The Executive Director of Financial Development at YMCA of Greater Whittier serves on the CEO’s senior leadership team and provides strategic leadership in financial development to advance the YMCAs mission through Chairman’s Round Table annual giving, government and foundation grants, endowment bequests and gifts, and capital campaigns. Position prepares, submits and manages grant proposals in support of the Y’s philanthropic endeavors. The Executive Director assists the CEO in developing an actively engaged fundraising volunteer board of directors and positions the Y as a community convener and collaborator to address critical social issues. Position stewards the Y’s cause, promoting and protecting the brand and reputation as a global, inclusive organization within the community.
- Develops organizational goals and strategic plans for major gifts fundraising, balancing long-term direction and short-term requirements. Develops systems and manages resources, including the financial development budget, needed to carry out the fundraising plans. Develops appropriate fundraising policies and procedures for the association.
- Develops processes and is actively involved in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift prospects. Maintains database resource file in reference to top community leaders.
- Directs and coordinates association capital development, Chairman’s Round Table annual campaign, grants and endowment programs.
- Researches, prepares, coordinates and submits all proposals for grants from government sources and private foundations.
- Actively engages the volunteer board in challenging conversations and decision making to advance the Y's impact. Develops strategies to increase volunteer involvement at all levels of financial development.
- Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Fundraising Task Force, Events Committee and any other groups, as assigned.
- Tracks all gifts and pledges by source and purpose and provides reports as needed.
- Provides training in fundraising to the volunteer board. Educates, motivates and provides feedback to individuals related to best practices in major gifts fundraising process.
- Creates and implements effective communication strategies with compelling messages that inspire others to accomplish the mission and cause with maximum impact. Develops communication plans to ensure members, participants, and the community understand the case for support.
- Represents the YMCA of Greater Whittier in the community, as needed.
- Fingerprints will be taken prior to commencement of employment and results will be submitted to the Association Administration Office.
- Eight or more years of professional experience with a background in fundraising in the YMCA or another non-profit preferred.
- Ability to relate to top community leaders and diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
- Working knowledge of giving and charitable vehicles.
- Ability to create interpretive materials to enable potential donors to understand the YMCA and how they contribute to the achievement of its mission.
- Knowledge of the media and its use in gaining exposure for YMCA events and programs.
- Successful track record in applying proven practices related to developing successful grant proposals, working with institutional donors, and the management of all related grant compliance and reporting practices.
- Knowledge/clear understanding of fundraising techniques and strategies.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills, particularly the ability to read, analyze, write, and edit reports according to prescribed style/format and correspond with external businesses and community members.
- Foundation and government grant writing expertise.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, peers, volunteers, customers and the general public.
- Ability to meet deadlines, as well as the ability to collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, reason and solve problems.
- Ability to develop and use spreadsheets and standard business software systems.
- Child Abuse Prevention, Blood Borne Pathogens, WorkForce Link, CCC trainings and CPR, First Aid, AED certifications required within 30 days of employment.
Salary: $76,000.00 - $91,000.00