AVP of Development

Ymc; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA in Orlando is seeking an Associate Vice President of Development to lead philanthropic strategy, donor relations, and fundraising operations. You will advance major gifts, grants, and campaigns while stewarding a robust donor pipeline and ensuring ethical fundraising practices.

You will supervise the Annual Giving Manager, collaborate with leadership and volunteers, and drive development systems across the association to expand charitable support for mission impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership in fundraising/development with success in grants, major gifts, and campaigns.
• Ability to lead through influence and collaborate across teams without direct supervision.
• Experience building multi-constituent programs with strategy, goals, and achievement.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building across internal/external stakeholders.
• Deep experience in major gifts, planned giving, corporate giving, foundation grants, and events.
• Highly organized, detailed, and capable of managing multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes comprehensive philanthropic and development strategies including annual giving, partnerships, major giving, grants, and special events.
• Identify, cultivate, secure and steward major gifts, foundation, corporate, and grant funding opportunities.
• Build and expand fundraising campaigns, events, and donor engagement initiatives.
• Lead revenue generation for association signature events and mission-focused initiatives.
• Develops development operations procedures and systems for ethical fundraising.
• Leads donor recognition and stewardship programs; prepares donor materials and impact reports.
• Oversee donor messaging alignment with YMCA branding and priorities.
• Collaborate with Annual Giving Manager to ensure seamless donor management in CRM.
• Track performance and provide reports, dashboards, and analysis on campaigns and sponsorships.
• Provide leadership and training to staff and volunteers; foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Partner with board members and volunteers to solicit and steward leadership-level donors.
• Oversee multi-site project management and support teams with varying experience levels.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Grant management

Major gifts

Strategic collaboration

Communication & relationships

Project/priority management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration/non-profit management/philanthropy

Advanced degree or philanthropy credentials (plus)

Job description

Description

The incumbent is a key strategic leader responsible for cultivating, securing, and stewarding significant philanthropic investments to advance the mission of the YMCA. The Associate Vice President of Development is a key strategic and philanthropic leader responsible for overseeing the YMCA’s development operations, including donor relations and stewardship, fundraising campaigns, grant identification and acquisition, corporate and foundation partnerships, association-wide special events, and coordination of the virtuous donor relationship management system. Working closely with the Chief Development Officer, operational leaders, staff, and volunteers, this position develops and executes strategies to strengthen donor engagement, expand the philanthropic pipeline, improve development systems and processes, and increase sustainable charitable support. The Associate Vice President supervises the Annual Giving Manager and serves as a visible ambassador for the YMCA, helping build strong relationships and foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

Our Culture

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you. We are the Y.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops, implements and executes comprehensive philanthropic and development strategies including annual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, major giving, grants, and special events.
• Identify, cultivate, secure and steward, major gift, foundation, corporate, and grant funding opportunities.
• Build upon successful fundraising campaigns, special events, and donor engagement initiatives while identifying new opportunities for philanthropic support and community impact.
• Leads fundraising strategy and revenue generation efforts for Association signature events and other mission-focused initiatives.
• Develops and maintains development operations procedures and systems to ensure effective and ethical fundraising practices.
• Develops and leads donor recognition and stewardship programs.
• Author and prepare donor materials, including campaign messaging, proposals, collateral, and impact reports.
• Oversee fundraising-related messaging to ensure alignment with YMCA brand standards and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving Manager to ensure seamless donor management within the CRM system.
• Track fundraising performance and provide regular reports, dashboards, and analysis on campaign progress, donor activity, sponsorship revenue and fundraising outcomes.
• Provide leadership and training to staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
• Partner with board members and key volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership-level donors.
• Oversee project management across multiple sites, supporting team leaders with varying levels of experience.
• Report all accidents/incidents to your supervisor and follow the Association’s current employee and member injury reporting procedures.
• All other duties as assigned by management

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, non-profit management, philanthropy or related field required. Advanced degree or philanthropy credentials, a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional leadership experience in fundraising/development with demonstrated success in grants, major gifts and campaign management.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and inspire colleagues without direct supervision
• Experience in developing and executing multi-constituent programs, including strategy development, goal setting, and achievement.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire trust and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders.
• Comprehensive experience in major gifts, planned giving, corporate giving, foundation grants, and special events.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities under pressure.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, which may include weekends and holidays as needed.
• Must be willing to work an on-call schedule rotation as required.
• Must be willing to travel within Central Florida. Must have a valid Driver license. The employee is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• The physical activities of this position include: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, and repetitive motions. Talking is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, with or without correction.
• Required to sit or stand for extended periods of time while demonstrating manual dexterity in order to accurately work on the phone, computer keyboard, and other equipment.
• The employee must be able to perform light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity, along with the visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned, preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer screen, extensive reading, or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
• Must possess auditory and verbal capabilities in order to adequately communicate via phone and in person.
• The employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Disclaimers

• Must complete successful background screening, which includes criminal and employment verification. Some positions may additionally require a successful credit check screening.
• All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. The YMCA promotes an equal employment opportunity work place which includes reasonable accommodation of otherwise qualified disabled applicants and employees. Please see your manager should you have any questions about this policy or these job duties.
• This job description may not be all-inclusive and employees are expected to perform all other duties as assigned and directed by management. Job descriptions and duties may be modified when deemed appropriate by management.