Associate Vice President, Development and Donor Engagement

United Way of New York City; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) seeks an experienced fundraising leader to serve as Associate Vice President, Development and Donor Engagement. The AVP will build and lead a team, cultivate major gifts, annual giving, events, and donor experiences to accelerate revenue and impact across New York City.

The role requires eight+ years in nonprofit fundraising, strong relationship management, and a track record of growing donor portfolios.

Qualifications

• Eight or more years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Experience managing and developing staff (5+ years).
• Proven ability to grow donor portfolios and revenue.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with CRM systems, preferably Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge.

Responsibilities

• Advance fundraising across major gifts, annual giving, events, and donor engagement.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-value donors and partners.
• Collaborate with leadership to set and monitor revenue goals.
• Oversee galas, activations, and donor experiences.
• Lead the transition from Andar to Raiser's Edge and ensure data integrity.
• Develop the team and manage fundraising staff across functions.

Skills

Donor portfolio management

Staff development

Relationship management

Strategic planning to action

Cross-team collaboration

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

CRM systems

Job description

Associate Vice President, Development and Donor Engagement

United Way of New York City

Build relationships. Inspire giving. Advance opportunity for New Yorkers.

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) seeks an experienced fundraising leader to serve as Associate Vice President, Development and Donor Engagement. This is an opportunity to lead a team, grow philanthropic support, and connect donors and partners with work that strengthens communities across New York City.

About UWNYC

UWNYC works with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility. Together, we meet today’s most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow—striving for health, opportunity, and prosperity for every New Yorker in every neighborhood.

Part of the United Way Worldwide system, we envision a future where all New Yorkers have the resources they need to live long, healthy lives in flourishing and resilient neighborhoods. Our work and relationships reflect our values: Collaboration, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, and Superior Performance.

Our Resource Development work supports a place-based approach informed by local knowledge, community priorities, and the lived experiences of New Yorkers.

About the Role

As a member of the Resource Development leadership team, the AVP will advance fundraising strategies across major gifts, annual giving, experiential marketing, events, and integrated donor engagement.

The AVP will lead a team responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and growing relationships with individual donors, select corporate partners, affinity groups, and other key stakeholders. This leader will combine strategic planning with hands‑on execution, clear accountability, and a commitment to staff development.

What You Will Do

Advance fundraising and revenue growth

• Lead fundraising strategies across major gifts, annual giving, events, and donor engagement.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward high‑value donors and partners.
• Partner with leadership to establish revenue goals, monitor performance, and adjust strategies.
• Identify new funding opportunities and partnerships.

Strengthen relationships and collaboration

• Build and manage relationships with donors, select corporate partners, affinity groups, and key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Resource Development, Marketing & Communications, and Community Impact to align fundraising strategies and messaging.
• Create coordinated opportunities for donors to engage with UWNYC across multiple touchpoints.
• Partner with senior leadership to advance strategic opportunities.

Lead fundraising and engagement events

• Oversee the strategy, planning, and team execution of galas, corporate activations, and donor experiences.
• Integrate sponsorship, ticketing, and stewardship strategies to achieve revenue and engagement goals.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with timelines, goals, and budgets.

Guide systems adoption and improvement

• Provide leadership for Development and Donor Engagement’s transition from Andar to Raiser’s Edge, aligning implementation with fundraising priorities, workflows, and reporting needs.
• Coordinate with Resource Development, Finance, Human Capital, and Systems Development to support data integrity and effective implementation.
• Champion data migration, staff training, system adoption, and change management.
• Support ongoing improvements to functionality, reporting, and the user experience.

Develop the team and contribute to organizational leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop fundraising professionals across Individual Giving, Operations, and Events.
• Set clear expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and ensure accountability for results.
• Build a collaborative culture that values high performance and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and change management.
• Assume other responsibilities as needed to support business and operational priorities.

What You Will Bring

• Eight or more years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success managing donor portfolios and driving revenue growth.
• At least five years of experience managing and developing staff.
• Strong relationship management and written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to translate strategy into action while managing multiple priorities.
• Experience collaborating across teams.
• Experience with CRM systems and fundraising tools preferred, particularly Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge.
• A commitment to UWNYC’s mission and community impact.

Successful candidates will bring a focus on revenue and measurable results, adaptability, sound project management, creativity, and a data‑informed approach. They will be supportive managers, collaborative partners, and effective relationship builders who model UWNYC’s commitment to mission, collaboration, results, and responsible brand stewardship.

Compensation and Work Schedule

The salary range for this position is $125,000 – $129,500 The final salary within this range will reflect the candidate’s education, skills, and relevant experience.

UWNYC currently operates on a hybrid/in‑person work schedule.