Senior Director of Donor Engagement

Senior Director of Donor Engagement

Rochester, NY ( • Association Office

Job Type

Full-time

Description

$90,000 to $100,000 Annually and Generous Benefits!

Under the direction of the Chief Development Officer, the Senior Director of Donor Engagement is a senior fundraising role responsible for securing major and leadership-level gifts that support the mission and long-term strength of the YMCA of Greater Rochester. This position manages a significant portfolio of individual prospects and plays a key role in building meaningful donor relationships that lead to multi-year commitments and transformational support.

The Senior Director of Donor Engagement partners closely with Association leadership, branch Executive Directors and the Development team to identify prospects, grow the donor pipeline and support the ongoing work of the YMCA through thoughtful cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Major Gift Strategy & Portfolio Management

· Manage a robust portfolio of major gift prospects with defined goals for cultivation, solicitation, and individualized stewardship.

· Develop and execute tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies that result in five-, six-, and seven-figure commitments.

· Participate in management meetings to evaluate prospect strategies, review gifts in progress, and determine next steps toward successful solicitations.

· Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through research, wealth screening tools, and collaboration with branch and program staff.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

· Conduct regular donor visits, calls, and strategic follow-ups to deepen relationships and close gifts.

· Provide thoughtful, timely, and personalized stewardship in partnership with the Donor Relations and Stewardship team.

· Build long-term relationships that strengthen donor commitment and lifetime engagement.

· Support annual campaigns and event-related fundraising initiatives as assigned.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

· Partner with Executive Directors to advance major gift efforts across branches and programs by:

o Understanding funding priorities and aligning donor interests with strategic initiatives.

o Developing long-term engagement strategies and identifying meaningful involvement opportunities.

· Serve as a leader and mentor within the Development team, sharing best practices and fostering a culture of philanthropy across the Association.

Reporting, Systems & Compliance

· Maintain accurate and timely records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, tracking portfolio activity, donor movement, and revenue projections.

· Prepare recurring and ad hoc portfolio reports, forecasts, and major gift updates for leadership.

· Ensure all fundraising activities comply with YMCA gift acceptance policies and ethical standards.

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

· 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably within a mission-driven organization, with a demonstrated record of managing a large and diverse portfolio and securing major gifts of $10,000 and above, including five- and six-figure commitments.

· Proven ability to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors using research, wealth screening tools, and strategic community partnerships.

· Demonstrated success building and sustaining a strong donor pipeline and consistently achieving defined revenue goals.

· Experience partnering with senior leadership, board members, and volunteers to develop and execute donor engagement and fundraising strategies.

· Strong ability to inspire philanthropic investment by clearly articulating mission impact and aligning donor interests with organizational priorities.

· Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and listening skills, with the ability to build trust and influence diverse donors, volunteers, and colleagues.

· Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret donor data, assess portfolio performance, prioritize strategically, and exercise sound judgment.

· Highly organized and results-oriented, with excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

· Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge or comparable CRM system, with a commitment to data integrity, accurate forecasting, and performance tracking.

· Knowledge of the local philanthropic landscape and community networks.

· Demonstrated accountability, initiative, and commitment to continuous improvement and team collaboration.

· Ability to build authentic, inclusive relationships across diverse communities and embody the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

· Ability to work occasional evenings or early mornings for donor meetings and events.

· Ability to travel regularly to branches and camp locations in support of relationship-building and fundraising efforts

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

· Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.

· Ability to sit, stand and move within an office environment.

· Ability to occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.

· Must be able to travel from location to location