
Job Opening: Vice President of Advancement
January 30, 2025
REPORTS TO: CEO
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Exempt
POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Vice President of Advancement is responsible for cultivating revenue streams and avenues for fundraising and working proactively with the CEO to ensure the vitality and health of the organization’s budget and advance the organization’s mission. The Vice President of Advancement is also responsible for building and fostering positive and productive relationships among philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders, as well as individual donors vested in supporting and advancing the organization’s programs and services. In addition, the Vice President of Advancement is responsible for the development and execution of the marketing plans, including strategies to engage with target audiences and military families to enhance the brand, increase customer loyalty and retention, and support organizational and business development objectives.
DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the design and implementation of a strategic development and fundraising strategy that advances the mission of the organization.
- Build the fiscal year revenue budget and, alongside the VP of Programs and Senior VP of Operations, build the expense budget.
- Monthly review of the revenue forecast against the budgeted forecast to monitor the organization’s financial health.
- Contribute to the organization’s strategic planning and annual reporting.
- Contribute meaningfully to the establishment of annual goals and the monitoring of progress towards stated goals.
- Lead the planning and execution of the organization’s major fundraisers, including Storybook Ball.
- Oversee third-party contractors in executing the organization’s fundraisers and other special events.
- Continually seeks new opportunities for revenue and donor cultivation.
- Lead the development of grant proposals and reporting requirements.
- Serve as a key representative of the organization in the community, an ambassador for the mission, a liaison with donors, and a communicator of our core messages, programs, and services.
- Conduct regular analyses of donors’ giving to monitor and assess the vitality and health of the organization’s budget; prepare regular giving reports.
- Build and foster relationships among local corporations and the philanthropic community to help achieve the organization’s goals.
- Interface with the organization’s Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Council.
- Represent the organization in public meetings and presentations to the community.
- Supervise the Director of Development, Grants Manager, and Corporate Giving Manager.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Grow, steward, and develop a portfolio of strategic partnerships with leading corporations and nonprofits/foundations aligned with the organization’s mission.
- Lead and develop strategic recommendations through analysis, marketplace evaluation, consumer insights, and understanding of the organization’s strategic priorities.
- Identify unmet needs, goals, opportunities, and challenges in existing partner relationships/structures and create a plan to drive value.
- Coordinate with Vice President of Programs for program partnerships.
- Work with the Board of Trustees Advancement Committee and conduct ADV committee meetings to brief the Board of Trustees.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Direct and lead the development of the marketing strategy and execution in a manner that supports growth and enhances brand awareness.
- Manage messaging and positioning for program participation and donor stewardship.
- Identify and develop high-impact tools such as white papers, brochures, fact sheets, presentations, case studies, business cases, and blog articles.
- Communicate the creation of new marketing content and thought leadership to the organization’s staff to ensure the most up-to-date content is used.
- Work within the organization’s brand guidelines to deliver a consistent messaging brand voice.
- Executive interaction and concise correspondence.
- Supervise the Director of Communication and Marketing.
Note: This document describes typical duties and responsibilities and is not intended to limit management from assigning other work as needed.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- BA/BS degree and 4+ years of relevant and impactful experience; 8 years of relevant and impactful experience may substitute for a degree
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in corporate relations and/or organizational development
- Minimum of 3 years of supervision/team leadership
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:
- Encourages and practices critical thinking
- Is self-reflective and empathetic
- Recognizes the influence of workplace relationships on outcomes and results
- Maintains a respectful and accepting approach to others
- Awareness of the influence of the larger context on individual behavior
- Collaboratively and creatively supports the work efforts of colleagues at all levels and in all areas of the organization
- Exhibits work behaviors consistent with the organization’s core values
- Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
- Ability to work independently and in teams
- Proactive problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Detail-oriented and effective time management skills
- Ability to travel and be flexible
- Demonstrated leadership abilities and strategic thinking
- Veteran or military spouse preferred
- Demonstrated history of working with and understanding of nonprofits, with particular emphasis on development/fundraising
- Demonstrated ability to practice discretion when handling sensitive information for the CEO, Board of Trustees, or acting as a conduit between executives, staff, and partners/donors
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Word), Google Suite Applications, CRM/donor databases (Salesforce preferred), and Project Management Software (Asana preferred)
- Experience with or knowledge of military culture and customs preferred
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- United Through Reading is a virtual organization. Most daily tasks are performed from home or personal office space, utilizing online services and video and audio conferencing.
- Home or personal office space must have stable broadband Internet access, as well as some storage space for supplies.
- Reliable transportation, as well as up-to-date insurance, is required to perform (approx. 5-10%) weekly duties.
- Additionally, some travel (15-25%) may be needed to support local and national events.
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Preference will be given to someone located in the DC area.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- The employee must lift and/or move 25 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
Salary: $100,000-$120,000
Please send your resume and cover letter to sallyzoll@utr.org