Vision and Mission:
At United Way of Northeast Florida, we envision a community of opportunity where everyone has hope and can reach their full potential. Our mission is to solve our community’s toughest challenges by connecting people, resources and ideas.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of our organization and a fundamental part of our mission and strategies.
Our Values:
• Innovative - We are imaginative trail blazers.
• Teamwork - We work together to accomplish our goals and help each other succeed.
• Mission Focused - We are passionate about our community’s wellbeing and creating lasting change.
• Excellence - We set clear, high expectations for ourselves and our work.
• Integrity - We are honest and transparent and act ethically to create trust.
Purpose of Position:
The position of Vice President, Philanthropy is a leadership role responsible for spearheading an innovative fundraising strategy that is not limited to workplace giving, while driving and growing revenue from individuals, corporations, and foundations, and other methods for mission-focused programs. This position will be responsible for maintaining and growing current successful initiatives, creating new resource streams, and building on areas of opportunity including workplace giving, affinity and giving groups, planned giving, major gifts, grants, and new business development among other streams of revenue. This position leads and directs, with a growth-minded mentality, all Resource Development (RD) staff to maintain superior donor relationships, meet measurable revenue goals, and have extensive knowledge of how community impact initiatives, marketing & communications, and volunteerism are integrated in providing donors and volunteers with rewarding and inspiring experiences with every interaction.
While each position is measured on individual outputs, collaboration and coordination are critical elements of donor and volunteer engagement. In collaboration with the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board of Directors, the Vice President reimagines the giving culture, shaping the future of the organization’s philanthropy programs. Success is realized by achieving the overall organizational impact goals resulting from resources raised by the department of professionals.
Key Accountabilities:
Organizational Leadership and Strategy
• Develop and review annual and multi-year strategic plan with the Chief Operating Officer.
• Accountable for advancement of United Way’s strategic goals to diversify and increase net revenue through key strategic partnerships and delivery of services, including all revenue streams, and resource development operations.
• Create and foster innovation through continuous operations analysis and recommend improvements to ensure efficient and effective delivery through best practices and technology.
• Ensure the attainment of organizational goals for revenue generation and growth for key fundraising segments.
• Participate as a member of the Leadership Team to provide a united, visible, and strong leadership presence across the organization. Help instill new and innovative thinking, focus and prioritize efforts, and operationalize the organization’s strategic plan.
• Partner and collaborate with departments throughout the organization on processes, products, and services, when appropriate.
• Partner with CEO, CFO, and COO in developing operational and organizational budgets, with oversight and management of the department budget.
• Partner with COO to organize and implement new revenue streams to support community impact work.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing and Communications to build greater visibility through digital communications, social media and other cultivation tools.
• Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment.
• Successfully navigate in a dynamic, fast-paced, outcome-driven environment. Make timely decisions based on long-term goals, and exhibit sound and accurate judgments that result in positive organizational impacts.
Department Management and Coaching
• Lead Resource Development Team in the creation of resource development operating plans with defined goals aligned to the organizational strategy.
• Supervise department staff and activities including but not limited to the effective management of systems, processes, donor data, and measurements to monitor projects, communications and guide fundraising results and activities.
• Evaluate department staff’s experience and performance; use team building and motivational techniques, additional training, and organizational disciplinary protocols as appropriate to continually improve departmental professionalism, performance and to drive results. In partnership with Human Resources and COO, develop and implement a growth plan for staff to obtain appropriate training, knowledge, and skills.
• Build and support a discipline of relationship management including the effective use of United Way’s customer relationship management platform within the Resource Development Department and within areas providing critical support to the Resource Development.
• Work collaboratively with Information Technology team to establish and abide by data protocols to ensure highest quality of donor data.
• Ensure financial issues related to gifts are handled with complete integrity and transparency.
Impact-focused Fundraising
• Actively listen to understand donors’ interests, needs and passions, and align them to existing organization mission and products to develop and promote investment opportunities.
• Lead and participate in the solicitation efforts of targeted individuals and corporations. Exercise diplomatic persistence in the cultivation and stewardship of donors and identify new ways to drive and generate revenue and engagement.
• Gather and use data that supports requests for donations and other types of support by creating a strong case for support to successfully “sell” the idea, program, or funding opportunity.
• Understand donor segments (e.g., workplace donors, corporations, foundations, government entities, individual, etc.) and specific strategies needed to reach each segment.
• Analyze current Legacy Giving programming, develop and execute a plan, and provide directive and feedback based on proven success factors.
• Develop and execute year-round engagement and retention plans for donor segments, building donor loyalty through personalized engagement.
Operational Excellence
• Synthesize complex information, analyze data, and forecast trends related to various United Way revenue streams. Use data to inform and make decisions.
• Monitor and analyze the progress of annual fundraising and operating plan goals and metrics, and make recommendations as needed.
• Analyze donor data and market trends, develop fundraising strategies and new ideas.
• Define, implement, evaluate, and refine strategies, processes, procedures and systems for annual campaign reporting, and for internal/third party services including contribution processing. Ensure that results related to annual campaign are accurately and appropriately reported, analyzed, understood, communicated, and interpreted.
• Identify and research lapsed and potentially-lapsing donors and work to re-engage them.
Relationship Management
• Organize and develop an appropriate volunteer structure through which community-wide support for the fundraising appeal is achieved; support and assist volunteer leadership.
• In partnership with CEO and COO, cultivate trust and confidence of the Board of Directors and other volunteer leaders to promote a culture of giving where ambassadors are fully equipped, embracing their roles as an integral part of philanthropy efforts to drive resources for mission programs and community needs.
• Provide goal-setting, visioning, leadership, and strategic direction for RD volunteers.
• Assume primary staff responsibility for Resource Development Committee meetings, overseeing the activities of the committee, and directly supporting the committee chair in the execution of the committee charter, including the identification and recruitment of committee volunteers.
• Promote donor and volunteer involvement in affinity group and leadership giving programs.
• Ensure a system of continuity of volunteer leadership; Use multiple approaches and channels that are aligned with donor and community needs and interests to attract and identify prospective volunteers.
• Provide written and oral information to volunteers that help them understand the goal and their specific role in achieving the goal; Train volunteers on United Way policies, community impact work, and skills they will need for the specific goal on which they are working.
• Provide performance feedback to volunteers that recognizes their strengths and helps them develop in areas in which they have opportunities.
Competencies/Accountabilities:
• Ambitious and Focused on Winning: Sets ambitious yet realistic goals; Persists when facing obstacles and comes back with a new approach and strategy to succeed; Conveys energy and passion about United Way’s work and mission; Is self-directed; Holds oneself accountable.
• Visible with Donors and Community Leaders: Continuously builds and expands the network of donors; Is visible and known in the community; Recognizes and pursues new opportunities and engages key leaders in the organization to create and support plans.
• Exhibits Business Acumen: Identifies, anticipates and adapts to changing market trends and business needs; Understands challenges and opportunities in the business environment; Has solid understanding of United Way initiatives, products and services.
• Focuses on Continuous Improvement: Stays current in the technical aspects of their field (e.g., tax law, employee engagement); Attempts to apply latest information on trends and best practices to continuously improve the work; Encourages and supports new ideas and new ways of doing things.
• Takes Calculated Risks: Recognizes and acts on opportunities; Establishes criteria for taking risks; Challenges status quo when appropriate; Knows when to cut losses and change course.
Education Training and Previous Work Experience:
• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred in Business Administration or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of ten years work experience in professional fundraising or in a consultative sales environment driven by meeting metrics and measurables.
• Preferred leadership experience in the human services, volunteer management, program development, marketing & communications and administration.
• Experience working with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
• Preferred experience raising resources directly for programs.
• Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE) highly valued, but not required.
Key Skills/Experience:
• Proven ability to effectively evaluate, analyze and interpret data and information to advance all development activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an emphasis on the ability to persuade and influence others around ideas, decisions, and financial support in individual and group settings; confidence to assert, present perspective, engage others and influence outcomes.
• Highly effective relationship building skills including one-to-one interpersonal networking; ability to leverage and communicate effectively with diverse audiences: executive leaders, board members, donors, constituents, and staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills coupled with genuine desire to connect with others from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Strong business acumen, including the non-profit sector
• Understand and implement gift acceptance policies and IRS requirements.
• Customer Relationship Management software preferred.
• Proficient with MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Proficiency with using the internet for research purposes.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, with the possibility of early
morning, evening and weekend hours being needed.
General Physical Requirements for Essential Functions of the Job:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and/or hear. Continual use of the hands with wrist and finger movement using a keyboard is required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include long hours viewing a computer monitor screen. The employee may occasionally travel using personal vehicle and/or work outside normal office environment.