Director of Philanthropy

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Director of Philanthropy , serves as a senior leader within the VNA Health Foundation and shares responsibility for strategic leadership, operational excellence, and performance management for the Foundation.

Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, the Director of Foundation, and the Director of Communications & Marketing, this position collaborates in developing and executing the Foundation's annual strategic development plan while providing leadership across corporate partnerships, institutional giving, grants, annual appeals, planned giving, legacy and bequest giving, and Foundation operations.

This position serves as an operational leader for the Foundation, establishing measurable fundraising goals, departmental performance metrics, operational systems, and accountability that support sustainable philanthropic growth. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Philanthropy collaborates across the organization to strengthen philanthropy as a strategic organizational priority while advancing VNA Health's mission and long-term financial sustainability.

As a small but highly collaborative Foundation team, this position embraces an "all hands-on deck" philosophy and actively supports Foundation events, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, and departmental initiatives to ensure collective success.

The Director of Philanthropy demonstrates respect for and actively promotes the mission, values, and vision of VNA Health.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

1. Collaboratively develops and executes the Foundation's annual Strategic Development Plan, establishing measurable fundraising goals, departmental priorities, performance metrics, and long-term philanthropic strategies aligned with VNA Health's mission and organizational priorities.
2. Collaboratively establishes annual fundraising dashboards, key performance indicators, and accountability measures while regularly evaluating results and implementing strategies for continuous improvement.
3. Partners with the Director of Foundation, and the President & CEO to identify emerging philanthropic opportunities and position the Foundation for sustainable long-term growth

Strategic Revenue Growth

1. Leads the strategic growth and performance of VNA Health's Corporate Giving and Partnership Program by developing meaningful corporate relationships, expanding sponsorship opportunities, cultivating business leaders, and creating long-term strategic partnerships that increase philanthropic investment.
2. Leads the continued growth of the Foundation’s giving societies through comprehensive planned giving and legacy giving strategies designed to increase legacy society membership, documented bequest intentions, annual giving, donor stewardship, and long-term philanthropic sustainability.
3. Provides strategic leadership for the Foundation's grant program by overseeing the Development Project Manager - Grants & Appeals, and collaboratively identifying, cultivating, and securing new foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities while ensuring outstanding proposal quality, stewardship, compliance, and reporting.
4. Oversee annual appeals, institutional giving, planned giving, legacy giving, and assigned fundraising initiatives while continuously identifying opportunities to diversify and strengthen Foundation revenue.

Foundation Operations

1. Serves as the operational leader of the Foundation, ensuring effective management of Foundation systems, processes, policies, and operational infrastructure.
2. Oversee DonorPerfect administration, donor data integrity, reporting, gift administration, prospect management, stewardship documentation, and campaign reporting.
3. Partners with Finance to oversee Foundation financial operations, including donor recognition, gift reconciliation, restricted fund reporting, month-end processes, estate administration, planned giving documentation, and related financial stewardship responsibilities.
4. Develop operational procedures, reporting systems, and workflow improvements that increase efficiency, accountability, and donor relations and service to donors.

Leadership & Governance

1. Provides direct leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for assigned Foundation staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on accountability, innovation, teamwork, and service excellence.
2. Provides team support to the Development Committee, Foundation Board committees, and other governance committees as assigned.
3. Partners with the Director of Foundation , and the President & CEO to prepare Board reports, fundraising dashboards, strategic presentations, committee materials, and governance communications that support informed decision-making and organizational stewardship.

Donor & Community Engagement

1. Builds and strengthens relationships with donors, corporations, foundations, professional advisors, volunteers, and community leaders while representing VNA Health throughout the community.
2. Collaborates with the Director of Foundation, and President & CEO to cultivate transformational philanthropic relationships and ensure exceptional donor stewardship across every giving channel.
3. Serves as a strategic partner to the Director of Communications & Marketing to develop integrated fundraising campaigns, stewardship initiatives, impact reporting, storytelling, digital fundraising, and donor communications.
4. Supports Foundation events, stewardship activities, volunteer engagement, and department initiatives while embracing an "all hands-on deck" approach that reflects VNA Health's collaborative culture.
5. Performs other related duties as assigned.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this job description.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Director of Philanthropy is accountable for the strategic leadership, measurable growth, and operational excellence of assigned Foundation programs, including:

• Collaborative development and successful execution of the Foundation Strategic Development Plan.
• Achievement of annual fundraising goals for Corporate Giving, Grants, Annual Appeals, Planned Giving, Legacy Giving, and assigned fundraising initiatives.
• Growth of VNA Health's Corporate Giving and Partnership Program through increased corporate revenue, new strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and long-term business relationships.
• Growth of the Giving Societies through increased legacy society membership, planned gifts, documented bequest intentions, and meaningful stewardship of legacy donors.
• Growth and performance of the Foundation's grant program through expanded funding opportunities, successful grant awards, collaborative leadership of the Development Project Manager - Grants & Appeals, and achievement of annual grant revenue goals.
• Development of measurable departmental KPIs, fundraising dashboards, pipeline reporting, and quarterly performance reviews.
• Operational excellence through strategic management of DonorPerfect, Foundation financial processes, donor records, reporting, and departmental operations.
• Effective supervision, coaching, and development of assigned staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Exceptional Foundation Board and Development Committee support, governance coordination, executive reporting, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong strategic partnership with the Director of Foundation , and the Director of Communications & Marketing to ensure coordinated fundraising, communications, stewardship, and donor engagement strategies.
• Advancement of VNA Health's mission and vision through innovation, operational excellence, collaboration, and sustainable philanthropic growth.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor's degree in related field.
2. A minimum of eight years of experience in fundraising, including: events, grants, direct mail & major gift solicitation.
3. A minimum of five years of experience managing a fundraising department, including: responsibility for budget oversight, development of strategic fundraising goals and directing staff to implement an annual campaign, planned giving and special campaigns, as needed.
4. Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise, direct, and mentor operational personnel.
5. Excellent communications skills and public relations skills.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with donors, organization personnel, and the community.
7. Demonstrated autonomy, organization, assertiveness, flexibility and cooperation in performing job responsibilities.
8. Advanced time management and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic environment.
9. Licensed driver with insured automobile - in accordance with state and/or organization requirements.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Ability to lift 50 lbs.
2. Ability to push/pull 50 lbs.
3. Ability to stoop, bend, and squat.
4. Ability to walk up one flight of stairs.
5. Ability to walk one mile.
6. Ability to sit for one hour, minimum.
7. Visual and audio acuity.

STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE :

VNA Health Evaluation tool.