Director, Philanthropy

At Food Bank, we believe that our greatest resources are human! Nowhere is that seen better than in the faces of the individuals giving shape and texture to our mission daily: our employees or “Food Bankers.” We are an intentionally diverse team whose talents, perspectives and personalities are bonded by a true belief and passion that no one should be hungry in our country and certainly not in the world’s greatest city. Successful Food Bankers focus their energies on finding innovative and sustainable ways to serve our neighbors in collaboration and solidarity with our network of partners, members, and supporters.

Applicants Local to NYC area are strongly preferred for this role. Must be local and able to commute with ease to NYC. The future Food Banker will travel to donors for community engagement events, presentations, meetings, and special events.

The salary range for this role is $130K - $140K.

Primary Responsibilities

The Director, Philanthropy will:

• Collaborate with senior leadership and colleagues across the organization to influence and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that increases revenue to support Food Bank’s strategic direction and mission to end hunger in New York City;
• Foster a culture of gratitude across the organization and within its diverse constituent groups and sustain support Food Bank’s core programs and services;
• Maintain a tiered portfolio of around 200 major donors and prospects by creating and implementing strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors with the capacity to make a minimum of $25,000 (5-figure gifts) up to 6- and 7-figure leadership gifts;
• Conduct face-to-face meetings with donors and prospects annually through one-on-one meetings, site visits/tours (exclusive of events);
• Build annual donor-centric and customized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for each assigned donor;
• Strategize on portfolio assignments and fundraising goals to maximize gifts to Food Bank;
• In tandem with senior leadership, assist in developing robust strategies designed to move donors through appropriate giving/portfolio stages (i.e. major gifts to principal gifts);
• Create proposals and presentations for major individual donors;
• Ensure that senior staff are supported in their donor relations work by developing strategy briefs and leading prep meetings;
• Work in close partnership with Institutional Giving, Corporate Partnerships, Volunteer Engagement, Stewardship and Events colleagues to refer or share relationships by offering multiple channels for engagement;
• Help produce cultivation and stewardship events for prospects and donors at the mid- and major levels;
• Maintain donor profiles in database, as required by management, that accurately reflect activity and performance to assist in the preparation of organizational budget as needed; and
• Represent the Food Bank at public functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Extensive experience in fundraising with a strong emphasis on major giving; ideally within New York City’s philanthropic landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and close gifts of $25,000+ from individuals, family foundations, and offices, with a proven track record in designing and executing strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, converting them into strategic partnerships.
• Extensive experience in successfully managing a donor portfolio and consistently advancing relationships towards desired outcomes and objectives.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills with the stature, credibility, and diplomacy needed to effectively cultivate and maintain relationships with high-level donors, Food Bank leadership, and peers and colleagues across the organization.
• Ability to analyze donor data and trends to inform strategy, along with exceptional verbal and written communication skills for engaging donors effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with little supervision, exercise sound judgment, and effectively navigate a complex organizational environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum Required: Bachelor’s Degree
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising with high-net-worth individuals.
• Preferred: Advanced degree. CFRE or other specialized certification/designation is beneficial.

Skills

• Proficiency in communicating complex issues with diverse audiences and inspiring their engagement and support.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and high level of emotional intelligence.
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
• Highly self-motivated, accountable, and able to make decisions independently.
• Ability to think strategically and contextually and to anticipate the needs and expectations of manager and other executives.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple, concurrent tasks, exhibit flexibility, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and present data effectively, make decisions, and align efforts with priorities and opportunities.
• Acts with tact and discretion, respecting confidentiality and proprietary information.

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency with RE NXT or similar CRM system is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of relevant prospect research and philanthropic analytical tools beneficial.

Featured Benefits

• Competitive Health Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Generous paid time off (PTO, Holidays, Birthday Off, Volunteer Time, 4-Day Work Weeks during the Summer & more!)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care Accounts (DCA) & Commuter Reimbursement Accounts (CRA)
• Learning & Development Opportunities (Robust LinkedIn Learning library, Lunch & Learn Sessions, internal employee development & more)
• EAP, wellness and mental health resources
• Discounted staff perks (e.g., movie tickets, gym memberships, travel)

People-First Culture

At Food Bank for New York City, we pride ourselves on having a People-First Culture, our people are our greatest strength. In addition to our benefits, we offer employee engagement opportunities such as our culture committee, annual organization celebrations and more!