Job Location

Lifsey-Development

Job Summary:

The Director of Philanthropy advances Goodwill's mission by managing a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, cultivating strategic donor relationships, and securing philanthropic support for organizational priorities. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, this position serves as a frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors while supporting the organization's capital campaign and other strategic fundraising initiatives.

The Director of Philanthropy serves as a relationship-focused fundraiser who actively builds partnerships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and community leaders. This position leads donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition efforts while working closely with the Vice President of Development to advance fundraising priorities and philanthropic growth.

The Director of Philanthropy oversees fundraising and donor engagement events, including ownership of the annual Impact Awards Luncheon, and supervises the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager. Working collaboratively across the organization, this leader ensures that philanthropy efforts align with Goodwill's mission and strategic priorities while creating meaningful opportunities for donors to invest in transforming lives through education, training, and employment services.

The Director of Philanthropy will promote a positive work environment that celebrates our vision, mission, and core values of Teamwork, Respect, Uprightness, and Empowerment in every action and interaction with team members, donors, customers, management, volunteers, and persons served.

Job Description

Essential Functions

Major Gift Fundraising & Donor Portfolio Management

Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors and high-capacity prospects through intentional cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management.
Maintain an active portfolio of major gift donors and prospects and conduct regular donor visits, tours, cultivation meetings, solicitations, and stewardship activities.
Develop and execute individualized donor engagement strategies designed to increase donor retention, giving levels, and long-term philanthropic investment.
Conduct regular donor visits, presentations, tours, and stewardship meetings to deepen relationships and secure philanthropic support.
Identify, qualify, and cultivate new donor prospects through networking, referrals, research, community engagement, and donor database analysis.
Establish and achieve annual fundraising goals related to major gifts, sponsorships, and philanthropic revenue.

Capital Campaign & Strategic Giving

Support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects for the Goodwill capital campaign and other strategic fundraising priorities.
Partner with the Vice President of Development to develop prospect strategies, donor proposals, campaign materials, and solicitation plans.
Assist with campaign donor engagement activities, recognition opportunities, and stewardship initiatives.

Donor Research, Data Management & Pipeline Development

Utilize donor databases, wealth screening tools, and fundraising analytics to identify prospective donors and opportunities for increased engagement.
Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, moves management plans, and fundraising activity within organizational systems.
Analyze donor giving trends and portfolio performance to inform fundraising strategies and identify opportunities to move donors to higher levels of support.
Generate reports and fundraising metrics to monitor progress toward revenue goals and donor engagement objectives.

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

Cultivate and solicit corporate partners and sponsors, with a particular focus on sponsorship revenue for the annual Impact Awards Luncheon and other fundraising initiatives.
Develop meaningful partnership opportunities that align corporate interests with Goodwill's mission and strategic priorities.
Steward corporate partners to ensure long-term engagement and investment.

Events & Community Engagement

Lead the planning, fundraising strategy, sponsorship development, and overall success of the annual Impact Awards Luncheon, serving as the primary Development team lead for the event.
Provide strategic oversight for donor engagement and fundraising events while directing event logistics and execution through the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager.
Collaborate with staff, volunteers, board members, sponsors, and vendors to ensure high-quality event execution and donor experiences.
Support the development and engagement of the Goodwill Young Leaders Council, helping cultivate future donors, advocates, and community partners.

Leadership & Team Supervision

Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager.
Oversee the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager's work related to volunteer recruitment, engagement, stewardship, and community outreach activities.
Direct the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager's support of donor engagement events, fundraising events, sponsorship fulfillment, tours, and other Development Department activities.
Ensure volunteer and community engagement efforts are aligned with broader donor cultivation, stewardship, and corporate partnership objectives.
Work collaboratively with marketing, mission, finance, and executive leadership teams to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities.

Stewardship, Communications & Representation

Ensure donors receive timely, meaningful stewardship and recognition that reflects the impact of their support.
Represent Goodwill professionally throughout the community, building awareness and support among donors, partners, civic organizations, and community leaders.
Assist with donor communications, proposals, reports, and presentations that effectively communicate organizational impact and funding opportunities.

Compliance & Professional Standards

Ensure adherence to ethical fundraising principles, organizational policies, and industry best practices.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all donor and organizational interactions.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience will be considered.

Experience

Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing donor relationships.
Experience managing donor portfolios and executing moves-management strategies.
Experience planning and executing fundraising events and sponsorship programs.
Supervisory experience preferred.

Knowledge / Skills

Demonstrated success in major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage donors, executives, board members, volunteers, and community leaders.
Strong prospect research and donor qualification skills.
Proficiency with donor databases and fundraising CRM systems, including donor analytics and reporting.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments and with external stakeholders.
Commitment to Goodwill's mission and values.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee

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Director of Philanthropy