Vice President, Philanthropy

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.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not only valued and demonstrated in our hiring practices, it is a fundamental part of our mission throughout our organization and the communities we serve.

Our Values:

• Teamwork – We work together to accomplish our goals and help each other succeed. 
• Innovation - We are fearless, imaginative trail blazers.
• Mission Focused- We are passionate about our community’s wellbeing and creating lasting change. 
• Integrity – We are honest, transparent and act ethically to create trust. 
• Excellence – We set clear, high expectations for ourselves and our work.  

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. 

The Vice President will have primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to achieve revenue growth building on a baseline of a $10.5M budget through workplace giving, major gifts, affinity groups, corporate philanthropy, planned giving, special events and other innovative models.

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 Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and review annual and multi-year strategic plan and necessary resources with the Chief Operating Officer, CFO and Leadership Team.
• 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 and implement improvements to ensure efficient and effective delivery through best practices and technology.
• Ensure the attainment of organizational goals for revenue growth including identification of new revenue streams.
• 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 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 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 needed training, knowledge, and skills to successfully achieve their goals.
• 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 Donor Services 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.

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.
• Identify and research lapsed and potentially-lapsing donors and develop and implement a plan to re-engage them.

Strategic Volunteer Management

• Organize and develop an appropriate volunteer structure through which community-wide support for revenue generation 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 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 Council 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.

Competencies/Accountabilities:

• Ambitious and Focused on Winning: Reaches for the stars by setting ambitious, achievable 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.
• Innovative: Creative in solution ideation and implementation
• Relationship Oriented: High emotional intelligence and a genuine desire to connect with others from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Flexibility: Successfully navigating in a dynamic, fast-paced, outcome-driven environment
• Data-driven Decision Making: Analyze results to monitor success, course correct as needed and expand success
• 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.
• Accountability: Measures self and team against established goals
• 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.
• United Way Values: Demonstrates a commitment to United Way’s values through internal and external actions.

Experience/Qualifications:

• 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 or demonstrated experience successfully growing a business.
• Proven experience in achieving revenue growth and sustainability.
• Preferred experience raising resources directly for programs.
• Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE) highly valued, but not required.
• 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-
• 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.
• 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 pass a background check 
• Must pass pre-employment drug screening
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, with the possibility of early morning, evening and weekend hours being needed.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive Pay – Commensurate with education and experience based on current market
• Health Insurance – Generous zero to low-cost Medical, Dental, and Vision for employees and dependents
• 403(b) Matching – Generous matching up to 6% of annual pay
• Holidays – 11 paid holidays, three personal holidays
• Vacation – Two weeks paid vacation 
• Flexible Schedule – Hybrid working environment with the ability to modify as needed
• Vibrant Work Environment – office space in The Jessie in downtown Jacksonville, a nonprofit and community gathering space in a sustainable, state-of-the-art facility with free monthly parking
• Purpose – Help United Way transform NEFL into a community of opportunity and hope for ALL people
• Employee Assistance Program
• A fun, challenging, and inclusive culture

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.

This description is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities and qualifications required of all team members assigned to this position. It is intended only to describe the key elements relative to each section. Also, duties and/or requirements of this position may be modified, added or deleted at any time. This supersedes all descriptions previously written for the same position. Unique equivalent skills and experience may possibly substitute for required position requirements.

Additional Information:

The attributes listed above represent our current thinking for the role. You can be a great candidate even if you don't fit everything we've described. You can also have important skills we haven't thought of. If that's you - even if you’re on the fence - we encourage you to apply and tell us about yourself! Unique equivalent skills and experience may possibly substitute for required position requirements.

We have built an environment that celebrates the differences in backgrounds and experiences. United Way invests in activities that lead to greater inclusion, diversity, and equity.  We are an equal-opportunity employer and we especially encourage and invite members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

United Way of Northeast Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Work Environment.

UWNEFL reserves the right to adjust work location.