Campaign Director

Located in the mountains of western North Carolina, the YMCA of WNC is a fast paced, mission-driven Y making a difference across the region.
Job Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Financial Development, the Campaign Director will play a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the YMCA of Western North Carolina. This is a highly visible fundraising role in the organization and the community. This position is responsible for helping the VP manage efficient fundraising operations, developing their own donor portfolio in addition to overseeing the organization’s comprehensive donor portfolio, and orchestrating collaboration, alignment, and success across a broad and dispersed team. They guide each YMCA team to ensure goals are met and best practices are followed resulting in sustained and measurable growth in annual fundraising efforts. They play a key role developing sustainable streams of contributed income, while enhancing the donor and volunteer experience.  The successful candidate will have exemplary operational and leadership skills along with a demonstrated track record of fundraising success and establishing long-term relationships with internal and external constituents, preferably major donors and fundraising volunteers.

Qualifications
  • Five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising.
  • Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience. CFRE and experience within a YMCA preferred.
  • The successful candidate will be a strategic, creative team leader with a vision for the Y’s fundraising potential and who can support the VP’s vision for philanthropy while maximizing results.
  • Experience with prospect development and proven track record of navigating a large constituency.
  • Demonstrated success with cultivating a caseload of donors giving $5,000 and greater annually.
  • The Director will have a proven track record in building, managing, and mentoring a highly effective, diverse and dispersed team.
  • Ability to successfully direct program and meet high-pressure deadlines through the indirect supervision of others including volunteers and staff.
  • Ability to work across teams to manage multiple projects and events associated with fundraising and/or mission and program awareness.
  • Excellent communication skills and exemplary interpersonal skills.
  • Possess the ability to work collaboratively and independently to achieve association goals and time-sensitive deadlines.
  • Independent decision-making, attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills are necessary.
  • Experience with Board volunteer engagement and the ability to maintain a high level of diplomacy.
  • Represents the association in the community as needed and displays a professional and values-based demeanor.
Essential Functions
  • Direct association-level fundraising strategies under the guidance of the VP of Financial Development in collaboration with development and association leadership teams.
  • Responsible for managing efforts of a broad team of direct and indirect reports generating $1.5-3M in annual contributed revenue.
  • Implement best practices and accountability measures to increase contributed revenue through donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade, focusing on mid-level and major giving.
  • Manage the organization’s donor and prospect portfolio, establishing a platform for significant growth in the near future.
  • Collaborate with organizational leadership, staff and volunteers to identify, cultivate, and solicit individual, family foundation, and business prospects with the capacity to make commitments of $25,000+.
  • Create proposals and secure gifts independently and in collaboration with staff and volunteers.
  • Design and implement plans to increase annual contributed revenue, ensuring all fundraising efforts support the broader comprehensive fundraising goals including major, capital and planned giving.  
  • Collaborate with leadership to recruit, train, manage and empower volunteers to support comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
  • Collaborate with institutional fundraising team to ensure continuity and alignment of relationships in the community.
  • Lead prospect development and moves management efforts, ensuring all major and mid-level donors have active donor engagement plans.
  • Support the VP in organizing dashboards, analyzing trends and forecasting revenue.
  • Implement and lead through a team approach, guiding and directing operational staff and frontline leaders in working to achieve stretch fundraising goals.
  • Train, develop, and coach a team of mid-level and major donor relationship managers, leading through indirect and collaborative management with supervisors.
  • Develop a continuum of support, leveraging the Y’s annual campaign, membership and program constituencies to develop increased mid-level, major and planned gift donors.
  • Implement innovation and an annual plan for donor acquisition, peer-to-peer fundraising, digital engagement and direct response fundraising.
  • Ensure all annual, major, and capital giving ultimately support the development of strong planned giving and growth of the Y’s endowment.  
  • Collaborate with marketing department to develop and manage a year-round donor communication plan.
  • Guide and oversee comprehensive stewardship efforts, ensuring all donors receive and feel appropriately appreciated and recognized with clear understanding of the impact of their giving.  
  • Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of the Y’s cases for support, mission, and community needs to articulate the top priorities and fundraising objectives to donors.
  • Assist in other projects and duties as needed and requested by the VP of Financial Development.
  • Model inclusive management behaviors and embrace all dimensions of diversity by building strong teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to advancing our mission.
  • Responsible for hiring, coaching, and mentoring all direct reports and ensuring alignment with the organization’s personnel policy and HR practices within their scope of responsibility through quarterly check-ins and annual reviews with service line/department team.
  • Implements a results-based management approach and ensures service line/department is actively working towards association-level objectives by assessing progress towards identified goals/KPIs, provides ongoing coaching and feedback, and discusses development opportunities.
  • Supporting the budgeting process within their service line/department ensuring that resources are devoted to top priorities and strategic objectives.
  • Identifies growth opportunities, conducts forecasting regularly, and corrects financial deficiencies on a timely basis through monthly variance reports with organizational leaders and implements action plans to meet budgeted financial targets.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Mission Advancement: Reinforces the Y’s values within the organization and the community. Effectively communicates the benefits and impact of the YMCA’s efforts for all stakeholders. Implements effective systems to develop volunteers at program, fundraising, and policy leadership levels. Secures resources and support for all philanthropic endeavors.

Collaboration: Develops strategies to ensure staff and volunteers reflect the community. Builds
and nurtures strategic relationships to enhance support for the YMCA. Serves as a community leader
building collaborations based on trust and credibility to advance YMCA mission and goals. Communicates for influence to attain buy-in and support of goals. Provides tools and resources for the development of others.

Operational Effectiveness: Integrates multiple thinking processes to make decisions. Involves members and community in the development of programs and activities. Ensures execution of plans. Institutes sound accounting procedures, investment policies, and financial controls. Assigns clear accountability and ensures continuous improvement.

Personal Growth: Fosters a learning environment embracing diverse abilities and approaches. Creates a sense of urgency and positive tension to support change. Anticipates challenges that can sidetrack or derail growth and personal learning. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Required Certifications

ABOUT US

The YMCA of Western North Carolina is one of the region’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, and has been developing lasting personal and social change in the community for more than 125 years. Part of our social responsibility is becoming an anti-racist/multi-cultural organization by exposing racism and fighting the constructs that perpetuate racism, which affects all cultures. The Y of WNC primarily serves Buncombe, Henderson, and McDowell counties, engaging more than 39,000 households through membership, programs, and child care. Our programs nurture the greatness in every child, promote well-being throughout the community, and give back to our neighbors in need. Regardless of age, income, or background, we strive to improve the area's health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support our community.

At the YMCA of Western North Carolina, we look for individuals passionate about giving back to the community and helping people. We bring our mission and core values to life through our culture: We are welcoming: by being open to all. We are genuine: by valuing you and embracing your individuality. We are hopeful: by believing in you and your potential. We are nurturing: by supporting you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: Above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.