Vice President of Philanthropy

We are seeking a creative, highly-motivated, results-driven Vice President of Philanthropy to provide strategic leadership for all development efforts throughout the Goodwill Industries of the Valleys’ territory. The ideal candidate will have experience providing innovative oversight of a fundraising department along with a proven track record of cultivating, securing and directing major gifts. The VP of Philanthropy will plan, execute, lead and manage a comprehensive effort to grow contributed revenue. This position will also develop an individual, corporate and foundations fundraising program, plan for and implement a major gifts program, achieve fully-integrated philanthropy across the organization, and oversee government and other funding applications.

 The Vice President of Philanthropy will spearhead the fundraising program restructure and serve as a critical member of the Advancement Leadership Team. This position will promote a culture of giving in which board and team members are fully equipped as ambassadors, embracing their roles as an integral part of Goodwill’s philanthropy efforts.

 In cooperation with the Chief Advancement Officer and the CEO, the VP of Philanthropy will re-imagine Goodwill’s giving culture, shaping the future of the organization’s philanthropy programs, including:

•  Partnering with the Chief Advancement Officer, CEO, and Board of Directors to develop a strategy to advance fundraising goals.
• Strengthening current funding from private sources and being relentless in developing new and more diverse sources of revenue emphasizing major gifts.
• Engendering the trust and confidence of the CEO, the Board, the leadership team, program directors, donors and team members.

 Essential Duties and Priorities

The Vice President of Philanthropy’s priorities will be to:

• In collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer and the CEO, set the strategy and tone for fundraising, emphasizing the implementation of innovative and creative ideas for securing private donations.
• Support a culture of integration across all business segments/departments.
• Work closely with the VP of Marketing and Communications to build greater visibility through digital communications, social media and other cultivation tools.
• Raise Goodwill’s profile and strengthen its reputation among donors, constituents, volunteers, organizational partners, other key stakeholders and the general public.
• Partner with and support the CEO, Board and Goodwill leaders in advancing fundraising goals. Work closely with the Board to inspire greater participation in advancement efforts while capitalizing on board member’s resources, talents and networks.
• Lead and participate in the solicitation efforts of targeted individuals and corporations. Exercise diplomatic persistence in the cultivation of donors. Demonstrate the ability to close the deal.
• Develop a strategy to collaborate with key employees so that every team member is engaged in raising funds and elevating the profile of Goodwill. Partner closely with program staff to make certain that fundraising requests match program needs.
• Review and enhance the capacity of the team and infrastructure to achieve advancement goals.
• Set the overarching direction, establish metrics and lead the team in the execution of events, fundraising activities, and campaign planning. Working with the development team, see that plans are implemented, goals achieved, timely reports generated, and information shared.
• Evaluate and refine processes to support fundraising success. Monitor fundraising progress and donor stewardship; and provide analytic reports to senior leaders, the CEO, and the Board.
• Provide oversight and strategic direction around government funding applications and compliance related to private grants.
• Provide oversight and strategic direction for fundraising and relationship building events.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement by using data to drive decisions and make course corrections when necessary.
• Monitor key fundraising trends and issues and communicate their implications to the Chief Advancement Officer and CEO with suggested action.

Reporting Relationships

• This position reports directly to the Chief Advancement Officer. The Vice President of Philanthropy will be a member of the CEO’s leadership team.
• The Vice President of Philanthropy will manage a team which includes a Development Director and Donor Relations Manager. In addition, this position works closely with the Vice President of Community and Business Engagement and Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
• The Vice President of Philanthropy will maintain a leadership style that is fluid and open, empower staff through active communications, feedback and delegation, and promote intra- and inter departmental collaboration.
• The Vice President of Philanthropy will inspire, guide, integrate and enhance strategic and coordinated fundraising strategies and programs across the department. This position will serve as a senior organizational leader that promotes respect for others and acceptance of alternate ideas. The Vice President of Philanthropy will have high ethical standards and embrace diversity as a strategic advantage.

The ideal candidate will be an innovative and inspiring leader with at least 10 years of increasing experience and responsibility in a development or advancement department, including oversight, major gift solicitations and campaigns, as well as board and donor development. They should have an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to work. The ability to represent Goodwill professionally, and strong and engaging communication skills (both written and spoken) are essential. Knowledge of any or all of Goodwill’s priority issues and services is beneficial. At a minimum this position requires:

•  Successful senior leadership experience with a nonprofit organization achieving fundraising goals.
• Minimum 4-year degree from a regionally accredited
• Demonstrated deep understanding of organization and cultural philanthropy, using a proactive, innovative, and entrepreneurial approach to fundraising.
• Experience as a frontline fundraiser with demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting and securing major gifts.
• Experience in developing and sustaining strong relationships with donors, the Board of Directors, and leadership groups.
• An ability to secure financial support from diverse sources.
• The ability to interact professionally with dedicated Board and team members who have diverse professional skills and perspectives.
• Results-driven and a self-starter, flexible and able to prioritize multiple tasks, set priorities and ensure implementation against
• Skills to manage and implement change, as well as motivate and mentor staff while increasing performance.
• Flexibility and the demonstrated ability to think creatively and thrive in a fast paced, complex social enterprise environment, juggling numerous projects and satisfying varied constituencies simultaneously.
• A passionate and disciplined commitment to develop and execute broader organizational strategies to advance the goals of Goodwill.
• Mission-driven, focused and
• Demonstrated record of maturity, sound judgment, integrity, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Strong leadership, management and administrative skills.
• Significant knowledge of the Virginia philanthropic sector