Vice President Development

YMCA of the USA; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver seeks a strategic Vice President of Development to lead all fundraising initiatives, cultivating major gifts, foundations, annual giving, and capital campaigns aligned with the organization’s mission. This senior leader will partner with the CEO and Board to set priorities, grow donor engagement, and build sustainable fundraising systems across channels.

They will lead and develop the Development team, drive donor stewardship, and translate organizational

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising and development experience, including experience leading people, fundraising initiatives, or multiple development functions.
• Demonstrated success in major individual donor cultivation and relationship-building, or equivalent success across multiple fundraising channels such as annual giving, grants, and corporate giving.
• Strong knowledge of the Denver-area philanthropic community; established relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, civic leaders, and other philanthropic partners are strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff, with the ability to establish clear expectations and foster accountability.
• Ability to think strategically across multiple fundraising channels, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grants, and capital campaigns, and to build systems that support sustainable growth.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership, Board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the judgment, presence, and communication skills necessary to engage donors and community leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate organizational priorities, community impact, and opportunities for philanthropic investment.
• Working knowledge of donor management/CRM systems, prospect management, donor stewardship, gift administration, and fundraising performance measures.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with relationship-building, operational execution, and personal donor engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt fundraising strategies, systems, and team capacity as an organization grows.
• Knowledge and understanding of general business matters, including strategic planning, budget development, and financial reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. CFRE or advanced degree preferred but not required.
• Commitment to inclusion, shared accountability, teamwork, and the YMCA’s mission and values.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Development team and provide strategic direction for donor engagement and fundraising operations.
• Translate organizational priorities into effective fundraising strategy across channels (annual giving, major gifts, foundations, capital campaigns).
• Personally build key philanthropic relationships and steward major donor engagement and solicitations.
• Collaborate with the CEO on major donor engagement and strategy.
• Advance contributed revenue while modeling YMCA values and fostering a collaborative culture.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Strategic planning

Staff development

Stakeholder engagement

Donor relations

CRM proficiency

Budgeting & reporting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

CFRE preferred

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

The Vice President of Development is a strategic, relationship-driven leader responsible for advancing the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver’s philanthropic strategy and growing contributed revenue across fundraising channels, including annual giving, major gifts, foundation and institutional support, and capital campaigns, in support of the organization’s mission and strategic priorities.

Working closely with the CEO, senior leadership, Board of Directors, community partners, and the Development team, the Vice President translates organizational priorities into effective fundraising strategy, operations, donor engagement, and sustainable systems.

The Vice President leads and develops the Development team, provides strategic direction for donor cultivation and institutional giving, personally builds key philanthropic relationships, and partners with the CEO on major donor engagement and solicitations.

The Vice President models the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility and fosters a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive culture that strengthens philanthropy and advances the YMCA’s mission.

OUR PATH

For 150 years, the YMCA of Metro Denver has been more than a place - it is a movement that lifts spirit, mind and body for all. Our direction is clear: Elevate Lives and Rise Together. Grounded by our mission and strengthened by the global YMCA movement we will elevate our people, purpose, partnerships and promise.

,

• Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising and development experience, including experience leading people, fundraising initiatives, or multiple development functions.
• Demonstrated success in major individual donor cultivation and relationship-building, or equivalent success across multiple fundraising channels such as annual giving, grants, and corporate giving.
• Strong knowledge of the Denver-area and Colorado philanthropic community; established relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, civic leaders, and other philanthropic partners are strongly preferred.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff, with the ability to establish clear expectations and foster accountability.
• Ability to think strategically across multiple fundraising channels, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grants, and capital campaigns, and to build systems that support sustainable growth.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership, Board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the judgment, presence, and communication skills necessary to engage donors and community leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate organizational priorities, community impact, and opportunities for philanthropic investment.
• Working knowledge of donor management/CRM systems, prospect management, donor stewardship, gift administration, and fundraising performance measures.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with relationship-building, operational execution, and personal donor engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt fundraising strategies, systems, and team capacity as an organization grows.
• Knowledge and understanding of general business matters, including strategic planning, budget development, and financial reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. CFRE or advanced degree preferred but not required.
• Commitment to inclusion, shared accountability, teamwork, and the YMCA’s mission and values.