For more than a century, philanthropy has been central to Scripps Health’s story. Founded in 1924 by Ellen Browning Scripps, the organization has grown into a $5 billion private, nonprofit, integrated health system serving 700,000 patients annually across San Diego County. Today, Scripps encompasses four hospitals on five campuses, more than 3,000 affiliated physicians, 15,000 employees, and a comprehensive network of outpatient centers, emergency rooms, urgent care facilities, and specialty programs. Consistently ranked among the top 15 health systems in the nation, Scripps is nationally recognized for excellence in patient care, clinical research, and innovation in digital health.
Scripps Health Foundation fuels this impact, raising an average of $50 million annually to advance patient care, technology, research, and community health initiatives. The organization is currently in phase two of Here for Good, a $750 million, decade-long capital campaign that reflects Scripps’ enduring commitment to excellence and to the health and well-being of the San Diego community. Gift Planning plays a central role in this strategy, contributing more than 25% of annual fundraising and reflecting strong executive commitment to long-term philanthropic growth.
The Opportunity
The Director, Development and Gift Planning will join a high-performing, five-member Gift Planning team based in La Jolla and serve as a key driver of significant outright and deferred gifts.
This is a sophisticated fundraising role focused on cultivating, soliciting, and closing complex gifts, including charitable trusts, gift annuities, real estate, and other asset-based contributions. The Director will manage a portfolio of donors capable of major and planned gifts while building meaningful relationships with professional advisors and collaborating closely with frontline fundraisers across hospital campuses.
Reporting within a highly respected and well-resourced foundation, the Director will help expand awareness of the Gift Planning program through strategic marketing, seminars, targeted communications, and donor engagement. This role blends technical expertise in charitable estate planning with strong relationship-building skills, ensuring regulatory compliance while deepening donor loyalty and strengthening the future gift pipeline.
With Gift Planning generating more than 20–25% of annual revenue and positioned strategically within the Here for Good campaign, this is an opportunity to shape the long-term philanthropic trajectory of one of the nation’s leading health systems.
The salary range for this position is $150,000–$200,000.
