Be part of a dynamic leadership team that is launching an organizational excellence campaign.
The Executive Director of Association Advancement serves as a member of the President & CEO’s executive leadership team, providing deliberate leadership to take the Y’s outstanding brand and philanthropic foundation to a new level with innovative, fresh ideas on how best to engage the community, volunteers and contributors, tell the Y story, and secure the funds needed to advance the mission.
The Executive Director of Association Advancement will lead the Central Coast YMCA’s communication and contributed funding efforts including the primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to grow a $7.5M budget through successfully communicating the YMCA’s impact in the community, measured by program and membership growth, and working with the CEO to directly solicit major gifts, increase grant funding, lead special events, and foster corporate and foundation support. The incumbent will also represent the Central Coast YMCA in appropriate community affairs, building relationships with corporate, non-profit, and media representatives. The incumbent will work with the Marketing & Communications Director on initiatives that build collaborations and partnerships with external organizations to grow the Central Coast YMCA’s membership base. The Executive Director of Association Advancement will participate in Executive Staff meetings, Board of Directors meetings, select Board Committees, and monthly leadership meetings.
The Executive Director of Association Advancement position has a primary impact on the effectiveness with which each branch and the Association, as a whole, accomplishes its mission in the community.
- There will be increased public awareness of the Y’s mission and impact.
- Volunteers, staff, members and program participants at the YMCA will understand the purpose of the YMCA and will feel satisfied about the impact of the Y in their lives.
- We will experience annual growth in membership and program participation throughout the association, resulting in increased earned revenue.
- We will continue to achieve strong contributed revenue for the association, maintaining 12-15% of budget through contributed sources.
The Central Coast YMCA is nestled in the Salinas Valley, located in the Central Coast Region of California and roughly 100 miles south of San Francisco. Impacting over 35,000 people annually within Santa Cruz, SanBenito,and Monterey counties, the Central Coast YMCA employs over 400 staff throughout the year and operates five branches; the $7.5M operation is looking for a strategic partner with strong fund development and communications expertise.
The Executive Director of Association Advancement must have the ability to create genuine key relationships, not just within their own team and YMCA employees, but also with donors, potential donors, and community leaders (both private and public). The Y needs a passionate leader who can be influential in the community, and who will guide campaigns that achieve the Y’s mission.
The incumbent is responsible for working with the CEO on donor recruitment, cultivations, developing strategic alliances and all giving efforts (Annual, Capital, and Endowment), as well as supervising the marketing/communications strategies. The Executive Director of Association and Brand Advancement will have primary responsibility for expanding and diversifying the donor base/pipeline and work closely with other team members to secure funding for new initiatives. In additions, the incumbent will work closely with the Board of Directors and support Board Members as they take on a more active fundraising role. It is expected that the amount raised by the Y will increase in future years as the CEO and Executive Director of Association and Brand Advancement systematically and effectively strengthen the organization's overall fundraising capacity.
The incumbent must be able to supervise, challenge and grow the staff team of: Grant Coordinator, Digital Marketing Coordinator and Graphic Designer.
In addition to supervising the Marketing staff, this Executive has oversight of all vendors and freelance support for the department. The Executive Director of Association and Brand Advancement will mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis. The Executive must establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, and conduct annual performance appraisals.
- Minimum 7 years’ experience in business/operations management with emphasis in communications, foundation and corporate grants and business relationships, annual giving and volunteer development. Experience in the YMCA or other large non-profit organization preferred.
- Minimum 7 years’ experience in successfully leading and managing a team of direct and indirect reports and managing a department budget.
- Experience working successfully on a cross-functional leadership team responsible for overall direction and achievement of organization-wide results.
- Direct experience working with a Board of Directors, board committees, and fund development volunteers.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills, inclusive of successful experience directly preparing and delivering materials and presentations on needs assessment, campaign case, and/or complex topics that influence decision-makers at high levels of foundations, government, community organizations, corporations, and across diverse communities.
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic and operational plans and successful implementation through effective change management techniques.
Other Skills, Requirements, Abilities and Personal Characteristics: must have or be:
- Organized and possess excellent communication skills.
- Strategic, proactive and results-oriented.
- Extensive experience of advanced features of computer applications, including: word-processing, relational databases, spreadsheets, graphics and extensive knowledge of the Internet. Experience in the following computer programs: Word, Outlook, Excel, InDesign, Publisher and PowerPoint.
- Working knowledge of efficient filing systems, office machines and equipment.
- Able to set and meet deadlines.
- Ability and willingness to work as a team.
- Enthusiastic, dependable and a sense of humor.
- Willing to follow directions and take initiative.
- An understanding and acceptance of the YMCA mission and impact, and be able to communicate to others.
- Operate and model Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in interactions with co-workers, donors, vendors and the community at-large.
- Even-tempered and able to adjust tasks in accordance with changing priorities.
- A neat, clean and professional appearance.
- Bi-lingual, Spanish-English, preferred.
Starting Salary Range: $68,000 - $80,000 annually
Additional Benefits: Excellent benefits including health insurance, paid time off and retirement plans upon eligibility.This position offers a positive work environment and an ability to make a difference.