Executive Director of Philanthropy

Join the YMCA in the Rocket City! Build community, grow your career, and make an impact. Job Description The Director of Philanthropy provides strategic and operational leadership for the Heart of the Valley YMCA’s Annual Campaign, individual annual giving, corporate philanthropic support, event sponsorships, donor stewardship, volunteer fundraising, and related revenue-generating initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Mission Advancement Officer, the Director develops and executes the organization’s Annual Giving Campaign and additional year-round fundraising strategies designed to increase donor acquisition, retention, engagement, and giving. The position manages a portfolio of individual and corporate donors and prospects, cultivates new philanthropic relationships, and stewards existing supporters by meaningfully connecting them to the YMCA’s mission and community impact. The Director leads the Association-wide Annual Campaign and works closely with branch leaders, staff, board members, and campaign volunteers to strengthen a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization. Corporate partnership responsibilities are specifically centered on generating charitable revenue through Annual Campaign gifts, event sponsorships, and other approved mission‑aligned giving opportunities. This includes identifying and soliciting new corporate partners, renewing and growing existing partnerships, coordinating sponsorship fulfillment, and stewarding corporate donor relationships. The Director serves as a visible ambassador for the Heart of the Valley YMCA and helps connect individuals, businesses, volunteers, and community leaders with opportunities to advance youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility throughout the community. Our Culture Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you. Benefits Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (with significant employer contributions) 100% Employer Paid: Life Insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability Voluntary Life Insurance Accident Insurance Critical Illness Coverage 12% Employer Contribution to the YMCA Retirement Fund Phone and Auto Allowance Professional Development Opportunities Qualifications Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong relationship‑building, donor‑engagement, and stewardship skills. Ability to identify prospective supporters and move relationships from introduction through cultivation, solicitation, commitment, and renewal. Demonstrated ability to make direct charitable and sponsorship solicitations. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Strong planning, organization, project‑management, and follow‑through skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, campaigns, portfolios, and relationships simultaneously. Comfort using data, dashboards, donor records, and financial information to evaluate performance and guide strategy. Ability to prepare professional proposals, presentations, reports, appeals, and donor communications. Sound judgment, integrity, discretion, and respect for donor confidentiality. Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative leadership team. Ability to influence and motivate staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and community partners. Strong customer‑service orientation and commitment to donor‑centered relationship management. Proficiency with standard office technology, databases, spreadsheets, presentation software, and digital communication platforms. Ability to relate effectively to people from diverse social, economic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. Education And Experience Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, public administration, fundraising, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered. Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, annual giving, corporate relations, sponsorship sales, nonprofit revenue development, or a closely related field. Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, securing, and stewarding charitable gifts or sponsorships. Experience managing a donor, prospect, client, or corporate relationship portfolio. Experience supporting or leading an annual campaign fundraising initiative, or comparable revenue‑generation program. Experience working with volunteers, boards, senior leaders, or community stakeholders. Experience using a donor‑management or constituent‑relationship‑management system. YMCA or other mission‑driven nonprofit experience preferred. Essential Functions Annual Campaign Leadership Lead the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of the Association‑wide Annual Campaign. Develop annual campaign strategies, goals, budgets, timelines, work plans, and performance benchmarks in partnership with the Chief Mission Advancement Officer. Manage the Annual Campaign as a year‑round program of donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewal, and upgrading. Develop strategies to increase charitable revenue, donor acquisition and retention, leadership (ESLT) annual giving, average gift size, and staff, board, and volunteer engagement. Coordinate multi‑channel fundraising appeals and maintain an annual campaign calendar integrating communications, sponsorship solicitation, stewardship, and volunteer activities. Monitor campaign performance and recommend strategic adjustments aligned with organizational priorities and community impact goals. Individual Giving and Donor Portfolio Management Manage a portfolio of Annual Campaign, leadership annual giving, and prospective donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewal, and upgrading. Maintain meaningful year‑round donor relationships through personal visits, calls, written communications, YMCA experiences, and impact reporting. Identify prospective major‑gift donors and coordinate continued cultivation with the Chief Mission Advancement Officer. Conduct individual and collaborative gift solicitations with organizational leadership, volunteers, and board members. Maintain accurate donor records and activity within the YMCA's donor management system while ensuring confidentiality and professional stewardship. Corporate Philanthropy and Event Sponsorships Develop, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate donors, sponsors, and business partners in support of Annual Campaign giving, event sponsorships, employee‑giving initiatives, matching gifts, and other approved charitable investments. Build and manage a pipeline of corporate prospects while preparing sponsorship proposals, presentations, benefit packages, renewal strategies, and impact reports. Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment with marketing, branch leadership, program staff, and event owners to ensure outstanding donor experiences and fulfillment of sponsorship commitments. Monitor corporate giving, sponsorship revenue, renewals, and relationship activity to support long‑term partnership growth. Donor Stewardship and Recognition Develop and implement comprehensive donor stewardship and recognition strategies that strengthen donor engagement, retention, and long‑term philanthropic support. Ensure timely acknowledgment, impact reporting, recognition, and meaningful opportunities for donors to experience the YMCA’s mission. Develop renewal and upgrade strategies based on donor interests, giving history, and engagement. Volunteer, Board, and Staff Engagement Recruit, train, support, and recognize Annual Campaign volunteers while overseeing the Association's volunteer campaign structure in collaboration with branch leadership and advisory councils. Equip board members, volunteers, and staff with the tools, training, and resources necessary to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors. Develop framework and lead training of all branch and department leaders in campaign planning/execution, storytelling, volunteer engagement, and building a culture of philanthropy. Coordinate staff‑giving initiatives and encourage broad organizational participation in fundraising efforts. Maintain a visible and collaborative presence across YMCA branches and programs. Fundraising Communications and Impact Storytelling Partner With The Marketing Department To Develop Annual Campaign messaging Cases for support Donor appeals Sponsorship packages Proposals and presentations Impact reports Donor updates Digital fundraising content Event‑related fundraising materials Volunteer resources Ensure fundraising communications are donor‑centered, accurate, compelling, mission‑aligned, and consistent with YMCA brand standards. Collaborate with program staff to identify stories, outcomes, and impact data that strengthen donor engagement and philanthropic support. Fundraising Events and Revenue Strategy Lead fundraising and sponsorship strategy for designated YMCA signature fundraising events and mission‑focused initiatives. Develop sponsorship inventories, revenue goals, solicitation strategies, recognition plans, and stewardship activities. Cultivate event sponsors while enhancing donor engagement and sponsor experiences associated with fundraising events. Data Management and Reporting Maintain accurate and complete donor, prospect, solicitation, pledge, sponsorship, and stewardship records in the YMCA’s donor management system. Establish procedures for recording donor interactions, assignments, next steps, proposals, commitments, and stewardship activity. Monitor donor data integrity and work with appropriate staff to correct incomplete or inaccurate records. Develop dashboards and regular reports that measure: Annual Campaign progress Revenue by source Donor acquisition Donor retention Donor upgrades Average gift Solicitation results Corporate sponsorship revenue Volunteer and board participation Stewardship Analyze fundraising trends and recommend strategic changes to the Chief Mission Advancement Officer. Coordinate with the accounting team to reconcile fundraising records, pledges, payments, restrictions, and financial reports. Community Engagement and Representation Represent the YMCA at community meetings, donor events, networking functions, and speaking engagements. Build and strengthen relationships with businesses, civic organizations, community leaders, and prospective supporters whose interests align with the YMCA's mission. Serve as an ambassador for the YMCA by promoting its mission, strategic priorities, case for support, and community impact while identifying new philanthropic opportunities. Departmental and Organizational Collaboration Collaborate closely with the Chief Mission Advancement Officer to execute the Association's comprehensive advancement strategy. Partner with marketing, accounting, executive directors, and program leaders to support fundraising initiatives, donor engagement, communications, sponsorship fulfillment, and organizational storytelling. Participate in Mission Advancement planning, cross‑functional initiatives, and other responsibilities that advance the YMCA's strategic priorities. #J-18808-Ljbffr YMCA of the USA