Vice President, Mission Advancement - Individual Giving & Major Gifts
About The Position
The Vice President of Mission Advancement (VPMA) serves as the senior leader responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive individual giving and major gifts strategy to advance the mission, equity commitments, and long-term sustainability of the YMCA of Greater San Francisco. Reporting to the Chief Advancement & Strategic Partnerships Officer, the VPMA oversees all aspects of donor engagement for individual contributors—including annual leadership giving, mid-level giving, major gifts, transformational gifts, and legacy giving. The VPMA manages a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors, leads a team of gift officers, and collaborates frequently with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Branch Executives, and Board members to cultivate philanthropic relationships across the region. With a strategic, donor-centered approach, the VPMA drives revenue, deepens donor loyalty, and builds a strong pipeline for future campaigns and initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional and community experience.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience with a strong emphasis on individual giving and major gifts.
- Proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
- Experience managing and developing a high-performing fundraising team.
- Strong strategic planning, donor relationship-building, and solicitation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation abilities.
- Proficiency with CRM systems.
- Ability to navigate a complex, multi-branch nonprofit environment.
- Deep commitment to the YMCA’s mission, values, and equity work.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in nonprofit management, business, public administration, or related field.
- Experience leading major fundraising campaigns or capital campaigns.
- Familiarity with planned giving vehicles and endowment development.
- Knowledge of Bay Area philanthropic landscape and donor networks.
- Experience partnering with board members and senior volunteer leadership.
- Bilingual or multilingual abilities.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a multi-year individual giving and major gifts strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
- Partner with the Chief Advancement & Strategic Partnerships Officer to set revenue goals, forecast projections, and track performance.
- Lead strategic planning for major gifts, leadership giving, legacy giving, and individual donor stewardship.
- Strengthen organizational readiness for future comprehensive or capital campaigns.
- Manage a high-value portfolio of major donors and prospects capable of significant annual and multi-year investments.
- Conduct donor discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with a strong moves management approach.
- Create compelling cases for support and fundraising materials tailored to donor interests.
- Work closely with the CEO, board members, and volunteer leadership to facilitate donor engagement and solicitations.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing individual giving and major gifts team.
- Provide coaching, professional development, and portfolio strategy guidance to gift officers and advancement staff.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, donor-centered culture grounded in excellence, equity, and shared impact.
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, and performance management for team members.
- Oversee a robust stewardship program that recognizes donor impact and increases retention.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to enhance donor storytelling, impact reporting, and recognition programs.
- Design and support donor engagement events—such as cultivation gatherings, program site visits, leadership briefings, and Heritage Club events.
- Ensure a seamless and personalized donor experience for individual contributors at every giving level.
- Partner closely with Branch Executives to align donor strategies with branch priorities and community needs.
- Work with program leadership to translate mission outcomes into compelling donor engagement opportunities.
- Collaborate with Finance and Operations to ensure accuracy in budgeting, forecasting, data management, and gift reporting.
- Support organization-wide fundraising initiatives, campaigns, and strategic projects as needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
