Director of Philanthropy

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers; Saginaw (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers seeks an experienced philanthropy leader to develop the organization's comprehensive fundraising strategy, annual plan, and major gift goals.

You will manage a donor portfolio, cultivate and solicit major gifts from individuals and corporate partners, and coordinate capital campaigns for facility development and expansion. Collaboration with executive leadership and Growth & Development teams is essential to advance funding priorities and donor engagement.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of fundraising experience; or seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with a strong focus on major gifts.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Finance, Political Science, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop philanthropy strategy and annual fundraising plan with major gift goals.
• Lead donor portfolio development, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for individuals and corporate partners.
• Implement moves management, pipeline reporting, and collaborate with executive leadership to advance high-level donor strategies.
• Oversee annual major gift revenue goals, campaign objectives, donor pipeline projections, and fundraising forecasts.
• Lead capital campaigns for facility development, site expansion, and organizational growth.
• Coordinate campaign readiness activities, case statements, gift tables, and staff volunteer committees.
• Manage feasibility processes for capital initiatives and vendor engagement as needed.
• Strengthen donor stewardship and retention through high-touch experiences and CRM systems.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

fundraising strategy

Leadership

Capital campaigns

Donor stewardship

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Finance, Political Science, or a related field

Tools

Bloomerang

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Essential Job Duties

• Development of the organization's comprehensive philanthropy strategy, annual fundraising plan, and major gift goals.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts to secure major individual and Corporate partnerships.
• Implement structured donor engagement strategies, including moves management, pipeline reporting, while collaborating with executive leadership as needed to advance high level donor strategies and increase the level and frequency of major gift commitments
• Develop and manage annual major gift revenue goals, campaign objectives, donor pipeline projections, and fundraising forecasts.
• Lead planning and execution for multiple concurrent capital priorities to support facility development, new site expansion, and organizational growth (e.g., a building renovation, a site under construction, and an additional site breaking ground).
• Lead pre‑campaign planning and readiness efforts, including development of case statements, gift tables, and collateral, and coordination of staff volunteer committees/councils as appropriate.
• Manage planning/feasibility processes for capital initiatives, including coordinating internal efforts and partnering with leadership on vendor selection and engagement when external counsel is required.
• Revenue Growth & Strategic Partnerships
• Develop and implement planned giving strategies and supporting policies to strengthen long-term philanthropic sustainability. Identify, cultivate, and close DAF (donor‑advised fund) gifts and foundational policies for future endowment growth.
• Partner with Growth & Development staff to enhance storytelling, case materials, and donor engagement strategies.
• Stewardship, Systems & Infrastructure
• Strengthen donor stewardship and retention by creating high‑touch experiences for key donors and corporate partners.
• Establish and maintain fundraising systems and infrastructure, including policies, forecasting, reporting, and effective use of customer relationship management tools (e.g., Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, etc.) to support transparency and informed decision-making.
• Lead and coach the Fund Development Manager to ensure alignment across events, annual appeals, grants, and major gifts.
• Collaborate within the Growth & Development team (Marketing/Comms and Grants & Projects) and with executives to establish foundation funding priorities aligned with organizational fundraising strategy and present annually to the Board as needed.
• Develop and convene campaign/volunteer committees to extend reach and influence.
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Provides strategic leadership and direct supervision of assigned staff by establishing priorities, setting performance expectations, and ensuring alignment with departmental and organizational goals.
• Interviews, selects, onboards, develops, and retains high-performing staff. Promotes employee growth and professional development by identifying training opportunities, mentoring staff, and supporting career development.
• Conducts performance evaluations, provides ongoing coaching and constructive feedback, and addresses performance concerns through appropriate corrective action and development planning.

Essential Job Duties

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job duties, absent an undue hardship on GLBHC.

• Major Gifts & Portfolio Leadership
• Development of the organization's comprehensive philanthropy strategy, annual fundraising plan, and major gift goals.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts to secure major individual and Corporate partnerships.
• Implement structured donor engagement strategies, including moves management, pipeline reporting, while collaborating with executive leadership as needed to advance high level donor strategies and increase the level and frequency of major gift commitments
• Develop and manage annual major gift revenue goals, campaign objectives, donor pipeline projections, and fundraising forecasts.
• Growth Funding Campaign Strategy
• Lead planning and execution for multiple concurrent capital priorities to support facility development, new site expansion, and organizational growth (e.g., a building renovation, a site under construction, and an additional site breaking ground).
• Lead pre‑campaign planning and readiness efforts, including development of case statements, gift tables, and collateral, and coordination of staff volunteer committees/councils as appropriate.
• Manage planning/feasibility processes for capital initiatives, including coordinating internal efforts and partnering with leadership on vendor selection and engagement when external counsel is required.
• Revenue Growth & Strategic Partnerships
• Develop and implement planned giving strategies and supporting policies to strengthen long-term philanthropic sustainability. Identify, cultivate, and close DAF (donor‑advised fund) gifts and foundational policies for future endowment growth.
• Partner with Growth & Development staff to enhance storytelling, case materials, and donor engagement strategies.
• Stewardship, Systems & Infrastructure
• Strengthen donor stewardship and retention by creating high‑touch experiences for key donors and corporate partners.
• Establish and maintain fundraising systems and infrastructure, including policies, forecasting, reporting, and effective use of customer relationship management tools (e.g., Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, etc.) to support transparency and informed decision-making.
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
• Lead and coach the Fund Development Manager to ensure alignment across events, annual appeals, grants, and major gifts.
• Collaborate within the Growth & Development team (Marketing/Comms and Grants & Projects) and with executives to establish foundation funding priorities aligned with organizational fundraising strategy and present annually to the Board as needed.
• Develop and convene campaign/volunteer committees to extend reach and influence.
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Provides strategic leadership and direct supervision of assigned staff by establishing priorities, setting performance expectations, and ensuring alignment with departmental and organizational goals.
• Interviews, selects, onboards, develops, and retains high-performing staff. Promotes employee growth and professional development by identifying training opportunities, mentoring staff, and supporting career development.
• Conducts performance evaluations, provides ongoing coaching and constructive feedback, and addresses performance concerns through appropriate corrective action and development planning.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for the job.

Marginal Job Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Finance, Political Science, or a related field.
• Licensure: None required. Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) preferred
• Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of fundraising experience; or, in lieu of a degree, seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with a strong focus on major gifts. Minimum one (1) year of leadership experience.
• Skills: Demonstrated success securing 5‑ and 6‑figure gifts and conducting direct, in‑person solicitations. Experience contributing to (or leading) capital initiatives; ability to craft gift tables and cases for support.
• Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to engage corporate and high‑net‑worth stakeholders; comfort with C‑suite conversations and complex asks.
• Physical Effort: Must be able to sit, stand, and or walk for an entire workday. Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, and or twist while holding up to 25 lbs. frequently.
• Hours of Work: Full time; Flexible and varied. Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for donor events, site visits, luncheons, and community activities. Hybrid scheduling and/or telecommuting may be available after training period at manager’s discretion.
• Travel: Valid Michigan driver's license and reliable transportation. Travel throughout GLBHC's service area required. Evening and weekend travel may be required for fundraising events, community activities, and donor engagement.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.