Director of Philanthropy - Western US

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America – Phoenix, AZ

Posting Date: February 2, 2012 –  Closing Date: Until filled

This position will have a significant role in MAWFA, specifically in securing major gifts for the first endowment campaign for MAWF and in working with chapters to teach and mentor how to secure major gifts. Depending on the chapters assigned this individual may also work with chapters in Project Accelerate, Women for Wishes Society, Wish Society or other individual giving programs. As a member of the campaign management team, the Director is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of prospects identified as capable of making gifts of $150,000+ to MAWFA. S/he is responsible for securing philanthropic gifts and developing prospect strategies, cultivation, solicitation and follow-up activities with major gift prospects and donors. Substantial major and leadership gift experience and demonstrated leadership are essential. The position requires: management experience; demonstrated leadership with volunteers, administrators, and development staff; motivation to aggressively develop and maintain relationships with donors and prospects; creativity in helping develop new programs and methods; willingness to function as part of the MAWFA management team in achieving identified priorities; and the ability to understand and communicate the funding needs of the organization to volunteer solicitors, board members and prospective donors. The individual should expect to travel at least 50% of the time.

The ideal candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Master’s degree or comparable experience preferred. Seven to ten years experience in major and principal gifts is required. Discretion with confidential materials required.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.

Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented team environment required.

Experience with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising databases helpful.

Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness.

Dexterity to operate computer equipment required.

Submit resume and cover letter stating the position you’re applying for to:

   EOE/M/F/H/V   

Vice President of Philanthropy

Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc. – Bethesda, MD

Posting Date: January 30, 2012 –  Closing Date: Until filled

Job Summary

The Vice President of Philanthropy for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic (“chapter”) reports to the President and CEO. He/she is a key member of the Foundation’s senior leadership team, working closely with the President and CEO, Vice President of Administration and COO, Vice President of Program Services, the Board of Directors and the development staff to secure the funds needed to advance the mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the Mid-Atlantic region. As lead strategist for the chapter’s fund development, he/she will create and execute a multi-year plan for increasing voluntary revenue, which informs and supports the chapter’s plans for aggressive growth in the next five years.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Oversee the chapter’s development team, which includes fundraising, marketing and events;

· Expand the existing development program by further diversifying revenue sources;

· Develop and steward donor relationships to increase the base of support from current and potential donors;

· Work with the President and CEO as well as with individual Board members, as appropriate, to best cultivate relationships;

· Design and implement a comprehensive development plan and fundraising program , including benchmarks and evaluation procedures, focusing on a continued evolution toward major donor driven fundraising and including an optimal combination of annual giving, multiple-year sustained giving, planned giving, workplace giving, endowments, individual and corporate giving, grants and events;

· Reach fundraising goals employing economy while maintaining an appropriate quality level to maximize ROI;

· Foster a culture of philanthropy;

· Assure the chapter’s culture, systems and procedures support fund development;

· Identify, cultivate and maximize cause-related marketing opportunities;

· Serve as chapter liaison to National Office regarding development issues and opportunities and comprehensive donor stewardship;

· Supervise the creation of all written and electronic promotional materials, including, but not limited to: advertising and marketing campaigns, general promotional collateral materials, special event and fundraising collateral, speeches/scripts and the chapter’s Web site and social media accounts;

· Work with senior leadership team and pro bono media relations/PR firm to develop and execute targeted communications strategy and outreach;

· Identify and build relationships with all sources that are viable for developing partnerships, including the business community, media outlets, hospitals, clinics/healthcare centers, medical associations, elected officials and other charitable organizations;

· Protect the brand by ensuring proper use and protection of Make-A-Wish® marks in the local market and ensuring chapter-wide adherence to approved identity standards;

· Develop the next generation of high performance professionals by providing comprehensive leadership, accountability and mentoring to the development team as a group and individually;

· Provide strategic direction to overall fundraising and marketing strategies and ensure consistency and coordination of campaign efforts within the region;

· Manage staff efforts to ensure that annual fundraising goals are met;

· Identify, cultivate and solicit personally or prepare President and CEO or Board members to solicit large major gifts;

· Work in concert with appropriate volunteer community leaders and professional staff to coordinate successful strategic and tactical plans;

· Collaborate with the President and CEO and Board members to manage and encourage Board member individual development plans and to leverage members’ networks and experience;

· Work with COO to oversee the management of an accurate and up-to-date donor database to ensure acknowledgments, recognition and proper stewardship;

· Assist in the development of an annual operating budget and maintain timely reports on budget to actual for the President and CEO and Board of Directors;

· Attend all major chapter events and appropriate volunteer and donor recognition/stewardship events;

· Identify and communicate to chapter leadership all potential opportunities and/or relationships that will increase the chapter’s ability to raise funds and grant wishes;

· Identify challenges and recommend solutions to senior leadership team, balancing competing priorities and working collaboratively with colleagues;

· Adhere to all Make-A-Wish Foundation of America performance standards and chapter internal controls, policies and procedures;

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

The Vice President for Philanthropy receives supervision from the President and CEO, and supervises:

· three Regional Directors (Delaware, Baltimore and Northern Virginia/Western Maryland),

· Director of Events and Marketing,

· Annual Fund Manager, and

· Community Events Manager.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree or higher in Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Fundraising or a related field;

· 10 or more years of experience in business development with a background in marketing, public relations and nonprofit fundraising.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

As with the rest of the senior leadership team, the Vice President for Philanthropy must believe in the mission and vision of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He/she must model integrity, work to inspire colleagues and contacts and strive to build a great team.

The Vice President of Philanthropy should have experience and a high level of comfort with:

· Dealing with a diverse group of individuals (i.e., corporate leaders, community leaders, government officials, agency leaders and volunteers);

· Team-based, cross-functional work environments with communication as a top priority;

· Design and management of multi-level investment systems that measure results;

· Negotiating partnerships, strategic alliances and collaborations especially with unusual or first-time partnerships.

The Vice President of Philanthropy should be:

· A visionary thought leader who can productively leverage contributions of others;

· Entrepreneurial, creative and a critical thinker;

· Passionate about citizen mobilization and community change;

· Highly professional and able to work successfully with a wide variety of constituents including donors, Board members, volunteers and professional consultants;

· Flexible, compassionate and possess a strong sense of humor to address the practicalities of a growing nonprofit, along with the creativity and persistence required to elicit new thinking and change;

· Able to work with minimal supervision, to manage multiple priorities and to work in a deadline driven environment;

· Proficient in Microsoft Office and Raiser’s Edge database management software.

Submit resume and cover letter stating the position you’re applying for to:

   EOE/M/F/H/V   

Director of Constituent Giving

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois – Chicago, IL

Posting Date: January 18, 2012 –  Closing Date: February 29, 2012

Job Summary: Responsible for performance, overall direction and implementation of the strategy in the areas of account-based fund raising, including major gifts, foundations, leadership giving, planned giving and corporations. Responsible for increasing the organization’s revenue generating capabilities in these areas in an efficient, sustainable and reliable manner to support the Foundation’s continued mission growth.

Major Responsibilities:

· Provides overall implementation of the strategy, direction and leadership in the areas of account-based fund raising (major gifts, foundations, leadership giving, planned giving and corporate giving)

· Identifies, cultivates, solicits donations from, and maintains relationships with new and existing individual donors, corporations and foundations

· Solicits for an assigned portfolio of significant level prospects

· Manages a team of giving officers in the implementation of constituent giving strategies

· Represents the Foundation at fundraising events

· Performs other duties as required or assigned

Preferred Skills & Abilities:

· Proven record of successful fund raising solicitations and goal attainment

· Ability to manage a team toward the achievement of increasing financial goals.

· Proven relationship building record

· Excellent verbal and written skills

· Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge is desired

Preferred Education & Experience:

· 7-10 years experience in business development or administration, sales or marketing

· Bachelors degree in marketing, business, communication or public relations

· 5-8 years development/fundraising experience—must have proficiency in at least 3 of the following areas—planned giving, major gift, annual fund, corporate funding, cause marketing, foundation/grant proposals

· 3-5 years Staff management experience

Submit resume and cover letter stating the position you’re applying for to:

   EOE/M/F/H/V   

Kansas City Regional Development Director

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri – Kansas City, MO

Posting Date: January 10, 2012 –  Closing Date: February 10, 2013

Description

Performs fund raising duties to support the development efforts of the Kansas City Region of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Missouri (MAW). The Director is assigned responsibilities for specific fundraising events, corporate and individual support campaigns. The Regional Development Director serves as primary liaison to their respective events and/or programs that support the Kansas City revenue goals. Responsibilities of each Development Director include:

• Recruiting and supporting high-level volunteer leadership to ensure a quality experience for event attendees and guests
• Planning, and conducting defined fundraising events that meet or exceed revenue goals
• Researching new donors/sponsors
• Cultivating past supporters and re-engaging those whose support has lapsed Soliciting budget-relieving support to complement event process and meet budgetary goals
• Evaluate annually and make recommendations for future growth
• Implement best practices

Duties and Responsibilities

Plan

• Evaluate current and past efforts as related to assigned event(s) and/or programs to develop a plan for increased revenue streams to support the Chapter’s long-range strategic goals to exploring various activities and needs of donors to encourage support from new contributors and recommitment of previous
• Recommend fundraising priorities according to a 12-18 month cycle and work with the President/CEO
• Work with colleagues to develop an annual, comprehensive development calendar that includes detailed explanations and plans for each fundraising activity to which you have been assigned
• Assist in the development of a department budget and monitor expenditures as they pertain to assigned fundraising events and/or programs

Cultivate

Solicit, cultivate and sustain relationships with organizations, corporations and individuals to address changing giving trends; present findings to the President/CEO.

Conduct a minimum of 6 field visits per week.

Execute

Manage logistics of each assigned event and oversee details critical to supporting event success including supporting volunteer chair as it relates to Chapter’s overall organizational goals

Administration/Interdepartmental Collaboration •Contribute to the writing of the annual report, Make-A-Wish newsletters, and supplemental information to support the Chapter’s relationships with its donors •Meet with other members of the fundraising department on a regular basis to discuss departmental concerns and current issues and trends •General office work, i.e. mail opening, filing, etc. as needed

Other Related Duties as Assigned

Responsibilities:

Funds Management (90%) –

• Initiate and manage assigned fund raising events to ensure MAW compliance Recruit, cultivate and sustain volunteer leadership critical to fund raising success and realizing the KC Region goals
• Develop renewable funding sources through event sponsorships and/or programs, and sustain a 95% donor retention rate
• Develop an corporate and individual giving plan and execute throughout the year Coordinate participation in chapter fund raising programs and events •Participate in developing annual operating budget

Event Logistics (5%) –

• Work with Volunteer department to recruit and manage volunteers needed to execute successful events
• Manage the coordination of event logistics
• Oversee all aspects of assigned events and/or programs to ensure details within appropriate budgetary guidelines
• Advise President & CEO of activities, issues and other events impacting the MAW fundraising and share with President/CEO

Organizational Development (5%) –

• Provide education to the general public about MAW services, financial needs and volunteer opportunities
• Ensure compliance with accrediting agencies
• Serve as an advisor for the administration of volunteers, communicating with area Outreach and PR Coordinator as necessary to ensure proper and appropriate recognition

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in non-profit, management, or related field
• Minimum of five years experience working in conjunction with volunteer committees
• Demonstrated knowledge of committee functions and structures
• Minimum of two years experience in non-profit or public agency management, including supervising volunteers
• Working knowledge of non-profit fiscal management, including fund accounting and budgeting •Demonstrated ability in public speaking, clear and effective written and oral communications, and effective negotiation skills
• Proven ability in fund raising, grant writing, coordination of events, corporate giving programs and fund development
• Computer literacy; Raiser’s Edge preferred

Submit resume and cover letter stating the position you’re applying for to:

   EOE/M/F/H/V