Philanthropy Director

Salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

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ABOUT US

The nonprofit YMCA of Western North Carolina strengthens local communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1889, we engage more than 100,000 people – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the regions health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. We do this through seven YMCAs, dozens of program sites, and YMCA Camp Watia. As the states largest provider of licensed school-age childcare, we give more than 1,000 children a day the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. We are made up of people of all ages, from all backgrounds, working side by side to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential with dignity. Thus, we are For All. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, and they guide everything we do. We are committed to being an organization that exposes and addresses social constraints that limit and/or negatively affect all humans from all walks of life. We recruit staff who are passionate about giving back to the community, helping people, and upholding our core values. For more information, please visit ymcawnc.org .

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ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Vice President of Financial Development, the Director of Philanthropy is a frontline fundraiser responsible for leading the organizations annual giving, securing major gifts, and strengthening donor relationships in support of long-range fundraising goals.

This role provides association-wide leadership for annual giving and major gifts by partnering with development staff, executive directors, other staff leaders, and volunteers. The Director provides strategy, coaching, portfolio management, and accountability to strengthen fundraising performance and build a shared culture of philanthropy. The position is balanced between organizational fundraising leadership and direct donor work, with approximately 50% of time focused on leading fundraising strategy and 50% focused on managing a personal major gift portfolio.

A core responsibility is integrating the YMCAs cause and culture of philanthropy throughout the Y experience, partnering with leaders across the organization to strengthen awareness, storytelling, engagement, and donor relationships among members, participants, families, volunteers, and the community at large.

The successful candidate is a fundraiser first and a multiplier of others, building relationships with donors while coaching staff and volunteers to become stronger ambassadors and fundraisers. They understand the donor continuum, set ambitious goals, lead through influence, and build the culture and systems needed to grow philanthropy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Annual Giving

- Execute association-wide annual giving strategy in partnership with the VP of Financial Development and association leadership, aligning resources and fundraising activity with organizational priorities and goals.

- Provide fundraising leadership, strategy, coaching, and accountability for executive directors and other relationship managers, while engaging staff and volunteers across the organization in advancing annual giving, donor engagement, and stewardship.

- Directly supervise and develop the donor engagement team while coaching and supporting other development staff to strengthen effectiveness across the department.

- Drive sustainable growth in giving of at least 10% annually from a baseline of approximately $2 million, using the Fundraising Fitness Test and other key metrics to establish goals, guide strategy, and measure success.

- Strengthen and grow the donor base among all constituencies.

Major, Planned & Capital Giving

- Manage a personal portfolio of qualified major gift donors and prospects capable of gifts of $25,000 or more, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

- Execute association-wide major gift strategy and moves management, coaching executive directors and other relationship managers and ensuring qualified prospects have active engagement plans and clear next steps.

- Develop proposals and secure significant gifts, independently and in partnership with the CEO, VP, executives, volunteers, and other organizational leaders.

- Lead association-wide planned giving strategy, partnering with relationship managers to identify and cultivate opportunities and support donors and their advisors in developing legacy gifts.

- Advance comprehensive campaign goals by identifying and advancing annual donors with the potential for significant gifts and engaging volunteers and leaders in cultivating those relationships.

Leadership, Culture & Engagement

- Champion and represent a strong culture of philanthropy internally and externally, building understanding, engagement, relationships, and long-term support for the YMCA.

- Connect philanthropy internally across the organization, aligning Development, Operations, Marketing & Communications, and program leadership around shared priorities, donor relationships, and opportunities.

- Integrate philanthropy throughout the YMCA experience, creating opportunities for members, participants, families, alumni, and volunteers to deepen their connection to the Ys mission through giving and engagement.

- Build organizational fundraising capacity by equipping staff and volunteers with the knowledge, tools, messaging, and confidence to recognize and advance philanthropic opportunities.

- Provide association-wide fundraising direction and accountability, using goals, data, and performance measures to identify opportunities, focus resources, and drive results.

- Participate in the budgeting process within the service line/department and serve as a good steward of association resources.

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ABOUT YOU

Qualifications

- Bachelors degree required; Masters degree, CFRE and YMCA experience preferred. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree.

- 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in annual and major giving.

- Experience leading and coaching fundraising staff, volunteers, and organizational leaders.

- Planned giving experience required; capital or comprehensive campaign experience strongly preferred.

- Proven success in growing a donor base and securing significant gifts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Strong relationship-building, communication, strategic thinking, and organizational skills.

- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

- Advanced proficiency with fundraising CRMs and analytics.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE JOB

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Ability to walk, stand, and sit for periods of time.

- Ability to lift at least 25 lbs

- Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking.

- Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate

- Visual and auditory ability to communicate through various means, including but not limited to phone, in-person, and video calls

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FULL-TIME BENEFITS

Full-time employees receive medical, dental and vision insurance, group life insurance and long-term disability paid by the Y; short-term disability, term life insurance and dependent life insurance is available for purchase; generous paid time off, retirement plan with employer contribution of 12% of salary (subject to eligibility requirements), free YMCA membership, free afterschool childcare and summer day camp and program discounts.

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The YMCA of Western North Carolina is committed to equal opportunity in terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, faith, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.