VP Development

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Job description

As the Vice President of Development, you will be responsible for driving the vision and results-driven roadmap for development, building and effectively managing a team of three employees, and influencing the facilitation of a culture of philanthropy. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who has a passion for generating organizational resources and who is prepared to excel in a goal-oriented and mission-driven environment. You will help build awareness and resources for both local and national support of our fellowship program. You will foster relationships with national and regional board members and be responsible for maintaining and building donor relations.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising/Development (60%)

• • Oversee and grow existing $5MM+ national donor portfolio, including corporate partners and national foundations.
• • In conjunction with the CEO and the Board of Directors, identify, cultivate and solicit or maintain new and continuing sources of funding (foundations, corporations, government agencies).
• • Partner with the Vice President of Community Partnership and with Community Directors to develop a strategy for implementing organization-wide donor cultivation and stewardship best practices.
• • Work with members of the Board and the Board's Development Committee to set goals and determine strategy for board-driven fundraising efforts.
• • In partnership with the Vice President of HR/Finance, ensure timely, assumption-based Revenue projections for at least 12 months out.
• • Develop and manage an annual direct mail campaign.
• • Work collaboratively with the CEO, Vice President of HR/Finance and Grants team to ensure timely submission of all grant proposals and the timely preparation and submission of grant reports.
• • Collaborate with marketing communications to produce and disseminate informational materials (e.g. organizational collateral, annual report).
• • Establish regular contact and foster positive relationships with private donors, including individuals and corporations, private funding organizations, including foundations, and local municipal agencies.
• • Collaborate with the Vice President of Programs and Vice President of Talent to create best-in-class engagement activities to engage private sector partners as part of a broad corporate social responsibility strategy.
• • Ensure fundraising systems are functional and efficient, including grant writing and reporting process, donor records, goal setting, pipeline tracking, and Salesforce data integrity.

Event Management (25%)

• • Oversee the development and execution of all fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events and activities.
• • Ensure all fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events and activities are aligned with the larger strategic plan for Development
• • Outline revenue strategy for existing fundraising events on a national scale
• • Create a cultivation and stewardship strategy to convert event attendees and volunteer leadership to annual major donors.

Alumni Engagement (5%)

• • Provide general oversight and management of Fellow and Alumni board giving program
• • Meet regularly with VFA Alumni committee and serve as an advisor for fundraising discussions, ensuring organizational alignment

Organization-wide Leadership (10%)

• • Serve as a leader throughout the organization, taking on org-wide projects outside of the Development team.
• • Participate in organizational priorities such as the selection of Fellows, as is expected of all Team members
• • Serve on the Senior Leadership Team

What you may have already done:

• • 10+ years cumulative leadership experience as a fundraising and Development professional
• • Leveraged flexibility and creative thinking to identify "big bets" - strategic funding opportunities that align with organizational goals to drive large innovation and transformation
• • Direct experience in a non-profit organization or cause-based leadership role is strongly preferred.
• • A proven track record cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors, foundations, and corporate partners
• • Experience supporting or launching an Annual Campaign - generating $5 million+ overall

Skills required:

• • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships
• • Expert storytelling and communication skills, both verbally and in writing, that share our story in a compelling, concise, insightful way to donor audiences while fostering long-term relationships
• • Strong team management skills, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside of an organization
• • Bachelor's degree required, CFRE fundraising professional certification preferred
• • Ability to construct, articulate, and implement annual strategic development plan
• • Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• • First point of contact for all grant applications and reports (new and renewal) in partnerships with Strategic Partnerships Associate and Grant Associate

Work Demands:

• • Working with colleagues across the country leveraging remote technologies
• • Ability to travel in various US cities as needed beginning in 2022
• • Willingness to work some evenings

The good stuff:

• • High performers at VFA are given substantial opportunity to grow and develop
• • You'll earn a competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• • We offer a great benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), commuter benefits, flexible spending account, and gym, tech, and professional development stipends
• • We have a generous vacation policy, plenty of paid holidays, and regular work from home Fridays
• • VFA is a dynamic startup environment with varied responsibilities and a different challenge each day (we mean it - always plenty of interesting problems to work on!)
• • You'll work alongside an inclusive team of exceptionally motivated, high-caliber people