Director of Philanthropy

About the role

This position leads the Agency's comprehensive fundraising program to increase charitable support and advance its mission and strategic priorities. This position builds relationships with donors and community partners, oversees philanthropy staff and programs, and collaborates with leadership, Board members, and colleagues across the Agency to achieve fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic direction and oversight for the Agency's comprehensive philanthropy program, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants, sponsorships, special campaigns, events, municipal funding, and other charitable revenue opportunities.
• Develop and implement an annual philanthropy plan aligned with the Agency's mission, strategic priorities, and financial goals.
• Establishes annual fundraising goals and develops and manages the department budget in collaboration with the CEO and CFO as well as other leadership as appropriate.
• Maintains a personal portfolio of donors and prospects and participates in all aspects of the donor cycle, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, prospective donors, businesses, foundations, community partners, and other stakeholders to expand philanthropic support.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for planned gifts and special, capital, or endowment campaigns that advance the Agency's long-term strategic priorities.
• Provides oversight of the Agency's grant program, including identifying funding opportunities, coordinating applications, monitoring deadlines and deliverables, and supporting required reporting and compliance.
• Leads the planning and execution of annual appeals, fundraising events, donor-recognition activities, sponsorships, and approved third-party fundraising initiatives. Maintains a coordinated calendar of philanthropy activities and deadlines.
• Oversee the preparation of donor communications, solicitation and sponsorship materials, acknowledgments, impact reports, and stewardship communications in collaboration with Marketing and Communications, as appropriate.
• Supervises, supports, and evaluates the Philanthropy Database Coordinator and other assigned staff, providing clear expectations, training, feedback, and professional development. Oversee the accuracy and integrity of the donor database and the effective coordination of municipal and town funding requests, mailings, records, reporting, and follow-up activities.
• Oversee the Agency's thrift store as a mission-based fundraising and community engagement program, including supervision of thrift store employees, support and recognition of volunteers, monitoring of financial performance, and collaboration with Marketing and Communications on promotions and events.
• Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, supporting the committee chair, preparing reports and meeting materials, coordinating follow-up, and engaging committee members in philanthropy activities.
• Represents the Agency at donor visits, community meetings, events, presentations, and other activities; maintains donor confidentiality; follows ethical