Director of Advancement

Job Description

Job Description: Since 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has provided children and teens, ages 6 to 18, with a safe place to learn and grow during non-school hours. Today, more than 15,000 young people call our 39 Clubs across five Central Florida counties home. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults. Every day after school and all summer long, our members walk through the blue doors at little or no cost to their families and find academic support, enrichment, and caring adult role models who believe in what they can become. How we do it matters as much as what we do. Our Clubs deliver quality programming grounded in evidence across six core pillars of focus: education and career development; character and leadership development; sports, fitness, and recreation; health and life skills; the arts; and mental health. That work is reinforced by practices informed by trauma research, mental and emotional wellness support, and an unwavering commitment to safety. The results show up in graduation rates, college and vocational school enrollment, grades, and young people who tell us they feel emotionally safe at their Club. As part of the national Future Ready movement, we are growing bigger, better, and bolder, and we know none of it happens without exceptional people. That is why we invest in our team through comprehensive training, leader development, competitive compensation and benefits, and a workplace culture built on excellence, belonging, and accountability. If you want your work to change the trajectory of a child's life, there is a place for you here. Great futures start here, and they start with you. TITLE: Director of Advancement PERFORMANCE PROFILE SOURCE: Individual Contributor DEPARTMENT: Advancement REPORTS TO: VP of Strategic & Foundational Giving FLSA Status: Exempt WORKER CATEGORY: Full-Time EMPLOYMENT FUNCTION: Professional POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Advancement serves as a strategic front-line fundraiser responsible for developing, implementing, and growing the organization’s individual and major gifts program to secure increased philanthropic support. This leader manages a robust portfolio of high-net-worth individual donors and prospects, leads donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and designs strategies to advance annual, major, and campaign gifts. In partnership with senior leadership, marketing, and volunteer committees, the Director aligns fundraising strategies with the organization’s mission, ensuring donor engagement, recognition, and measurable impact on organizational goals. This role often partners cross-functionally and requires strong analytical, communication, and relationship management skills to deliver sustained revenue growth and strategic donor engagement efforts. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Growth: Develop and execute comprehensive individual and major giving strategies that drive revenue growth, expand the donor pipeline, and increase annual and campaign gifts. Set ambitious goals and performance metrics; regularly analyze results and refine strategies for donor acquisition, retention, and gift upgrades. Partner with leadership, campaigns, volunteer committees, and marketing to align fundraising priorities, donor messaging, and case-for-support materials with organizational objectives. Apply advanced project management skills to organize, prioritize, and execute complex fundraising initiatives, ensuring that all donor strategies, campaigns, and stewardship activities are delivered on time, within scope, and drive superior results across multiple projects and deadlines. Donor Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship: Build, manage, and steward an expanding portfolio of individual and major donors, proactively advancing relationships through personalized outreach, meetings, proposals, and events. Design, contribute to, and implement creative donor engagement initiatives such as annual campaigns, giving societies, and donor recognition opportunities. Collaborate with and mentor staff, volunteers, or interns supporting donor engagement and research activities. Ensure every donor receives a timely, personalized acknowledgment of their gift and is consistently engaged through follow-up communications that highlight the tangible impact of their support, including impact updates, thank-you notes, and invitations to exclusive events, so each donor feels genuinely valued and connected to the organization’s mission. Data Management and Analysis: Oversee donor tracking, moves management, and progress reporting using established CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce or similar). Prepare and present regular reports, dashboards, and revenue forecasts for leadership and team performance scorecard. Use data analytics and research to identify prospects, refine cultivation tactics, and prioritize high-impact donor relationships. Events and Donor Experiences: Partner with marketing, campaigns, and events teams to integrate donor experiences into signature fundraising events (galas, golf tournaments, community performances, cultivation gatherings, program tours, etc.). Identify opportunities for exclusive donor events and personalized stewardship touchpoints, ensuring every donor interaction reinforces campaign and organizational priorities. Cross-Functional and External Collaboration: Collaborate with program, finance, and communications teams to leverage impact data, storytelling, and outcomes for donor proposals and engagement. Represent the BGCCF at community, donor, and networking events, serving as a visible ambassador to enhance relationships and organizational reputation. Support capital campaigns, planned giving, and legacy giving initiatives in collaboration with internal partners and external advisors. Ethics & Compliance: Uphold the highest standards of ethical fundraising in all interactions, ensuring transparency, confidentiality, and compliance with industry regulations and donor intent. Model integrity, accountability, and confidentiality when handling donor information, gift agreements, and stewardship practices. Adhere to organizational policies and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Code of Ethical Standards, fostering a culture of trust and respect. Provide guidance to staff and volunteers on ethical issues, ensuring all fundraising activities support both donor interests and the organization’s mission. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Knowledge, Education, Experience & Skills) Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience and education; relevant certifications preferred. Minimum of five years’ progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, with demonstrated success in managing individual and significant gifts portfolios, closing five, six, and seven-figure gifts, and developing fundraising strategies. Proven expertise in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management for high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, or principal gift prospects. Strong strategic, analytical, and data-driven decision-making skills; able to use CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for prospect research, performance tracking, and donor management. Experience collaborating effectively with senior leaders, board members, and high-level donors. Familiarity with giving vehicles (e.g., planned giving, donor-advised funds) and major gift best practices. Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; persuasive and confident presenter able to inspire donors and stakeholders. High level of initiative, self-motivation, and accountability with the ability to manage up, work independently, and handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong organizational, project, and time-management skills, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to meet fundraising goals and deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced skills in Excel and CRM platforms. Commitment to the BGCCF’s mission, values, and youth Advancement goals. KEY ROLE COMPETENCIES: Strategic Mindset Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough donor engagement and fundraising strategies. Anticipates trends in philanthropy and donor behaviors, aligning efforts with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability. Drives Results Consistently achieves and exceeds ambitious fundraising goals, even under challenging circumstances. Demonstrates a strong bottom-line orientation, persisting in accomplishing objectives and pushing for continual donor growth and increased impact. Builds and Maintains Relationships Establishes authentic, trust-based partnerships with donors, board members, and stakeholders. Collaborates across teams to advance shared objectives, credits others for their contributions, and creates lasting connections that inspire continued philanthropy. Financial Acumen Interprets and applies an understanding of key financial indicators to make better fundraising decisions, inform donor strategies, and maximize mission impact. Understands donor motivations and giving vehicles to advise creative and tax-advantaged gift options. Communicates Effectively and Influences Delivers compelling, multi-modal communications that convey complex organizational needs in clear, donor-centered narratives. Uses persuasive arguments and storytelling to inspire donor commitment and motivate diverse audiences toward greater generosity and engagement. ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES Supervisory Responsibilities No direct reports. May occasionally supervise, train, and mentor interns, volunteers, and club members related to donor management activities. Relationships Internal: Maintains close, daily contact with Club staff (professional and volunteer), Club members, and supervisor to receive/provide information, discuss issues, explain guidelines/ instructions, instruct, and communicate project plans. External: Maintains contact with board members, families, alumni, community leaders, prospects, youth-serving professionals, club members, media contacts, vendors, consultants, organizations, and others to achieve program goals and objectives, manage costs, share information, and resolve problems. Represents the organization at donor events, cultivation gatherings, and community outreach activities. Other ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Primarily office-based with frequent donor meetings, event attendance, and occasional local or regional travel required. The position requires working in both indoor and outdoor environments of an office or club setting, which may involve exposure to varying weather conditions. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and policy manuals. Work in environments frequented by children and families, requiring adherence to safety and conduct standards that ensure a child-friendly and family-oriented atmosphere. Must be adaptable to a dynamic work schedule, including evenings to support club activities and events. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: Physically capable of performing programming activities, office, and club duties on-site, including lifting to 30 pounds, standing, sitting, or walking for extended periods, bending, and reaching. Operates a computer and other office productivity equipment such as a copy machine, phone, printer, and tablet frequently. Requires the ability to work on a computer for extended periods (8+ hours), including performing tasks that involve repetitive motion, visual focus, and fine motor skills Visual and auditory acuity to monitor the environment and ensure safety standards are maintained. Mental resilience and the ability to stay focused and effective in a busy, sometimes noisy environment. Capacity to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritize effectively. Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with children, family members, and other staff. Exposure to outdoor weather conditions (occasionally). Required to operate a motor vehicle. Pre-Employment and Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening. Continued employment is contingent upon passing randomized drug screenings as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. Full-Time Employee Benefits: Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans, including medical, dental, and vision coverage. Complementary Headspace Care and Talk Space subscriptions. Retirement Plan: Safe Harbor retirement plan 401(k) with up to 5% employer matching and 7% employer non-elective contribution. Life & LTD Insurance: Basic life insurance coverage and long-term disability insurance provided at no employee cost. Disability Insurance: Short-term disability insurance options. Paid Time Off: Vacation, Sick, Floating Holiday, 11 Paid Holidays, Bereavement Time Legal Shield and ID Shield Pet Insurance Notice to Applicants: Please note: Submission of an application does not create an obligation for BGCCF to provide individual status updates. Our hiring managers carefully review all applications received, and only candidates selected to move forward will be contacted regarding next steps. Due to the high volume of applications, BGCCF is unable to respond to emails or calls requesting updates on application status. Applicants who repeatedly contact BGCCF HR or BGCCF staff to request status updates, or who email staff members with whom they do not have an existing professional relationship solely to announce that they have applied, may be removed from consideration and have their application archived. If you have an existing professional connection with BGCCF, you are welcome to reach out to that contact directly for networking purposes. However, all candidates must still follow the formal application and selection process outlined in this posting. Department of Children and Families Level II Background Check Notice: Please see the link below to the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website. This site was implemented under the directive of House Bill 531 (2025).