We’re more than fundraisers. We’re the game changers and way-makers. We look for the tough issues in our community, and with your help, we go solve them. United Way of Greater Kansas City unites donors, volunteers, businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to help change the lives of those in need. We are making Kansas City and the surrounding area better…100 years and counting.
We are a team of adaptive, driven, focused and flexible innovators working to solve and support some of the biggest challenges in our community. Our team culture is collaborative, and our office environment is flexible – with a hybrid virtual and in-office environment. Full-time employees are scheduled to work 37.5 hours per week with an option of a condensed 4.5 day work week. We believe that working hard and playing hard are essential to a job well done. Come be a part of the pinnacle nonprofit in our community!
United Way of Greater Kansas City is seeking a high-level leader who believes solutions to complex social problems are possible when passionate and motivated Kansas Citians are united through transformative change. The Director of Community Impact will serve as a steward and organizer of investment resources, raised through United Way’s annual campaign and beyond. Through strategic grantmaking and collaborative community partnerships, this role will drive, develop, and encourage United Way’s continued support and community impact.
OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Chief Community Investment Officer, this position will work within the Community Impact department to proactively and creatively lead United Way’s initiatives focused on equitable grantmaking, development of smart, sustainable solutions to address the community’s most pressing human service challenges and to steward relationships with the leaders of a portfolio of community partner organizations whose work is supported by United Way investments.
Grantmaking:
- With other members of the Community Impact staff team, design and implement a strategy for making investments in the community’s health and human service system, including a system for vetting applicant organizations and the selection of a roster of the highest-performing organizations, that will receive investments annually in a set of strategies that address some of the community’s most pressing health and human service challenges.
- Serve as team lead on a nonprofit capacity-building grantmaking initiative for metro area nonprofits, with a focus on investing in BIPOC-led and BIPOC-focused organizations.
- Provide technical assistance to grant-seeking organizations as needed.
- Conduct post-grant award stewardship, progress report and outcome data review.
- Lead post-grant award evaluation efforts to assess the impact of grant-making efforts, inform process improvements and plan strategic goals of subsequent grantmaking cycles.
- Provide staff support to United Way’s new and current community partner agency certification review process.
Relationship Management and Partner Engagement:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of community partner organizations that receive support from United Way.
- Cultivate relationships with UWGKC Philanthropy team and key donors, nonprofit, governmental and other formal/informal groups whose work aligns with the community impact goals, with respect to growing partnership and collaborative efforts.
- Support organizational goals related to donor engagement, assisting in creating meaningful and engaging donor experiences that demonstrate United Way’s positive effort and effect.
Strategic Investment and Community Collaboration
- Identify opportunities for strategic investment through intentional outreach and relationship development around shared goals across a range of community stakeholders in the public and private sector.
- In partnership with these stakeholders, develop, incubate and launch strategies for smart, sustainable solutions to community problems.
Operational Excellence:
- Ensure effective and accurate achievement of departmental goals by demonstrating a positive, proactive and solutions-focused approach to fulfilling key responsibilities.
- Maintain consistent internal/external communication related to grantmaking and community collaboration efforts.
- Regularly assess goal(s) progress, identifying what drives and impedes momentum. Help develop solutions to address gaps.
- Contribute to building a positive, results-oriented, donor-centric culture that delivers upon UWGKC’s mission-driven strategic, operational and financial objectives.
Annual Goals:
- Achieve goals related to the successful operation of strategic investment, grantmaking and community partnership work, including maximizing engagement of community members and nonprofit partners, design of user-friendly tools and processes that achieve the goals of grantmaking initiatives, achieving high levels of satisfaction among grantee stakeholders, and the effective development of content related to United Way community impact storytelling and marketing efforts.
- Work with other members of the UWGKC team to ensure goals reflect, align and contribute to the broader goals of the organization.
EDUCATION/REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in the field required; Master’s degree preferred.
- 5+ years successful experience, preferably in the nonprofit, education or government sectors.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong reputation for integrity and professionalism, demonstrated intellectual curiosity, ability to resolve conflict constructively, strong performance management and evaluation capabilities; including the willingness and ability to ensure accountability.
- Demonstrated leadership in relationship building and management.
- The ability to think strategically and create commitment to foster an inclusive, accepting environment consistent with UWGKC’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
- United Way is evolving with our changing external environment. Flexibility is a key attribute for this position.
- The ability to prepare, explain, and monitor performance; manage a diverse portfolio of projects and engage constructively with the UWGKC team.
- Demonstrated proficiency in learning and managing a technology platform to carry out key responsibilities. (e.g., CRM or grantmaking platform, database management, etc.)
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive data.
United Way of Kansas City offers a competitive benefits package including full health and dental coverage; Three-weeks paid vacation; 403B with company match; flexible office culture; employee development opportunities and a hybrid work environment.