Mission: To inspire and enable a community of change agents, or as we like to call them waymakers.
We’re more than fundraisers. We’re the hand-raisers and waymakers. We go looking 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. Join us. UWGKC unites donors, volunteers, businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to help change the lives of those in need. The organization has been making Kansas City and the surrounding area better for 100 years and counting.
United Way of Greater Kansas City seeks a Vice President of Philanthropy. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, this role oversees the team responsible for Individual Donor Engagement, Donor Networks and related cabinet/council positions as required. This role will be responsible for the development and execution of comprehensive long-range strategic and annual business plans focused on revenue generation and donor engagement.
Position Duties & Responsibilities
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
Fundraising: lead | execute | solicit
- Establishes strategy and tactical plan for cultivation, stewardship and appreciation of donors participating in workplace campaigns as well as unaffiliated donors
- Oversees individual giving team to ensure best in class donor engagement is the utmost priority
- Responsible for leading the planning, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors at, but not limited to, donors at the $10,000 level and higher
- Leads individual giving team by developing and coaching to create a motivated, high performing team to reach the strategic goals of UWGKC
- Provides professional leadership to volunteer council members responsible for providing guidance and leadership in UWGKC’s revenue generation and donor engagement efforts.
- Cultivates, solicits and stewards current assigned donors and prospects through consistent and measured contact.
- Provide exceptional donor stewardship, conduct face to face visits with donors and prospective donors, and lead the development and strategy related to discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship - including crafting ways for donors to experience deeper engagement in UWGKC’s mission.
- Works in partnership with the Data & Insights team to gather and gain insights from internal donor data to inform cultivation and stewardship strategy
- Serves as a member of the Development Leadership Team working with fellow colleagues across the department to ensure high levels of collaboration and efficiency to meet our team goals and the broader organization
Relationship Management: steward | govern | collaborate
- Lead the volunteer committees or workgroups of the Tocqueville Society.
- Develop and maintain regular contact with existing donors and identify and communicate with UWGKC Executive Team members regarding opportunities to leverage these relationships more broadly.
- Be knowledgeable about UWGKC’s work and be an effective and compelling communicator of the same to advance engagement and brand value.
- Build credibility and relationships with individuals throughout every level of the organization.
- Be an active listener – seek to understand the spoken and unspoken needs of others, both colleagues as well as donors and prospects; include and engage others; be an effective facilitator between the organization and the donor; know when to bring others into donor conversations and decisions.
Operational Excellence: problem-solving | teamwork | leadership
- Contribute to building a positive, results-oriented, donor-centric culture that delivers upon UWGKC’s mission driven strategic, operational and financial objectives.
- Prepare weekly reports of progress with a high-level of clear communication and accountability.
- Regularly assess progress to goals, identifying what drives and impedes progress, work to develop solutions to address gaps.
- Maintain meticulous records of donor solicitation, engagement and next steps through communication notes and other input areas in the donor database; ensure timely processing and prompt acknowledgement of donations secured.
- Manage to project deadlines as outlined.
- Maintain a consistent curiosity around finding ways to optimize, create efficiencies and maximize operations through new technologies, systems and platforms.
Annual Goals: Achieve established goals for fundraising, engagement, plus donor and professional advisor visits working with a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects and donors. Work with other members of the UWGKC team to ensure goals reflect, align and contribute to the broader goals of the organization.
Flexibility: UWGKC is evolving with our changing external landscape and currently works in a hybrid environment. Meetings, events and donor engagement will be done both virtually and in-person, as the situation deems necessary. Flexibility is a key attribute for this position. A willingness to take on additional duties to ensure the success of the team is essential.
Education and/or Experience
- Bachelor’s degree with a focus in business, nonprofit management, public administration, marketing or other related field.
- At least 5 years’ experience in nonprofit development, sales, business or nonprofit administrative preferred.
- Demonstrated success supervising and leading a high-performing sales or fundraising team.
- Proven record of success against measurable objectives at previous companies/nonprofits.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written), management and interpersonal skills.
- Capable of speaking in public to groups of all sizes and audience types.
- Strong relationship building and managerial experience.
- Proven reputation for integrity and professionalism.
- Strategic thinker with a proven track record of driving results.
- Strong performance management and evaluation capabilities including willingness and experience in ensuring team accountabilities.
- Experience in managing a diverse group of donors and volunteers, projects and workload.
- Excellent interpersonal skills operating with a high degree of emotional intelligence and influence; reputation for sustaining long term donor relationships.
- Ability to communicate knowledgeably and credibly. Forward thinker and politically savvy to represent this critical position.
- Proven experience and success in project management with a high degree of reliability, thoroughness, consistency, organization and accuracy is required.
- Proficient computer/CRM experience required.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive data.
Core Competencies
Catalyst: A change agent who actively convenes partnerships with others who offer diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to drive community transformation and foster mission goals.
Achievement: Driven to make a difference – actively sets challenging stretch goals – passionately and purposely aims to achieve them; demonstrating adaptability and perseverance.
Responsive: Can be counted on to do what he or she says will be done. Models a consultative engagement approach in all interactions developing relationships both internally and externally, brings the “right” stakeholders into decisions and actions; and resolves conflicts respectfully.
Excellence: Invests in continuously learning, generously shares knowledge and strives to do the right thing in all endeavors to positively reflect the UWGKC brand and mission.
Solutions: Exhibits fierce resolve to understand root issues that impact achievement of results. Collaborates to devise creative, innovative solutions to optimize outcomes for those we serve.
OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers and seek diversity in candidates for employment. EEO Employer W/M/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.