AVP of Major Giving

Position Summary

The incumbent is a key strategic leader responsible for cultivating, securing, and stewarding significant philanthropic investments to advance the mission of the YMCA. This role ensures execution of leadership giving initiatives and will be focused on major gifts. Additionally, within the scope may include planned giving, and other high-level corporate donor programs. This position works closely with the Chief Development Officer, volunteers, staff, and operation leadership teams to build meaningful relationships with donors, develop personalized giving strategies, and ensure sustainable growth in philanthropic support. This individual serves as a key ambassador for the YMCA, inspiring confidence and commitment among stakeholders to achieve transformational philanthropic impact.

Our Culture

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support 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. We are the Y.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of current and prospective major gift donors, focusing on gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Engage and inspire donors through personalized cultivation strategies, site visits, and stewardship activities.
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer and leadership teams to ensure donor intent and contributions align with organizational goals.
• Participate actively in all stages of the donor engagement cycle, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Author and prepare donor materials, including proposals, collateral, and impact reports.
• Support the development and implementation of a major gifts program for the Association, establishing benchmarks, research strategies, and stewardship plans.
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving Manager to ensure seamless donor management within the CRM system.
• Lead the solicitation and securing of special event sponsorships, including the YMCA Golf Tournament and Prayer Breakfast.
• Manage a small cultivation budget effectively and strategically.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the Annual Giving Manager, while offering training and support to staff and volunteers, cultivating a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization
• Partner with board members and key volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership-level donors.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations and stakeholders to advance the YMCA’s philanthropic mission.
• Oversee project management across multiple sites, supporting team leaders with varying levels of experience.
• Develop and execute strategies to enhance donor stewardship, including program impact reporting, introductions to program leaders, and ongoing engagement initiatives.
• Report all accidents/incidents to your supervisor and follow the Association’s current employee and member injury reporting procedures.  
• All other duties as assigned by management 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Non-profit management, philanthropy or related field required. Advanced degree or philanthropy credentials, a plus. 
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and inspire colleagues without direct supervision
• Experience in developing and executing multi-constituent programs, including strategy development, goal setting, and achievement.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire trust and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders.
• Comprehensive experience in major gifts, planned giving, corporate giving, foundation grants, and special events.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities under pressure.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, which may include weekends and holidays as needed.
• Must be willing to work an on-call schedule rotation as required.
• Must be willing to travel within Central Florida. Must have a valid Driver license. The employee is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. 
• The physical activities of this position include: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, and repetitive motions. Talking is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, with or without correction.
• Required to sit or stand for extended periods of time while demonstrating manual dexterity in order to accurately work on the phone, computer keyboard, and other equipment. 
• The employee must be able to perform light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity, along with the visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned, preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer screen, extensive reading, or to make general observations of facilities or structures. 
• Must possess auditory and verbal capabilities in order to adequately communicate via phone and in person.
• The employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Disclaimers

• Must complete successful background screening, which includes criminal and employment verification. Some positions may additionally require a successful credit check screening. 
• All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. The YMCA promotes an equal employment opportunity work place which includes reasonable accommodation of otherwise qualified disabled applicants and employees. Please see your manager should you have any questions about this policy or these job duties.
• This job description may not be all-inclusive and employees are expected to perform all other duties as assigned and directed by management. Job descriptions and duties may be modified when deemed appropriate by management.