Vice President of Development

Description

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Founded in 1980, Urban Resource Institute (URI) is the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter services and a leader in supporting homeless families. Operating 24 shelters across New York City, URI provides 3,700 beds nightly in purpose-built shelters that offer trauma-informed services including counseling, childcare, case management, and more. URI’s Justice Initiatives extend support beyond shelter, offering programs in economic empowerment, legal advocacy, youth prevention, and abusive partner intervention. URI also develops permanent affordable housing as part of its long-term commitment to safety, stability, and healing.

The Vice President of Development at URI, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Development, plays a pivotal role in executing URI's fundraising strategy. This multifaceted position involves overseeing systems, structures & moves management strategy across all funding sources, including grant writing, event fundraising, foundation relations, individual giving, in-kind giving, and volunteer engagement. URI seeks a seasoned leader with a strong background in fundraising operations and strategy to spearhead this effort. In addition to guiding the development team, the Vice President will personally focus on long-term fundraising strategy and maintaining a pipeline of funders, particularly within all programs, while also managing brand partnerships and an annual fundraiser.

Key attributes for success include exemplary management skills, the ability to mentor staff, adept interpersonal skills, proven experience in relationship development, and effective cross-organizational collaboration. The ideal candidate will be adept at building a burgeoning private fundraising program, demonstrating a track record of securing new donors. Oversight responsibilities encompass a team of four fundraisers, including a Senior Director of Institutional Giving, Director of Institutional Giving, Development Manager, and Director of Grant s Administration. Additionally, supervision of a shared admin supporting development activities is integral to this role.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Management:

• Supervises the Development team and ensures that team members are coached and developed.

• Leads development of private donor strategy, working in collaboration with development team members and the SVP of Development.

• Serves on the URI Senior Management team. Contributes to broader organizational goals and serves on intra-organization Committees as requested.

• Ensures that the Development team has clear goals. Provides team members with the guidance and support that is needed to be effective in their respective roles.

• Works with URI program leaders to effectively position URI’s programs.

• Cultivates a culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Relationship Strategy & Management:

• Works with the Director of Development to lead prospecting of corporate and foundation prospects. Prospecting to align with Strategic Plan goals, organizational work-plan goals, and capital needs, as determined by CDMO in collaboration with leadership.  

• Support development, launch and of Friends of URI, event committee s , and the Junior Board in collaboration with team members.

• Develops and implements engagement strategies for existing and new institutional supporters.

• Works with staff to implement and grow the URI Celebration. This includes supervising fundraising strategy, supporting honoree recruitment, and supervising the overall execution of the URI Celebration.  

• Lead relationship manager for URI Justice Initiatives programs.

• Responsible for strategy development, in partnership with SVP of Development.

• Responsible for strategy implementation through the supervision of the development team.  

• Works with SVP of Marketing and Communications ( MarCom ) to develop Cause Marketing Campaigns, including working towards securing Corporate Partners. 

• Recommend, explore, and pursue opportunities for leveraging corporate fundraisers (e.g., corporate runs) designating URI as a beneficiary. 

• Prepares background summary for prospects and donors in advance of meeting. Prepares leadership for visits and meetings.

• Manages moves management for corporate prospects in the donor database. 

• Ensures strong case support is developed for core areas of fundraising.

Fundraising/Grants:

• Supervises development staff in the writing and assembly of proposals and reports to funders and donor prospects.

• Uses CRM database to manage relationships, reports due, pending proposals, and prospects.

• Provides guidance and feedback on proposal development and supports the Development team in the creation of proposals, including addressing internal barriers to success. 

• Works with Development and Program teams to align URI needs with grant opportunities.

• Ensures that a full pipeline of vetted prospects has been identified and that there is an engagement strategy in place for all donors. 

• Promotes steward with funders through customized communication.

  Messaging/Visibility  :

• Works with MarComm to develop web and collateral content that promotes corporate engagement opportunities. 

• Works with corporate partners and URI MarComm to ensure donors seeking recognition receive appropriate visibility, in alignment with grant contracts and award letters. 

• Ensures corporate partners have URI logos, messaging and collateral as needed for their promotion of URI partnership. 

  Other :

• of the CRM system and ensures that the CRM is maintained and optimized to support the team’s effectiveness.

• Ensure timely and accurate acknowledgement of donors.

• Attend workshops, conferences, events, as requested to keep current in the fields of fundraising, domestic violence and homelessness.   

• Complete other duties as requested based on department, organizational need, and as directed by CDO. 

  SPECIFICATIONS FOR EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of ten years in an institutional fundraising role, and experience with the New York fundraising landscape. Experience with corporate and foundations fundraising.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills and strong attention to detail.

• May require occasional work outside established working hours, including evening events.

• Passion for URI’s mission and core values.

• Record of accomplishment in successfully prospecting, engaging, cultivating, and closing gifts from foundations and corporations.

• Exceptional relationship building, communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a diverse range of audiences. Demonstrated ability to manage and steward donor relationships.

• Ability to collaborate with other departments in a professional, respectful manner to submit Letters of Inquiry, proposals, and reports on time and accurately.

• Capability of working independently and seeking guidance as needed by Supervisor.

• Ability to engage supervisors to resolve any challenges in completing projects.

• Ability to collaborate with coworkers who have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

• Ability to multi-task and prioritize within a fast-paced working environment.

• Experience with Salesforce, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams), Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, Monday.com, etc.

  SPECIFICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Works in an office environment that is well-lit and well-ventilated.

• May require prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift 10 pounds at times and occasionally reach and bend.

SALARY: $150,000/yr - $170,000/yr

At URI we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment. We actively seek a diverse candidate pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. At URI we offer equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.

Qualifications

Education

Preferred

• Bachelors or better

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights ( notice from the Department of Labor.