Director of Individual Philanthropy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Individual Philanthropy plays an integral role in growing a culture of individual philanthropy that is respectful and transparent to donors while meeting UWM’s fundraising needs. This position will work with the Individual Philanthropy team to design and implement an annual giving plan that, along with a major gifts program, meets UWM’s individual giving revenue goals. Reporting to the Vice President of Resource Development, the Director of Individual Philanthropy is responsible for research, strategy, solicitation, and stewardship of annual gifts from a portfolio of leadership donors. The person in this position will successfully develop new and varied resources from donors, achieving specified benchmarks and improving relationships. This position will also apply creative, professional and strategic approaches to sustaining, growing and stewarding donors through direct marketing.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership Giving/Palmetto Society ($500 - $9,999) 

• Assist with creation and implementation of strategic plan for leadership giving, including prospecting, communications, cultivation, retention, moves management, and stewardship. 
• Identify prospective leadership donors inside and outside workplace settings by working closely with UWM’s Resource Development staff, including workplace campaign directors, the Senior Director of Individual Philanthropy and affinity group directors.  
• Meet an annual individual giving revenue goal from assigned portfolio. 
• Promote leadership giving and advance donors to higher levels. Develop, in collaboration with the Communications and Digital Services team, a compelling case for support. 
• Serve as the liaison with the Palmetto Society Cabinet volunteers. With the Cabinet, set an annual donor and prospect engagement agenda, developing a focus on growth and engagement within the Palmetto Society and engaging Society donors more deeply with UWM. Cultivate and recruit Cabinet members. Support the activities of the Palmetto Society and affinity groups. 
• Conduct research and analyze and manage data and demographic information relevant to this donor segment.  
• Research, identify, analyze, and communicate key donor trends, results, and opportunities to ensure continued growth in donors in revenues.  
• Benchmark and measure retention and donor churn.  
• Develop donor stewardship through engagement in personal visits, events, volunteerism, and recognition of contributions. Meet annual visit and touchpoint goals. 
• Attend affinity group programs and events.  

Donor Engagement  

• Work closely with volunteers and internal departments to set and accomplish annual and long-term goals to attract and sustain resources and engage and recognize donors year-round.  
• Collaborate with team members on special projects involving workplace campaigns and affinity groups.  Support workplace campaigns when needed.
• Utilize StratusLive (technology platform) to record visits and communications, as well as gather and maintain accurate donor information.  
• Develop and implement leadership giving growth strategies.  
• Collaborate with the Community Impact staff and partners to understand and effectively articulate how leadership and affinity group donor dollars support UWM’s work in the community.  

Direct Marketing

• Act as UWMs in-house expert on all elements related to direct marketing, including researching best practices and new trends in direct marketing
• Participate in stewarding direct marketing donors using customized approaches consistent with UWM’s overall stewardship plan
• Develop an annual direct marketing plan
• Research best practices
• In collaboration with the Communications and Digital Services team, create, source, research and write content for direct marketing campaigns 

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Effective Communication: Work effectively with volunteers and staff. Must maintain confidential information. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building and written and verbal communication skills.  
• Strategic Relationship Management: Work to understand, relate to, and engage constituents to improve their experience with UWM’s brand and generate more significant relationships with them. Continually builds and expands the network of donors.  
• Customer Oriented: Listens to the needs, interests, and passions of the donor with an eye towards connecting them with UWM’s work in the community. Identifies, engages with, adapts to, and influences various types of individuals and organizations.  
• Innovation and Creativity: Remain open to new ways of doing business. Recognizes and capitalizes on emerging opportunities. Flexible, adaptable, and open to change. Committed to continuous learning.  
• Action Oriented/Results Driven: Demonstrate strong drive to achieve meaningful results and able to follow through on commitments. Work on concurrent assignments and meet deadlines.  

REQUIRED & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Four years’ experience in annual fund fundraising with demonstrated results in meeting goals in past fundraising roles.  Development, nonprofit or sales team leadership preferred.
• Knowledge of development principles, fund raising techniques and ethics, including moves management donor strategies. 
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to balance multiple projects in varying degrees of implementation. 
• Demonstrated ability with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), donor databases (like for example Stratus Live, Salesforce and Wealth Engine). 
• Ability to travel throughout the area we serve and attend occasional after-hours events. 
• Bachelor's degree required. CFRE preferred.