United Way of Southern Nevada - Senior Director of Philanthropy

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Philanthropy will lead the day-to-day fundraising operations of the Fund Development department in alignment with the strategy established by the Chief Advancement & Communications Officer. This role is responsible for implementing strategies that foster strong, lasting relationships while supporting the achievement of United Way of Southern Nevada's fundraising and engagement goals.

This position provides leadership and oversight to key operational functions within the Fund Development team, including revenue forecasting, expense management, fundraising analytics, donor stewardship systems, CRM optimization, and team accountability.

The Senior Director of Philanthropy will monitor departmental revenue and expense performance, maintain monthly fundraising projections and cash flow reporting, and prepare financial and fundraising performance reports to support executive decision-making and strategic planning.

In partnership with the Database Administrator, this role will support the development of CRM reports, dashboards, workflow efficiencies, and automation processes that strengthen donor engagement, reporting accuracy, and operational effectiveness across the Fund Development department.

The Senior Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for leading, coaching, and developing a high-performing team of fundraising professionals focused on donor cultivation, stewardship, relationship management, and revenue growth.

Additionally, this position manages a portfolio of corporate and individual donor relationships and serves as a key representative of the organization in the community. The ideal candidate will possess strong managerial and operational leadership experience, exceptional relationship-building skills, financial and analytical acumen, and a deep commitment to the mission of United Way of Southern Nevada.

This outward-facing, results-oriented role requires a high-energy professional with strong attention to detail who is genuinely comfortable and competent in relationship development, donor engagement, strategic execution, and leading teams toward measurable fundraising success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF POSITION

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed below:

• Work closely with the Chief Advancement & Communications Officer, CEO, senior leadership team, and Board to implement and monitor strategies that support organizational fundraising and engagement goals.
• Lead the day-to-day fundraising operations of the Fund Development department, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, operational efficiency, accountability, and strong team performance.
• Oversee a team of Donor and Corporate Relationship Managers and Specialists. Responsible for attracting, hiring, coaching, developing, and retaining high-performing team members.
• Lead and inspire staff to successfully execute revenue and operational goals while fostering a collaborative, mission-focused culture.
• Analyze fundraising and donor data to identify trends, opportunities, and strategies that increase corporate giving, major gifts, workplace campaigns, donor retention, and community engagement.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Develop the Fund Development department's annual revenue and expense budget in collaboration with the Chief Advancement & Communications Officer.
• Monitor departmental financial performance and provide forecasting, analysis, and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
• Maintain monthly fundraising projections, pipeline forecasting, and cash flow reporting to support organizational planning and revenue management.
• Prepare and present regular fundraising and financial performance reports that identify progress toward goals, forecast accuracy, donor trends, opportunities, and gaps to target.
• Work closely with the Database Administrator to develop, refine, and optimize CRM reports, dashboards, and data analytics tools that support donor cultivation, stewardship, forecasting, and team accountability.
• Collaborate with the Database Administrator to streamline workflows and automate CRM functions, donor communications, reporting processes, and operational tasks to improve efficiency and data integrity.
• Ensure all donor, revenue, stewardship, and fundraising activity data is accurately maintained within the CRM database system.
• In partnership with the Chief Advancement & Communications Officer, develop and execute donor stewardship strategies to ensure donors and sponsors feel valued, informed, and connected to the impact of their contributions. Stewardship efforts may include in-person meetings, written correspondence, calls, presentations, and digital communications.
• Ensure stewardship communications and relationship touchpoints occur consistently across assigned portfolios and throughout the Fund Development team.
• Responsible for ensuring team members are meeting established activity metrics, stewardship expectations, fundraising goals, and performance standards.
• Supervise team member performance by providing coaching, accountability, professional development, and regular performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to develop fundraising materials, donor communications, campaign tools, recognition strategies, and engagement opportunities that strengthen donor relationships and organizational visibility.
• Manage a portfolio of corporate and individual donor relationships, serving as a strategic relationship manager and ambassador for United Way of Southern Nevada.
• Develop and execute annual account plans, fundraising strategies, and engagement activities designed to increase revenue, strengthen donor retention, and deepen community investment in UWSN's mission.
• Represent United Way of Southern Nevada professionally in the community and effectively communicate the organization's mission, impact, and funding priorities to a wide range of audiences.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of organizational priorities and departmental success.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirements include:

Education, Skills, Experience, and Training Requirements

• A minimum of eight years of fundraising experience
• Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Effective oral and written communication skills – including public speaking – with the ability to relate to diverse groups of individuals or organizations effectively. Ability to communicate to the Board of Directors and lead Fund Development Committee strategies and meetings.
• Ability to lead strategically and execute a plan.
• Ability to take the initiative and be creative in thinking and derive solutions.
• High-energy individual who exhibits a positive outlook who can manage ambiguity and change.
• Adheres to donor confidentiality standards and ethics.
• Manages expectations of internal team members effectively and exhibits a strong desire and aptitude to be part of a team environment.
• Commitment to the excellence of the mission of UWSN.

Technical Knowledge and Equipment

• Proficient computer skills including ability to type a minimum of 45 WPM, and has a comfortable working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiar with CRM systems.
• The incumbent in this position may operate any/all of the following equipment: telephone, cell phone, fax machine, computer, printer and related equipment, copy machine, audio-visual equipment, calculator.
• Must have a vehicle, valid driver's license, and automobile insurance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The incumbent may have significant local travel (50% - 75%) via personal vehicle to client sites, workplace campaigns, community meetings, etc. The environment for this position when not traveling is in an office that is clean and comfortable. It may include some minor annoyances such as noise, odors, drafts, etc.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

In the course of performing this work, the incumbent will spend substantial time standing, sitting, speaking, and listening. This position requires regular lifting and/or movement of up to 10 pounds and occasionally lifting and/or movement of up to 25 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

To apply, submit resume and cover letter to Karen Alonso at View email address on ziprecruiter.com

UWSN's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion –

We believe that every person in Southern Nevada must have equal access to solving community problems.

We welcome the unique perspectives and experiences that individuals bring to advancing our mission and progressing our fight for the success of every person in our community.

We take the broadest possible view of diversity understanding that everyone has different values, beliefs and lived experiences. We value the intersectionality, the interconnected fabric of experiences including but not limited to race, class, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, and disability, that develops each person's unique identity.

We commit to entering partnerships and programs that address the inequities keeping Nevadans from success.

We dedicate ourselves to using these principles for our business and our communities and invite others to join us in uniting for Nevada's success!

Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.