Little League International is currently seeking a Vice President, Philanthropy and Social Impact, a newly created position, to reside in Williamsport, PA. The Vice President will be a strategic, collaborative, seasoned fundraising executive with experience building and sustaining a highly successful, best-in-class fundraising program by employing innovative methodologies which provide strategic direction, leadership, and daily management of the Philanthropy and Social Impact team. The Vice President will oversee all aspects of fundraising, including institutional giving, corporate foundation relations, private philanthropy (planned giving, annual giving, major gifts, and principal gifts), development operations, and stewardship. Reporting to the Chief Marketing & Business Relationship Officer with dotted line reporting to the CEO, this role will also work closely with the COO; CFO; CLO; the Little League Board of Directors; and, other Senior Executives for Strategy, Communications, Operations, and Human Resources.
The Vice President will serve as a mentor for the Philanthropy and Social Impact team and employ industry best practices in philanthropy, fundraising, and social impact programming. The Vice President will write and execute annual plans to ensure that all fundraising operations continue to grow and mature into fully functioning, robust, and sustainable department which operates with a multi-disciplinary approach to increase revenue from individuals, community, family, and corporation foundations all while supporting the Little League purpose, vision, mission, values, strategic objectives, and programming.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong leadership presence balanced with a flexible approach, a bias for both precision and action, a record of accomplishment in excellent judgment and decision-making skills, and a style that is warm, approachable, and embodies a culture of caring, respect, diversity, inclusivity, and openness. The ideal candidate will bring vision and an entrepreneurial approach, a continuous improvement philosophy, success in team development, a solution-focused internal and external customer service approach.
The Vice President will help build the organization mindset of giving, community, and social impact and should possess the following attributes and competencies:
Strategic & Operational Leader
- A strategic visionary who will successfully launch the Little League Philanthropy and Social Impact department, crafting the strategy and operational plans necessary for long-term implementation, revenue generation and sustainability.
- The Vice President will be an advisor to the Board, CEO, and CMBRO and across the leadership team in the fundraising efforts that are aligned with the vision and values of Little League.
- The Vice President must be both strategic and hands-on, ready to jump in as necessary, especially during the summer months when the workforce more than doubles, demonstrating agility and collaboration throughout the organization.
- This position will organize a Philanthropy and Social Impact Advisory Council comprised of board members, key alumni, partners, donors, and staff.
- As a member of Little League’s Senior Leadership team, support and collaborate with internal and external constituents and colleagues to educate, present, and promote organizational fundraising objectives.
- The Vice President will work collaboratively with the Marketing and Communications team to develop materials, website, donation events, and other content to increase awareness, demonstrate programming impact, present case for support and testimonials, launch campaigns, and create joint fundraising strategies as appropriate.
- The role will collaborate with finance, legal, and IT to develop sound organizational structure to manage all gifts and donations, documentation, and reporting requirements.
- Overseeing the department’s budgets, the Vice President will use metrics and benchmarking to enable on-going accountability and program refinement.
Philanthropic Architect & Cultural Influencer
- The Vice President will partner with CMBRO and Sr. Executive, People & Culture to recruit, lead, maintain, and support a team of fundraising professionals to implement annual fundraising plans and long-term strategies to achieve fundraising goals.
- The role will identify, research, cultivate, and solicit prospective high net worth individuals, and foundation prospects for donations to support strategies and programs. And, further develop key donor prospects, relationships, procurement of gifts and opportunities for programmatic support on an ongoing basis.
- This position will work closely with department staff and senior leadership to continually monitor and analyze goals against plans and proactively facilitate communications to create continuity in fundraising efforts and goals.
- The Vice President will keep abreast of changing trends in philanthropy, tax, and estate planning regulations, institutional and foundation giving, and plan accordingly to develop new programs which are responsive to the fundraising needs of Little League.
- The role will take a lead role in any future fundraising campaigns and work closely with executive leadership, regional colleagues, and volunteers to successfully execute the campaign planning and objectives.
- As the Vice President, create a culture of philanthropy within the organization and amongst its various constituents, educating and communicating to all staff on plans, strategies, and progress.
- Strong proactive leadership skills and experience in building, managing, mentoring, and leading team members to achieve and exceed ambitious fundraising goals.
- Demonstrated experience in securing major gifts from high-net-worth individuals with diverse philanthropic backgrounds and a record of accomplishment of personal success.
- Experience building relationships with community, family, and corporate foundations.
- Experience with development creation and planning at the senior level, implementing fundraising models and strategies.
- Experience in fundraising organization and trends including finance, legal, IT, and other donor research.
- Strong metrics orientation and financial acumen, including proven skills in budget management, goal setting, and the accurate reporting of performance against those goals.
- Experience in working effectively with and communicating to senior level individuals including Board of Directors, senior executives, high net worth individuals, foundation executives, etc. requiring superior oral and written presentation skills.
- Proven and demonstrated success in understanding in corporate relationships including sponsorships, licensing, or other strategic partnership models.
- Experience in creating social impact programming, creating grant programs, and distributing grants to applicants.
- A passion for the mission and values of Little League and a desire to continually broaden and deepen the organization’s impact.
- Patient listener, likable, diplomatic, influential, and engaging with the ability to be collaborative, inclusive, and team driven.
- Able and willing to travel regularly; able and willing to travel and work outside normal business hours, including on weekends, as needed.
Professional Experience and Formal Education
- At least 15 years of proven experience in fundraising, philanthropy, and donor relationship management, including experience at the senior management level in a large nonprofit organization.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, philanthropic studies, non-profit management, or equivalent is required, master’s degree a plus.
- Separate leadership experience from actual fundraising a plus.
- A thorough knowledge of Windows-based computer applications and database functions.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Teams, etc.) and Google applications (Docs, Sheets, presentations, and Forms).
- Experience working with CRM fundraising databases such as Raiser’s Edge and/or Salesforce Fundraising.
Employer funded Dental, Vision, STD
ICHRA Medical Plan
401K
LTD
Life Insurance
Vacation, Sick, Personal Leave
20 Holidays
Application Process: Applications (resume and cover letter) for this role are to be sent directly to [email protected] by February 2, 2024. All interested applicants will be reviewed and contacted by February 9, 2024.
DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE STARTS HERE – ALL ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO APPLY! We are dedicated in providing a diverse, accepting, and supportive work environment that holds all employees to the highest standards of conduct, integrity, inclusiveness, respect, and engagement. We strive to transform our organization into a place where employees work, thrive, and grow while supporting our collective and individual successes.
We value inclusion and are committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for all and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations upon request. Little League International is an Equal Opportunity Employer!