Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy & External Engagement

Description

The Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy & External Engagement is a leadership position responsible for developing and implementing strategies to cultivate philanthropic support and build strong relationships with external stakeholders, ultimately advancing the organization's mission and goals.

Examples of Duties

• Fundraising Strategy and Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with the organization's strategic plan and goals. Lead and manage major gift programs, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals and family foundations. Drive annual giving and planned giving programs. Design and lead capital campaigns, engaging major donors and managing campaign progress.
• Donor Engagement and Stewardship: Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and prospects, ensuring impactful engagement and recognition. Plan and execute donor events and engagement opportunities, including those around flagship convenings and gatherings. Provide personalized updates and impact stories to donors, demonstrating the impact of their contributions.
• External Engagement and Communication: Build and maintain relationships with institutional funders, including foundations, corporations, and government agencies. Partner with marketing and communication teams to develop compelling case materials and narratives for fundraising and advocacy efforts. Act as a public advocate and external voice for the organization, amplifying its mission and agenda through various platforms. Represent the organization in key markets and at influential convenings, pursuing priority opportunities.
• Team Management and Development: Lead, mentor, and supervise the philanthropy and external engagement team, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance. Provide guidance and support to team members in developing donor engagement strategies and meeting fundraising goals.
• Operational Oversight: Manage budgets, track revenue goals, and report progress to senior leadership and the Board. Maintain accurate donor data and tracking through CRM systems, like Salesforce. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and ethical standards in nonprofit fundraising.

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a strong track record in major gifts and donor strategy.
• Proven success in securing six and seven-figure gifts and/or building public-private partnerships that drive meaningful impact.
• Experience managing high-level relationships across philanthropy, government, and media.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft and present compelling, evidence-based cases for support and change.
• Demonstrated success navigating cross-functional teams and internal stakeholders to drive external results.
• Strong understanding of relevant program areas and the ability to articulate the organization's mission and values.
• Proficiency in database management (ideally Salesforce) and other relevant technologies.

Supplemental Information

• Strong passion for the organization's mission.
• Tenacious relationship builder and storyteller.
• Strategic and results-driven professional.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.
• Creative and strategic thinking abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Enthusiastic team leader with supervision and people management experience.
• Demonstrate thought leadership, listening, problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Intellectual curiosity to drive continuous improvement.
• Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.