Vice President, Major Gifts

United Way of Greater Cleveland•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

The Vice President of Major Gifts is a key member of the United Way of Greater Cleveland’s (UWGC) Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), the CEO, the Board of Directors, and the counterpart Vice President of Major Gifts to advance the organization’s annual revenue goals while also holding and being responsible for their own giving portfolio. This role is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-level donors that contribute through their workplaces, companies, or on their own. As the lead individual gift officer, the VP will manage a portfolio of approximately 75-90 major donor and institutional investor relationship partners capable of making six- and seven-figure investments in UWGC’s mission. This VP will work with UWGC data to determine and report on trends and opportunities for new prospects and existing donors driven insights, create relationship specific moves management steps, strategies, and assignments, and leverage cross-departmental collaboration to grow significant philanthropic investments in United Way of Greater Cleveland’s mission. This role will include at least two direct reports and is structured to accommodate future management responsibilities as the value of the portfolio grows. The VP will work with the CRO to set yearly goals for all UWGC key institutional relationships and major gifts, as well as his/her own portfolio, and will provide regular reporting to the CRO and/or other UWGC team members where they overlap on metrics and advances to the goals.

Requirements

Proven track record in securing and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts.
Strong relationship-building skills with high-net-worth individuals.
Experience utilizing donor databases, CRMs, and data analysis for fundraising strategy.
Knowledge of workplace giving, individual giving, planned giving, and other fundraising channels.
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with day-to-day execution.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
Proficient in computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, donor databases and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Greater Cleveland’s philanthropic landscape is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of 75-90 high-value donors and prospects.
Conduct significant prospect and donor touches per month, meeting in person as much as possible.
Prepare proposals, solicit, close and steward six and seven figure gifts to meet yearly revenue goals approved by CRO.
Partner with the CRO to develop individualized cultivation and stewardship plans with strategies that align donor interests with organizational priorities, for both their own portfolio and support and serve as a resource for other Revenue Team members and their portfolios
Build relationships with executives, corporate leaders, community influencers, and high-net-worth individuals.
Utilize internal and external data analytics and networking to identify new major donor prospects annually for UWGC.
Work closely with other members of the Revenue Team to integrate cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies across corporate, individual, foundation, government and planned giving initiatives.
Collaborate with other members of the Revenue Team to provide content and direction to develop compelling proposals, pitch decks and stewardship pieces.
Partner with Community Impact, Finance, and other departments to translate programmatic goals into donor-ready investments.
Employ data tools, donor databases, and market intelligence to assess donor capacity, affinity, and likelihood of giving.
Create individualized gift targets for major prospects for the UWGC yearly campaign as well as gifts-of-a-lifetime.
Oversee development and execution of tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans for high-impact donor relationships, especially focused on major donors assigned across the Revenue Team.
Produce bi-monthly reporting on major giving revenue, forecasting, prospect movement and metrics/KPIs dashboard, ensuring effective use of CRM.
Report to the CRO and CEO on goals and strategies based on donor response and market conditions.
Collaborate with the CRO and CEO on major gifts donor strategy, meeting preparation – including input on meeting briefings, and strategic asks related to major gift donors.
Support board members in peer engagement and fundraising activities related to major gift donors.
Coach and provide briefings for board members on fundraising strategies and for specific prospect assignments related to major gift donors.
Supervise at least two members of the Major Gifts Team, ensuring effective alignment and support of mid-level donor programs, events and donor pipeline, particularly focused on moves management of mid-level donors to major donors.
Coach and guide Revenue Team members in major gifts best practices, moves management, and donor engagement techniques and process.
Foster a collaborative, results-oriented culture within Major Gifts and across the Revenue Team.
Represent United Way of Greater Cleveland at key community, corporate, and philanthropic events that further their efforts to cultivate and steward major gift donors, either with their portfolio donors or prospects or on behalf of the CRO or CEO activities related to major gift donors.
Serve as an ambassador for UWGC’s mission, demonstrating deep knowledge of its impact and strategic goals.
Other responsibilities as assigned.