VP, Major Gifts & Advancement Strategy

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana; Independence Township (OH); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana seeks a dynamic Senior Leader to guide the chapter’s Advancement strategy, lead the Major Gifts team, and collaborate with the President & CEO to accelerate funding and growth.

The role oversees donor care, stewardship, prospect research and reporting, while directly soliciting major gifts and pursuing transformational funding from diverse sources within and beyond the OKI chapter.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, with a preference for a master’s degree, and 10+ years of successful development/marketing or equivalent.
• Ability to work autonomously in a changing environment while keeping senior leaders apprised of issues, problems, opportunities, and progress.
• A leadership style that inspires and motivates, while building strong teamwork, enhanced creativity, and consensus.
• Experience with database systems such as Salesforce; strong fiscal knowledge and data analysis ability.
• Ability to effectively manage staff teams, leaders, and stakeholders.
• Experience consolidating/enhancing infrastructure and administrative systems.
• The ability to collaborate and coordinate work across different departments of the organization while keeping each department’s priorities in mind.
• A positive attitude, creativity, and flexibility; ability to tolerate ambiguity and manage change.
• Experience with participatory, cooperative, program planning and execution.
• Experience leading and working with donors, Boards of Directors, committees, and community volunteers.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to produce excellent, effective written materials.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Strong executive presence in representing our organization locally and nationally. High degrees of customer service skills
• Position requires regular travel throughout the chapter and flexible hours, including overnight visits.
• Flexibility to travel overnight up to 40% of the time.

Responsibilities

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this position helps shape the organization's strategic direction, culture, financial strength, and overall health.
• The individual must be an accomplished fundraising leader, strategic advancement professional, and collaborative organizational partner.
• Lead and develop the Major Gifts team through regular coaching, communication, performance management, and professional development.
• Maintain a portfolio of major gift prospects to develop personalized engagement, solicitation and stewardship plans.
• Partner with the President & CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Governing Board, Advisory Boards, volunteers, donors, and other key stakeholders to advance the organization's mission and fundraising priorities.
• Working in close alignment with the VP of Administration on the stewardship and transition of potential major gift prospects generated from planned giving goals and systems.
• Collaborate with Sr. Leadership to establish annual major gift goals that support organizational growth and aspirational wish-granting objectives.
• Serve as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, helping establish organizational goals, policies, culture, and strategic priorities.
• Partner with Sr. Leadership to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate the organization's Strategic Plan.
• Maintain strong relationships with Make-A-Wish America and align advancement strategies to strengthen leadership giving, and major gifts support for shared mission goals.
• Collaborate with VP of Advancement to coordinate long-term strategies for governing board members
• Lead the chapter's major gifts, and Constellation Society strategies, driving a culture of philanthropy and major gift fundraising throughout the organization.
• Develop and execute team strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership and major gift donors, with a focus on sustainable revenue growth and long-term donor engagement.
• Provide visionary leadership in a complex fundraising environment, making sound decisions and effectively addressing organizational and development challenges.
• Lead the tracking of accountability and progress toward revenue goals and job-related expenses through proper use of Salesforce and chapter-specific processes.
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and accountability in leadership, governance, and advancement practices.
• Serve as a positive ambassador for the organization and the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Leadership

Donor relations

Strategic thinking

Communication

Team development

Project management

Ethics

Fundraising strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana seeks a dynamic Senior Leader to guide the chapter’s Advancement strategy, lead the Major Gifts team, and collaborate with the President & CEO to accelerate funding and growth.

The role oversees donor care, stewardship, prospect research and reporting, while directly soliciting major gifts and pursuing transformational funding from diverse sources within and beyond the OKI chapter.