Careers at Make-A-Wish Utah

Director of Philanthropy

Job Title:  Director of Philanthropy Full-Time, Exempt Position

Supervisor:  Chief Development Officer

Job Summary: Create and advance relationships with donors to support Make-A-Wish Utah. Implement the Major Giving Program by establishing and executing procedures to qualify, engage, solicit, and grow a portfolio of donors with a gift capacity of $7,500 and above.

Location: Make-A-Wish Utah 771 E Winchester St Murray, UT 84107 Murray, UT: Hybrid with a requirement to be in the office a minimum of three days a week.

 

THE ORGANIZATION

Make-A-Wish Utah creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Its work brings joy and healing to the children who receive wishes — and to those who help grant them. Research shows children who have wishes granted build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness, improving their quality of life and producing better health outcomes.

Founded in 1985, Make-A-Wish Utah serves all children ages 2 ½ to 18 with life-threatening illnesses. Granting over 230 wishes a year, MAWU has a committed network of board members and advisors as well as an extensive network of over 200 volunteers throughout the state. Make-A-Wish Utah has granted over 4,600 wishes to date and is committed to reaching its ambitious goal of granting the wish of every eligible Utah child.

 

MAJOR GIFT & INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISING – 80%

  • Qualify, develop, and maintain year-round relationships with a portfolio of 100-150 individual gift donors or prospects to grow immediate funding, long-term funding, and planned gifts.
  • Build donor relationships through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity.
  • Grow annual revenue from individual donors through relationship-based fundraising and strategic moves management, with an emphasis on long-term stewardship and engagement.
  • Create plans for individual engagement, stewardship, and giving goals for each donor based on giving history, relationship, and the organization's knowledge of the donor's giving potential.
  • Work with the Director of Communications to consistently refresh Case for Support for donor solicitation meetings.
  • Provide regular updates to the Chief Development Officer regarding major gift solicitations, moves management strategies, and requests for leadership engagement/stewardship.
  • Prepare for regular portfolio review meetings and moves management discussions in partnership with the Chief Development Officer and CEO.
  • Set up donor meetings that include the CDO, CEO, and board members as appropriate, with focus on solicitation and/or strategic stewardship.
  • Identify and communicate potential opportunities outside of individual scope and/or relationships to increase the chapter's ability to raise funds and grant wishes.
  • Opportunity to create giving societies and specific affinity funds
  • Help craft and execute Make-A-Wish Utah’s building capital campaign strategy

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT – 20%

  • Work closely with stewardship manager to communicate impact to donors
  • Implement a Major Gifts Program, including qualification to solicitation standards, and ensure that procedures and tools of Major Gifts Program are clear, well-implemented, and effective.
  • Represent Make-A-Wish Utah at community events, including after-hours activities.
  • Monitor expense and revenue projections for the major gifts program against metrics.
  • Work closely with Director of IT & Analytics to build systems and reports in CRM that mine data to guide major giving strategies

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Personal passion for, and knowledge of, the Make-A-Wish mission, model, and impact.
  • Creative, bold, and enthusiastic approach to philanthropy.
  • Ability to build and sustain positive and productive relationships with colleagues,
  • Eagerness to connect with supporters
  • Ability to synthesize complex organizational challenges into simple, compelling, and personalized calls to action.
  • Understanding of fundamental best practices in donor relations, fundraising ethics, major gifts and planned giving.
  • Proven active listening skills as well as negotiation and influencing skills.
  • BS/BA (or equivalent work experience), plus at least 5 years of related work experience in fundraising.
  • 5+ years of significant, demonstrated ability to successfully develop purposeful relationships, cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting gifts from individuals at all levels of giving and influence.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, prioritizing, and organizational skills.
  • Experience with computer systems and databases. Proficient in Microsoft Office. Knowledge of Raisers’ Edge and/or Salesforce is a plus.
  • Knowledge of the regional philanthropic community is highly desirable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Ability to sit and utilize a computer for long periods.
  • Regular attendance is an essential function of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
  • Local and regional travel required, must have reliable transportation; access to personal vehicle strongly preferred.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work performed; it is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and required skills for the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.