Director of Individual Giving

Position Summary

The Director of Individual Giving serves as a key leader within United Food Bank’s Philanthropy team, responsible for leading the organization’s individual giving strategy, major gifts program, donor engagement efforts, and fundraising operations. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy & Communications Officer, this position provides strategic and operational leadership focused on driving fundraising performance, strengthening donor relationships, and building a culture of accountability and philanthropy across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage philanthropy team members to achieve annual fundraising goals and performance expectations.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), portfolio standards, fundraising metrics, and accountability measures across the philanthropy function.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews, pipeline reviews, moves management meetings, and forecasting discussions to ensure consistent progress toward revenue goals and effective portfolio management practices.
• Oversee portfolio strategy and assignment processes, including evaluating donor qualification, portfolio movement, engagement levels, and determining when donors should be reassigned, advanced, or removed from active portfolios.
• Build operational discipline and consistency across donor engagement activities, stewardship practices, reporting, and fundraising workflows.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve fundraising effectiveness, operational efficiency, donor engagement strategies, and team performance through innovation, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making.
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy & Communications Officer to develop and implement fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities and growth objectives.
• Foster a high-performing, donor-centered culture focused on accountability, execution, and measurable impact.
• Manage a strategic portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship management.
• Oversee donor pipeline management, forecasting, and fundraising performance tracking utilizing Salesforce and related fundraising systems.
• Develop and implement stewardship strategies designed to strengthen donor retention, deepen engagement, and increase philanthropic investment.
• Identify opportunities to grow individual giving and planned giving through strategic donor engagement, relationship management, and long-term cultivation strategies.
• Support the development and advancement of planned giving conversations and legacy giving opportunities with qualified donors and prospects.
• Provide leadership oversight for donor engagement initiatives, including mid-level giving, donor recognition, stewardship, and donor retention programs.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and meaningful donor acknowledgment and communication practices.
• Oversee fundraising reporting processes, donor data integrity, and portfolio management standards to support effective decision-making and fundraising execution.
• Utilize fundraising data, dashboards, and reporting tools to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and improve team effectiveness.
• Support the ongoing optimization of fundraising systems, workflows, reporting structures, and operational processes.
• Ensure fundraising priorities and donor engagement strategies are aligned with organizational messaging and mission impact.
• Represent the Philanthropy Department in organizational initiatives that strengthen donor trust, fundraising effectiveness, and long-term relationship development.
• Work collaboratively with organizational leadership to support strategic philanthropy initiatives and revenue growth.

Qualifications

• Passion for alleviating hunger and serving the community
• Commitment to the organization’s mission and values
• Bachelor’s Degree (BA) or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with at least 3 years managing staff. CFRE preferred
• Proven record of securing major and campaign gifts ($50,000+) and building corporate partnerships
• Experience in capital campaign planning and execution strongly preferred
• Proficiency in Salesforce CRM or similar software required
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple complex projects
• Mission-driven, collaborative, and adaptable
• Comfortable working with senior leadership, Board members, and high-capacity donors
• Self-motivated, dedicated to accomplishing tasks, able to take initiative and solve problems
• Availability and willingness to attend evening or weekend events when needed
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and insurability required

Physical Demands and Work Environment

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms on a daily basis.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• The employee must lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Ability to sit at a computer for extended periods and perform repetitive motions with a mouse and keyboard
• Ability to travel (locally) up to 20% a year for off-site meetings and events

Additional Information

In instances of a federal, state, or locally declared emergency, United Food Bank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.