UWSC’s next Director of Philanthropy and Business Development (DPBD) must be a proven and successful fundraiser or business development professional with the presence and confidence to close six-figure asks. It will require that unique individual whose passion and understanding of our mission will inspire, engage, and educate people of all walks of life to make significant and meaningful financial contributions. It will require a leader with a head for strategy and an entrepreneurial spirit who will take a deep dive into UWSC’s current fundraising model and, working with key staff and stakeholders, create, and implement a new engagement and fundraising model to fuel UWSC’s future success.
Creating processes and procedures and establishing the pathway for donor engagement must be a priority for the new leader. A high-level, customer-service oriented stewardship program will be required to sustain and grow this new level of support while a vibrant prospect identification process will ensure a pipeline of qualified prospects. In addition, UWSC will need to develop new strategies to engage leadership level donors (gifts $1,000 - $9,999) and Tocqueville Society donors ($10,000+) as well as develop major gift and foundation grant prospects. The DPBD will be able to draw from a database of existing donors but the best prospects might be individuals, foundations and corporations who do not know the new United Way and our new community impact model for community change. We know from experience that our community impact model is appealing to donors and can attract support. It now needs to be scaled up for maximum return.
Collaboration is a critical component of our new model and it needs to be part of the DPBD’s practice in the community and within the organization. It will take collaborations across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to bring about change, and an understanding of and experience with this process will place the DPBD in positions of leadership in the community. The DPBD must exemplify those same collaborative and cross-functional skills within UWSC to ensure that the entire organization and its processes are working in concert. The DPBD will be an important member of the CEO/President’s leadership team which includes the Director of Impact & Investment, Director of Marketing & Engagement, Director of Finance, and Director of Human Resources.
The DPBD will lead a five-member team covering three interrelated functional areas – corporate partnerships/workplace giving campaign, major and leadership giving, and grants. The success of the DPBD will depend in large part on the effectiveness and efficiency of the resource development team. The DPBD must be able to spend a significant amount of time out of the office meeting with major and principal-gift level donors which requires trust in the team. This will come from building on the work-ethic of the current team, by setting clear goals so that the best of each team member is utilized. Each member of the team must embrace and understand his/her role in the overall success of the fundraising program and be encouraged to play an active role in the development of strategy and evaluation. The DPBD must be able to encourage, thrive in, and take advantage of the team’s creativity and excitement.
This job provides a unique opportunity for a creative, assertive, and collaborative leader with a proven history for building effective teams, improving fundraising or new business development outcomes, and can personally or with a team secure six-figure contributions. UWSC is not selling widgets; it is creating change, opportunity and hope, and the perfect candidate will understand how important this is to the success of the entire enterprise. UWSC transformed so it can have a greater impact on the community, and the next DPBD will be a critical member of the team driving that transformation forward.
High-End Fundraising / Business Development and Strategy
- Lead the creation of a new strategy and create the plans that will ensure successful fundraising campaigns as UWSC builds toward $10 million with a greater emphasis on major gifts ($25,000+) and principal gifts ($100,000+).
- Create an annual written fundraising and business development plan that is clear in its objectives, target audiences, timelines, and assignment of responsibilities.
- Work with staff and volunteers to develop a functional and effective donor pipeline of corporations, individuals, and foundations.
- Create a new focus on prospect and donor research.
- Ensure that the processes, procedures, and assignments of responsibilities are designed to meet fundraising goals in an efficient, manageable, and effective manner; evaluate staff and programs on a regular basis and make changes as necessary.
- Evaluate the fundraising activities annually to ensure quality, productivity, and relevance towards meeting goals.
- Maintain a portfolio of top corporate, foundation, leadership and Tocqueville donors and prospects; develop and implement strategies for engagement in UWSC activities and increased giving.
- Work with the Director of Marketing & Communications and her team on engagement initiatives, social media and other fundraising support and collateral to be used by the resource development team.
- Create regular opportunities for the resource development team to meet with other divisions within the organization to keep the team informed and to generate stories about the impact.
- Serve as a passionate and informed advocate for UWSC, able to communicate its message clearly one-on-one and to large groups, in the spoken and written form; network to reach goals and to ensure that the work and impact of the UWSC is known by the right people.
Collaborative Leadership
- Work collaboratively with the leadership team to refine, implement and evaluate the organization’s strategic plan and direction.
- Work collaboratively with the Board and co-lead the CORE Engagement Committee engaging them in the planning and execution of the engagement and fundraising plan. Keep the Board informed of resource development team activities; provide data relevant to tracking fundraising progress and planning; train Board members in fundraising and help to identify and recruit new Board members. Keep the resource development team informed of Board decisions and involve team members with the Board whenever possible/feasible.
- Hire, motivate, supervise, evaluate, and mentor the resource development team and create a supportive, goal-oriented and productive work environment based on respect, meaningful communication and team work.
- Lead the work of the resource development team and ensure the team is meeting or exceeding the goals set for fundraising.
- Ensure staff receive the professional development they need to stay current and productive in their fields and support them in their professional development.
- Represent UWSC in the community on boards, panels and commissions and events that support UWSC’s community and fundraising goals.
- Stay informed and up-to-date on community, state and national issues that have a bearing on the work of UWSC and ensure that the resource development team is also kept informed and current.
- Develop a thorough knowledge of the founding, history, major accomplishments and challenges, and the significant events affecting UWSC and United Way nationally.
Financial and Administrative
- Create and monitor the resource development budget; work with the leadership team in creating the organization’s overall budget by providing accurate information and the best forecasts possible.
- Assist the financial office in data necessary for reporting to funding sources and other external requirements.
- Work with the Information Systems team to ensure that software programs are meeting the needs of the resource development team in meeting the fundraising goals and client relationship documentation needs.
- Proven history of high level, high return fundraising or business development results based on building strong, lasting relationships with donors/customers.
- Experience with securing foundation and/or government grants, a plus.
- Knowledge of and experience working in Snohomish County, a plus.
- History of working effectively with all people irrespective of their history, economic status, challenges, race, gender, educational level, or sexual orientation; believes in the importance of diversity and has a history of creating diverse organizations.
- Comfortable with corporate and foundation leaders, high net-worth individuals, and community leaders.
- Experience leading organizational and operational change.
- Seasoned, team- and goal-oriented leader experienced in creating and supervising effective teams where staff enjoy working, contributing, and reaching organizational goals; knows how to create and nurture healthy work environments which inspire creativity and commitment; can analyze staffing needs and performance and make changes when required.
- Powerful advocate for scaling social change and building an infrastructure of opportunity.
- Strong collaborator within and outside of an organization. Collaborative cross-sector experience and a demonstrated competence in public, private and philanthropic partnerships.
- Excellent written and oral communication and networking skills with the ability to engage, inspire and educate in personal meetings, group settings and in the written form.
- Exceptional planning and execution skills with a results-oriented record of achievement; the ability to set goals, meet deadlines and evaluate results.
- Open mind, entrepreneurial and willing to learn from others.
- Brings humility and a deep commitment to philanthropy and empathy for those who struggle to maintain self-sufficiency, personal well-being, and hope.
- Energetic, diplomatic, adaptable and with a good sense of humor.
- Unqualified passion for the mission of the UWSC.
Commensurate with experience and abilities and reflective of salary levels in nonprofit organizations.