Summary

The Vice President of Philanthropy will provide leadership and strategic vision and ensure operational excellence for a comprehensive annual development program as well as a transformational comprehensive fundraising campaign (called the VVF Empowering Possibility Campaign) with a total goal of $72 million over the coming three to four years.

Description

THE OPPORTUNITY : To be a fundraising and business leader within a mission-driven, community-focused and team-oriented organization that serves those who work, live, and visit the Vail Valley through programming arts, athletics, and education and community supports. To work with a committed and creative executive team and board of directors, provide strategic vision and operational know-how across all philanthropy functions, and embrace an entrepreneurial spirit within an admired and evolving place-based organization.

POSITION SUMMARY : The Vice President of Philanthropy will provide leadership and strategic vision and ensure operational excellence for a comprehensive annual development program as well as a transformational comprehensive fundraising campaign (called the VVF Empowering Possibility Campaign) with a total goal of $72 million over the coming three to four years. The Campaign goals of $72 million does not include the annual fundraising goals of the organization across all funds which is approximately $13 million per year. This exciting campaign will include capital, select endowments, program underwriting, and naming rights and will ensure VVF’s success for the next one, to two generations. The VVF has a loyal and generous donor base with nearly 1,500 annual donors who contribute between $25 and $250,000 in annual commitments that total approximately $13 million per year. These funds are generated through existing annual funds, capital funds, President of Philanthropy will lead and mentor a team of 12 development professionals with six of these 12 staff as direct reports.

Specific Responsibilities:

Serve as a visible ambassador for the VVF, and model professional behavior and excellence for the entire organization.
Provide guidance and staff support to VVF board members in consultation with the VVF President and facilitate their engagement across the entire development process.
Manage and steward a portfolio of approximately 75 to 100 existing VVF donors. Serve as the primary relationship manager for these 75 to 100 donors and cultivate and renew their annual giving across the organization.
Serve as the staff liaison to the Chair of the Development Committee and administratively lead all Development Committee planning and meeting execution.
Create and refine a one-year, and three-year development plan that supports the VVF’s current strategic plan, annual giving and the Empowering Possibility Campaign.
Prepare an operating plan that rationalizes current donor programs and approaches, and establishes a firm foundation for a more ambitious, multi-year plan to increase annual, capital, and special-purpose funding.
Maintain and grow the VVF’s planned giving efforts.
Lead and participate in the VVF’s year-round programs and philanthropy-related events, including but not limited to performances at the Gerald R Ford Amphitheater and the Vilar; athletic events including the annual Birds of Prey World Cup, First Light, First Tracks skiing, and Future Founders Club sport outings; galas and special events including the Star Dancing Gala and Black Diamond Ball; YouthPower365 fundraising events; and social receptions.
In collaboration with the VVF President, the established Empowering Possibility Campaign Steering Committee, Board Executive Community, VVF Board Chair and VVF Development Committee Chair lead and steward the Empowering Possibility Campaign to success over the coming three to four years.

Qualifications & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required, master’s or advanced professional degree, preferred.
Exceptional experience in leading a nonprofit revenue generating function that grew over time and yielded a minimum of $10 million per year.
Proven skills in managing a team ranging from entry level to experienced professionals and ensuring individual results through proper coaching and mentoring.
Strong alignment with the values of a mission-driven organization, and a culture that highly values and nurtures supportive relationships among all stakeholders.
Successful leadership and completion of a multi-year major fundraising campaign.
Proficient knowledge of nonprofit CRM databases for the purpose of donor engagement, new donor cultivation, and financial management and stewardship of donor relationships including marketing and PR and ongoing communications. Examples of database platform software in which this position will need to be highly proficient are Blackbaud or Tessitura.
Robust knowledge of nonprofits and development function and processes, whether acquired as a development professional, board member, donor, and/or volunteer.
Proficient knowledge of the IRS rules and regulations governing nonprofits, and all gifts including those from private foundations, IRA’s, estate gifts, and Donor Advised Funds, to name several.
Knowledge of and hands-on experience with various charitable gift tools and structures including but not limited to charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, and charitable remainder trusts.
A self-starter with a known ability to carry out responsibilities without detailed direction who can handle competing demands with tact and creativity.
Comfort in one’s own being, and proven interpersonal skills that enable effortless interaction with everyone, whether a board member or a program client.
Excellent communicator, both in spoken and written form and a confident and capable public speaker, and excellent listening skills.
Administrative excellence with superb time management skills allowing the leader to simultaneously stay focused on the big picture and large, future strategic plans, as well as delivering every day on smaller tasks.
Quantitative skills that enable ease in using metrics to determine meaningful goals and measure progress toward them, and extensive experience in financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting.
Proven knowledge and experience with the process of institutional State, Federal, and other Private granting institutions.
A great sense of humor, and an intrinsic understanding of when to use humor.
Must be able to successfully pass a background check.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

Strong familiarity with the key elements of a comprehensive development program,
including experience with annual funds, capital campaigns, planned giving, and
special events.
Knowledge of the current economic and social issues facing the Vail Valley.
Substantial experience or involvement with the arts, athletics, education and / or
significant community development initiatives.

The ideal candidate will be committed to living in our community year-round, possess a love of the mountain lifestyle in the Vail Valley; encompass an entrepreneurial spirit; live an energetic, passionate, and creative approach to life and work; and hold a belief in the VVF’s mission of service. This leader will convey a mature confidence in leading and managing change in a dynamic environment and will possess a calm ability to handle both ambiguity, conflict, and paradox. An important ingredient of the successful culture of the VVF is that the executive team roles up their sleeves and is willing to dive into any issue or project in support of their respective teams and the needs of the organization. The Vice President of Philanthropy will lead from the front, lead by example, engender a sense of trust and be viewed by the board, partners,
colleagues, and staff as a strong collaborator who makes the entire team more effective. The highly qualified candidate will also appreciate how the arts, athletics, education, and community improvement efforts offer unparalleled opportunities for learning and growth, and that the VVF is the regional leader
in making such opportunities available and accessible to all.

Benefits

This is a salaried, exempt, full time year-round position eligible for all VVF employment benefits.

Salary range is $165,000 to $195,000 depending on experience. Application window closes March 1, 2025.

Benefits:

Our employees are a critical part of who we are, and employee wellness is an important priority for our organization. As a result, we offer an array of employee benefits, including but not limited to:

Affordable HDHP employee and family health insurance plan
Dental plan
Vision plan
Flexible Spending Account
Health Savings Account with company match
401k retirement plans with company match
Basic life insurance
Short and long term disability plans
Paid time off: 4+ weeks accrual on year 1
Volunteer paid time off
Employee Assistance Program
Added Perks!
- Free employee ski pass
- Tickets to shows at the VPAC and The Amp
- Discounts at the GFRA concessions
- Tuition reimbursement