Cultivate Donors: Identify and nurture a community of donors eager to be part of Greentown’s future—from visionary changemakers and global foundations to civic leaders and values-aligned families. You’ll craft thoughtful outreach and engagement strategies that connect their passions to Greentown’s mission—and inspire lasting support.

• Design High-impact Campaigns: Develop creative, donor-centered campaigns that drive engagement and investment. Your work will directly empower the entrepreneurs we serve—by ensuring they have the resources, exposure, and community they need to scale climate solutions.

• Internal Leadership & Collaboration: Build and lead a lean, high-performing philanthropy team over time. Collaborate across the organization to amplify Greentown’s impact, tell our story, and activate supporters around a shared vision of change. You have the ability to think strategically and possess strong execution skills as well as operational discipline.

Who You Are

You are a builder, a connector, and a strategist. You care deeply about climate and community, and you're ready to use philanthropy as a tool to create systemic change. You've led fundraising at scale—but you're still excited to roll up your sleeves.

• A Mission-driven Advocate: Deep alignment with Greentown’s mission to support entrepreneurs, drive innovation, and build inclusive climate solutions. You are energized by the opportunity to fuel this vital work.

• A Strategic Builder and Connector: You are a values-driven relationship builder who fosters long-term partnerships and can earn trust across the political spectrum while keeping Greentown’s mission front and center.

• A Compelling Storyteller: You possess exceptional storytelling and communication skills with the ability to craft compelling cases that inspire philanthropic investment.

• Entrepreneurial and Adaptive: You thrive on building new initiatives and functions, bringing a creative and proactive approach to development by leveraging data-informed tools and insights to guide fundraising strategies and priorities.

• Agile and Collaborative: You are adaptable and excel in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, working effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Dedicated to Inclusion: You believe that climate action must be inclusive to be effective. You are committed to fostering a welcoming, equitable, and respectful environment—for donors, startups, and the broader Greentown community. You understand that philanthropy can be a powerful tool to advance change, elevate underrepresented voices, and expand access to opportunity. You bring this lens to the relationships you build, the stories you tell, and the resources you mobilize.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications). A master's degree is preferred; however, candidates with exceptional and relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

• 5+ years of progressive experience in development, philanthropy, or fundraising, with a demonstrable track record of securing significant major gifts and achieving ambitious fundraising goals—ideally in climate, innovation, or impact-focused organizations.

• Proven success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-level donors in myriad ways, such as through individual giving, foundation relations, family offices, civic funders, and capital campaigns.

• Experience working with CRM systems (Salesforce or similar) for donor tracking and management.

• Strong understanding of nonprofit best practices and ethical fundraising principles.

• Experience building and leading a small, high-performing team is a plus.

• Experience working in a startup environment or with sustainability-focused organizations is a plus.

• Familiarity with the startup ecosystem, cleantech, or climatetech industry is a plus.

General Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request to enable candidates to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Stationary Work: Prolonged periods working on a computer.

• Mobility: Regularly moving around the office to interact with colleagues, access files, and attend meetings.

• Communication: Regularly required to communicate with others in person, via phone, and virtually/electronically.

Additional Considerations

• Travel: Occasional travel may be required to attend donor meetings, off-site events, or conferences (primarily within the U.S.).

• Evening & Weekend Hours: Evening and weekend work will be required to support events and donor engagements.

• Confidentiality & Discretion: Must be able to handle sensitive donor and organizational information with professionalism and care.

• Event Facilitation: Experience planning or facilitating small-group donor events, tours, or site visits is a plus.

Work Location and Schedule

Greentown staff generally operate on a hybrid schedule, with expectations to be on-site at Greentown locations in Somerville, MA or Houston, TX at least three days per week, with the option to work remotely two days per week. Our standard business hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m..

This role is expected to be on-site at Greentown in Somerville, MA or Houston, TX at least three days per week, with the option to work remotely two days per week.

Please note: Some roles do not permit a hybrid or work-from-home schedule, or may require additional scheduling considerations (see section above).

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

  • Compensation range: $150,000.00 + Bonus

• Be a part of a dynamic and growing organization committed to making a positive impact on the world.

• Work in a collaborative and supportive environment with opportunities for professional development.

Why Join Us?

This isn’t just a leadership role—it’s a chance to build something transformative. You’ll play a critical part in helping Greentown grow from a renowned startup incubator into a national philanthropic force for climate innovation and community prosperity. You’ll work alongside passionate founders, civic leaders, donors and the Greentown board and team who believe in systems change—and who know that startups need support, especially in their earliest, most formative stages.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Greentown Labs seeks to fully represent our community and constituencies—particularly low-income communities and communities of color—to amplify those voices and provide opportunities to participate in the direction and leadership of the organization. We actively encourage candidates from broad, diverse backgrounds to apply. Greentown Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

At-will Employment

This job description is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract of employment. Employment with Greentown Labs is at-will, meaning that the employment relationship can be terminated by the employee or the Company at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.