Vice President of Philanthropy

Job Description

The Davis Phinney Foundation helps people with Parkinson’s live well today. Founded in 2004, the Foundation provides education, practical tools, programs, and community connections that help people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners take an active role in their well-being. Its work also supports research focused on improving quality of life.

The Foundation reaches people through resources such as Every Victory Counts manuals, educational events and webinars, its Ambassador network, and programs including Pedaling for Parkinson’s. Across these efforts, the Foundation brings together people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, families, health professionals, and supporters around a shared belief: people need meaningful support and opportunities to live well today.

Position Summary

The Davis Phinney Foundation seeks an accomplished fundraiser and organizational builder to serve as its Vice President, Philanthropy. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Vice President will lead the Foundation’s comprehensive fundraising program and take responsibility for the strategy, people, relationships, and operations of the Philanthropy department.

The Foundation is positioned to pursue ambitious growth in philanthropic revenue and impact. The Vice President will play a central role in defining what that growth requires and building the capacity to achieve it. This leader will strengthen and diversify revenue streams, develop a robust pipeline of donors and partners, and create the team structure, systems, and donor experience needed to support increasingly ambitious goals.

The Vice President will personally cultivate, solicit, and steward significant supporters while leading the team responsible for individual giving, major gifts, foundation support, corporate partnerships, peer-to-peer fundraising, events, and special initiatives. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President will work closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and colleagues across the Foundation to connect philanthropic opportunity with organizational priorities.

This position offers a hybrid work environment spending time in the Louisville, CO office. The Vice President should expect to and be comfortable with traveling domestically up to 20%.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Leadership

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• Develop and lead a multiyear development strategy that advances the Foundation’s mission, strengthens its financial position, and supports its long-term growth.
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• Establish annual and multiyear revenue goals, fundraising priorities, and actionable plans across all major sources of philanthropic support.
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• Oversee individual giving, major and principal gifts, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, peer-to-peer fundraising, events, and special initiatives as a coordinated revenue program.
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• Assess the performance and potential of each revenue stream, making informed decisions about where the Foundation should invest staff time and resources.
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• Build a strong pipeline of prospective donors and partners through effective identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
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• Build and execute a strategy for significant revenue growth, with clear milestones and regular assessment of the team, systems, and investments needed to support it.
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• Ensure fundraising priorities are connected to the Foundation’s programs, strategic goals, and the needs of the Parkinson’s community.
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Major Gifts and Donor Relationships

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• Serve as a lead fundraiser for the Foundation, personally managing a portfolio of major donors and high-potential prospects.
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• Develop individualized strategies for significant and transformational gifts, including thoughtful engagement of the Executive Director and Board members when appropriate.
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• Lead donor conversations and solicitations with confidence, sound judgment, and a clear understanding of each supporter’s interests.
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• Deepen relationships with current donors while opening doors to new individuals, foundations, and partners whose interests align with the Foundation’s mission.
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• Establish a consistent approach to stewardship that communicates impact, honors donor intent, and encourages long-term commitment.
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• Represent the Foundation at donor meetings, events, and select conferences, building trust with supporters and credibility for its work.
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Development Department Leadership

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• Lead, supervise, and develop the Development team, setting clear expectations for individual performance and collective results.
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• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
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• Coach staff on donor strategy, relationship management, solicitations, and stewardship; support their professional growth and sound decision-making.
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• Build and evolve the department’s structure, responsibilities, and staffing to meet the demands of the Foundation’s next stage of growth.
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• Establish effective practices for portfolio management, prospect review, work planning, and follow-through.
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• Ensure the team has the processes, tools, and support needed to deliver an excellent donor experience and meet its commitments.
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• Work closely with colleagues across the Foundation so that fundraising plans reflect program priorities and donor commitments can be fulfilled effectively.
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Executive Leadership and Board Partnership

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• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director on fundraising, external relationships, organizational priorities, and opportunities for growth.
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• Bring a development perspective to senior leadership discussions while taking responsibility for decisions that affect the Foundation as a whole.
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• Partner with the Executive Director on key donor and partner relationships, with clear ownership and coordinated engagement.
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• Work with the Board of Directors to strengthen its participation in giving, introductions, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
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• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, partnering with its chair to establish priorities, prepare agendas, and move decisions into action.
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• Equip Board members with the context, preparation, and support they need to participate meaningfully in fundraising.
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• Report candidly and clearly to senior leadership and the Board on results, forecasts, emerging opportunities, and risks.
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Development Operations and Financial Management

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• Develop and manage the Development department budget, aligning spending and staffing decisions with fundraising priorities and expected results.
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• Oversee revenue forecasting and provide reliable assessments of progress against goals.
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• Ensure the Foundation’s CRM and related systems support accurate records, effective portfolio management, timely stewardship, and useful reporting.
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• Establish and monitor meaningful performance measures, including donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, solicitation activity, and pipeline health.
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• Use data and staff insights to identify obstacles, improve execution, and adjust strategy.
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• Strengthen the policies, processes, and institutional knowledge that support an effective and sustainable fundraising operation.
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Candidate Qualifications

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• At least 10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit development or philanthropy, including substantial responsibility for major or principal gifts.
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• At least five years of senior leadership experience with responsibility for fundraising strategy, staff management, and revenue growth.
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• A demonstrated record of personally securing significant gifts and building enduring relationships with donors and partners.
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• Experience leading a comprehensive fundraising program across multiple revenue streams, with the ability to set priorities and allocate resources effectively.
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• Proven ability to hire, manage, coach, and develop fundraising professionals and to build a team that delivers consistent results.
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• Experience strengthening fundraising systems, donor pipelines, performance management, and operational practices in an organization of growing scale or complexity.
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• Strong financial and analytical skills, including experience with budgets, revenue forecasting, fundraising metrics, and CRM systems.
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• The ability to work effectively with an Executive Director, senior colleagues, and Board members, bringing both independent judgment and a collaborative approach.
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• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to make a compelling case for support and engage people with differing perspectives.
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• A leadership style marked by integrity, accountability, curiosity, resilience, and adaptability; the ability to lead effectively through growth and change; and respect for the lived experiences of people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.
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• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience; advanced degree preferred.
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• Ability to travel domestically up to 20% and occasionally work outside standard business hours for donor and organizational events.
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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• During events, must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
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• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds at a time.
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• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate donor and organizational events.
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STATEMENT AND POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITING

This job description in no way states or implies that the position duties and responsibilities described are the only responsibilities involved in the position. The employee is required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other duties by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties and responsibilities.

The Batten Group is conducting this search on behalf of the Davis Phinney Foundation. All candidates will be considered based on their qualifications and ability to perform the responsibilities of the position.

Davis Phinney Foundation is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to promote inclusiveness in everything we do. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Davis Phinney Foundation is also committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and see. We will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.