Vice President, Development

waterfrontalliance; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K with employer match

Paid time off

Sabbatical after five years

Job summary

Waterfront Alliance in New York, NY seeks a VP of Development to lead a $3.5M+ fundraising program, including major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships, and events. You will set strategy, partner with the President/CEO, and drive annual revenue growth in a hybrid work model.

The role reports to the President & CEO, supervises project staff, and collaborates with program, communications, and events teams to integrate fundraising priorities across the organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit development experience, incl. frontline fundraising.
• Experience with individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships and events.
• Ability to partner with leadership and manage donor strategy and stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan to meet annual revenue goals and growth aspirations.
• Oversee donor strategy, cultivation, and stewardship activities with executive leadership.
• Manage grants portfolio and government/grant proposals with cross-functional teams.
• Lead development team operations and ensure effective fundraising processes and metrics.

Skills

Nonprofit fundraising

Major gifts

Grants management

Donor relations

Staff leadership

Salesforce

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Job Description

WaterfrontAlliance is helping shape the future of climate resilience in the nation's largest metropolitan region. From flood protection and waterfront access to climate education and policy advocacy, our work influences how millions of people experience and benefit from our waterfronts every day.

What makes Waterfront Alliance unique is not just the scope of our work, but how we do it: ensuring waterfronts are prioritized in government decision-making, inspiring residents to help shape the future of their shoreline, engaging young people in education and workforce development opportunities for future blue and green careers, and convening public, private, and civic leaders to design solutions together. No other organizationoperatesacross the harbor—and across scales—in this way.

As Waterfront Alliance approaches its 20th anniversary, the organization is entering an exciting new chapter of growth and impact. The VP of Development will playa central rolein helping define the organization's next phase.

About the Position

TheVice President,Developmentis responsibleforplanning and implementing a comprehensive $3.5M+ fundraising program that includesindividualgiving,major gifts, corporatesponsorships,foundationandgovernment grants,events,and specialinitiatives.The roleis responsible mesureetingannual revenue goals of the organization while mapping strategies andidentifyingopportunities for growth. Additionally, the role collaborates with program, communications,and events team memberstoensure seamless integration of fundraising priorities across organizational goals andobjectives.This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraising leader to build the next generation of philanthropy and partnerships for one of the region's leading climate resilience organizations.

TheVP, Developmentis a senior leader of the organization and close partner to the new President and CEO and Board of Directors.In addition to settingfundraisingstrategy, the VP will helpexecutethe vision for the organization moving forward.

Reportsto

President andCEO

Classification

Full-time, Exempt

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary range for this role is $120,000 to $150,000,commensuratewith experience.WaterfrontAlliance offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurances; life insurance; 401K retirement plan with employer match; commuter and FSA benefits, paid time off, paid sabbatical after five years, professional development opportunities, and more.

Location

New York, NY (Hybrid).Waterfront Alliance hasahybrid work environment, currentlyrequiringtwo days in the downtown Manhattan office.

Supervises

DevelopmentandCommunications Associate, Part-time Grant Consultant, Development Consultant

Responsibilities

Strategic Development Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensiveannual and multi-yearfundraising plan to meetWaterfront Alliance’scurrentannual revenue goalsand growth aspirations.

• Establish clear goals and manage projections for fundraising revenue sources.

• Create revenue forecasts and development reports that support strategic decision-making and Board reporting.

• Serve as a key thought partner to the President and CEO, helping shape organizational priorities, partnerships, and long-term growth strategies.

• Serve as the staff liaison for the development committee of theBoard ofDirectors

• RepresentWaterfrontAlliance at external eventsand meetings with theBoard ofDirectorsandcurrent and prospective donors, conveying the organization’s mission and programs enthusiastically and persuasively.

DonorStrategy,Cultivation & Stewardship

• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects

• Partner closely with the PresidentandCEO on top relationships, donor strategy, meeting preparation, solicitation planning,and stewardship.

• Develop and oversee a donor stewardship program, working with the Director of Communications and Development and Communications Associate toexecute up to fourstrategic donortouchpointsover the year.

• Develop compelling cases for support and pitches for general operating support and specific initiatives.

• Manage strategy and execution of end of year and spring individual fundraising appeals, ensuring annual growth in fundraising totals.

• Coordinate with theDirector ofEvents on all aspects of event-related fundraising, including corporate sponsorship prospecting, outreach, and solicitation forthe annualWaterfront Conference and Heroes of the Harbor gala.

• Lead donor cultivation events (online and inperson).

Grants Management

• Manage the portfolio of foundation funders ranging from small family foundations to large institutional funders.Grants range from $5,000 to $1M multi-year awards.

• Oversight ofgovernment grants, which will beimplementedand managedby the development, program, and financeteams.

• Work with the development team tomaintaingrants calendar of application and report due dates.

• Oversee grant prospecting, application, and award management, with support from the development, program, and finance teams. Some direct proposal writing and budget preparation will be required.

• Ensureaccuratetracking of restricted grants.

Prospecting

• Build and cultivate a pipeline of new prospects (major gifts, foundation, corporate)

• Identifymajor donor prospects and createa cultivationstrategy to secure continued support and increased giving.

DevelopmentTeamLeadership &Operations

• Overseethe day-to-day operations of the development department,which will be implemented by the Development & Communications Associate.

• Communicate development priorities and information needed foreffective fundraisingwith staff,including methods related to staff meetings,program teammeetings,surveysand other internal communications processes.

• Collaborate effectively withprogram, policy,communications, and events directorsto ensure a strong partnership and effectivenessacross streams

• Partner closely with theSenior Operations Managerto ensure effective revenue forecasting, restricted grants management, proposal budget development, and financial reporting

• Managethecurrentdevelopment team, including the Development & Communications Associate,developmentconsultant,andpart-timegrantwriter.Lead recruitment and supervision as the team grows in the future.

• Ensureall team membersand collaboratorsare aware of their deadlines and deliverables; manage weekly development meeting agenda.

• Identify, communicate, troubleshoot, and lead improvements to the organization’s fundraising processes and practices.

Qualifications

• Commitment to Waterfront Alliance’s mission

• Familiarity with NYC public space, environmental organizations, and philanthropy strongly preferred

• 8+ yearsof progressive nonprofit development experience, including experience as a frontline fundraiser

• Development generalist with experience in individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnership, and events

• Experience working directly with donors, board members, and executive leadership

• Ability to pair strategic planning with hands-on implementation

• Strong project management and ability to collaborate across functions

• Excellent communicator and ability to share programmatic and financial informationthrough compelling donor messaging

• Strong operational and systems thinker, with the ability to create and implement fundraising infrastructure

• Salesforce experience is a plus

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Waterfront Alliance encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physicalabilityor any other legally protected basis.