Vice President, Advancement

Big Brother & Big Sister of Independence Region•Philadelphia, PA

2d•$140,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) is the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the nation. Its mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth, while collaborating to strengthen the mentoring field and close the mentoring gap. As BBBSI grows in scale, complexity, and impact, the Vice President of Advancement will set the strategic direction for fundraising and resource development. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role is a key member of the leadership team and participates in strategic decisions affecting the organization. The position works with senior leadership, the board, and staff to advance BBBSI’s mission, foster a culture of philanthropy, lead donor development, and secure sustainable funding. The role calls for an emotionally intelligent leader skilled in people management, strategic planning, and delivering results. The position oversees fundraising, marketing, and communications; manages donor relationships and advancement plans; leads and develops staff; and partners with the board and committees on fundraising and engagement. It also represents BBBSI to donors, prospects, and other external stakeholders. This position follows a hybrid work model and requires commuting to the office two days per week. The work environment is office-based with moderate noise. Travel for donor meetings, events, and other organizational activities is required, along with evening and weekend work as needed. Physical demands include remaining sedentary for extended periods, lifting up to 25 pounds, and performing routine physical movements. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
Minimum of five years of people-management experience.
Proven leadership, project-management, and people-management skills.
Strong multitasking and prioritization abilities.
Excellent interpersonal, intercultural, and written communication skills.
Strategic thinking and a deep understanding of development.
Experience with CRM systems.
Ability to manage annual revenue budgets of $5 million or more and prepare financial reports.
Event-planning expertise and ability to manage multiple projects.
High energy, positive attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail.
Commitment to BBBSI’s mission and philosophy.
Ability to interact professionally with diverse constituencies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and discretion in handling confidential information.
Ability to commute to the office two days per week.
Ability to travel for donor meetings, events, and other organizational activities, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
Ability to remain sedentary for extended periods, lift up to 25 pounds, and perform routine physical movements.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Fundraising experience in a human services or nonprofit environment is ideal.
Salesforce experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the CEO, board, leadership team, and staff to define BBBSI’s mission, vision, and strategic direction.
Contribute to short- and long-term planning, including organizational development and effectiveness.
Ensure fundraising aligns with organizational values and strategic plans.
Participate in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model, using shared priorities, measurable goals, and regular leadership meetings to support accountability and execution.
Monitor philanthropy trends and recommend policy positions.
Develop diversified fundraising strategies to attract, retain, and motivate donors and volunteers.
Serve as a visible BBBSI ambassador through public appearances, professional networking, social media, and other communications.
Participate in agency-approved photographs, videos, interviews, and promotional content in accordance with the media release policy.
Oversee fundraising activities, including the annual fund; individual, foundation, corporate, and planned giving; Regional Advisory Board engagement; and marketing and communications.
Develop and oversee annual advancement plans and budgets aligned with organizational priorities and best practices.
Manage a donor portfolio, particularly major gifts, and identify and cultivate individual, corporate, and foundation prospects; lead moves-management strategies to secure new and upgraded revenue.
Enter donor activity into Salesforce accurately and on time, and independently manage administrative tasks associated with the role and portfolio.
Establish, track, and report Advancement key performance indicators.
Set the vision, strategy, and objectives for fundraising and engagement events, and provide leadership and support for execution.
Ensure compliance with regulations, ethical standards, internal policies, and gift acceptance policies; maintain donor accountability and professional conduct.
Create a rewarding environment for staff and volunteers and represent BBBSI to donors, prospects, and external stakeholders.
Select, develop, motivate, and evaluate fundraising and marketing staff to build a high-performing, collaborative, accountable team.
Coach direct reports, including weekly one-on-one meetings to review priorities, progress, challenges, development, and support needs.
Establish clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, and performance goals aligned with departmental and organizational priorities.
Provide timely, constructive feedback, address performance issues, recognize contributions, conduct evaluations, and support professional development.
Build team capacity and succession strength by identifying development opportunities and supporting staff growth.
Serve as staff liaison to the Advancement Committee, attending meetings and completing follow-up activities.
Partner with board and committee chairs to fulfill fundraising roles and optimize engagement.
Encourage participatory decision-making and collaborative fundraising initiatives.
Design and implement cost-effective fundraising programs with a strong return on investment.
Lead major-gift fundraising and multiyear campaigns, including strategy development, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
Oversee campaign planning, communications, vendor relations, and consultant management.
Maintain data integrity and fiscal responsibility and ensure ethical standards throughout campaigns.
Conduct post-campaign evaluations and capture lessons learned.
Oversee marketing and communications strategies to enhance BBBSI’s visibility and reputation.
Review and support crisis communications to protect organizational integrity.
Lead profile-raising initiatives to increase audience engagement and fund development.
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging across channels.