VP, Donor Relations

Covenant House International; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant House International seeks a Vice President, Donor Relations to lead major gift fundraising and donor stewardship. This senior role requires a track record of securing seven- and eight-figure commitments from ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals and families.

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, you will cultivate strategic partnerships, manage a select portfolio, and collaborate across teams to advance Covenant House's mission of ending youth homelessness.

Qualifications

• Develop and execute comprehensive donor strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making commitments of $1 million or more.
• Manage a portfolio of ultra‑high‑net‑worth donors and prospects, upgrading supporters to major and principal gifts.
• Personally secure significant philanthropic commitments in support of Covenant House's programs and priorities.
• Lead complex gift discussions involving multi-year commitments and sophisticated philanthropic vehicles.
• Create customized donor engagement and solicitation strategies based on donor interests and objectives.
• Develop compelling funding opportunities and cases for support that inspire transformational investments.
• Meet and exceed annual goals for donor visits, proposals, and principal gift commitments.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals, families, and donor‑advised fund holders.
• Engage donors as strategic partners through stewardship, recognition, and impact reporting.
• Conduct extensive face‑to‑face donor meetings and represent Covenant House at events and briefings.
• Maintain a disciplined moves‑management process and accurate documentation of donor activity.
• Partner with colleagues across donor relations, partnerships, and marketing to maximize opportunities.
• Coordinate engagement strategies for corporate partners with the broader team.

Job description

Overview

Since 1972, Covenant House has served and advocated for youth and young families experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and exploitation. Our overarching goal is to end homelessness among youth and young families by helping them achieve housing stability, heal from trauma, tap into their innate resilience, and hone their interests and skills to forge new pathways to independence. This work is carried out across Covenant House sites in 34 cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Overview

Since 1972, Covenant House has served and advocated for youth and young families experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and exploitation. Our overarching goal is to end homelessness among youth and young families by helping them achieve housing stability, heal from trauma, tap into their innate resilience, and hone their interests and skills to forge new pathways to independence. This work is carried out across Covenant House sites in 34 cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

About The Role

The Vice President, Donor Relations is a highly strategic, entrepreneurial fundraising leader responsible for securing transformational philanthropy from individuals and families capable of making commitments of $1 million or more. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Vice President will manage a select portfolio of existing Covenant House donors and prospects who have demonstrated both affinity for the mission and the capacity to make principal gifts ($1 million+). The primary responsibility of this position is to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making seven- and eight-figure commitments that advance Covenant House's mission and strategic priorities. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of securing multiple multi-million-dollar commitments from high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and donor‑advised fund holders. This individual must be an exceptional relationship builder with the ability to engage sophisticated philanthropists in complex giving conversations, develop customized strategies, and move prospects successfully through the donor lifecycle. As a leader within the revenue organization, the Vice President will model Covenant House's values and contribute to a culture of collaboration, accountability, and donor-centered philanthropy. This position requires a self-starter who operates with a high degree of independence, initiative, and accountability, requiring minimal oversight to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Principal Gift Fundraising

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects capable of making commitments of $1 million or more
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, with a focus on upgrading existing Covenant House supporters into major and principal giving relationships
• Personally secure significant philanthropic commitments in support of Covenant House's programs, strategic initiatives, capital needs, and other organizational priorities
• Lead complex gift discussions involving multi-year commitments, blended gifts, planned gifts, and other sophisticated philanthropic vehicles
• Create highly customized donor engagement and solicitation strategies based on donor interests, motivations, and philanthropic objectives
• Develop compelling funding opportunities and cases for support that inspire transformational investments
• Meet and exceed annual goals for donor visits, proposals submitted, dollars raised, and principal gift commitments secured

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family office executives, wealth advisors, philanthropic consultants, and donor‑advised fund holders
• Engage donors as strategic partners in Covenant House's mission through meaningful stewardship, recognition, and impact reporting
• Conduct extensive face‑to‑face donor meetings and represent Covenant House at donor events, briefings, site visits, and external engagements
• Maintain a disciplined moves‑management process and ensure accurate documentation of donor activity and strategy

Strategic Collaboration

• Partner closely with colleagues across donor relations, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, marketing and communications, and affiliate organizations to maximize fundraising opportunities
• Collaborate with the Corporate Partnerships team to coordinate engagement strategies for corporate