Vice President, Development (Major Gifts)

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Vice President (VP) of Development is a strategic fundraising leader responsible for building, managing, and growing a comprehensive major gifts program that generates transformational philanthropic support for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. The VP will cultivate, solicit, steward, and close gifts from high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and/or corporate donors capable of making investments of $10,000 and above, while developing a robust pipeline for future major donors.

This position plays a critical role in advancing BGCMA's Lasting Impact 2030 Strategic Plan by increasing philanthropic investment in youth development, workforce readiness, academic success, and organizational sustainability. The VP will partner closely with the Chief Growth Officer, President & CEO, Board of Trustees, County Boards, and volunteer leaders to deepen relationships with donors and secure significant philanthropic support.

Major Gifts Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy that increases philanthropic revenue and donor engagement.
• Personally manage a portfolio of 100-150 qualified major gift prospects and donors.
• Conduct ongoing prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Develop customized donor engagement and solicitation strategies designed to secure gifts of $10,000 and above.
• Create annual fundraising plans with measurable goals, strategies, and revenue projections.
• Build a strong pipeline for future major donors through strategic moves management.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Conduct meaningful face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings, club visits, and engagement opportunities with donors and prospects.
• Develop compelling cases for support aligned with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Lead individualized donor stewardship plans that strengthen retention and increase giving levels.
• Ensure timely acknowledgment, recognition, reporting, and appreciation activities for donors.
• Partner with club leadership and program staff to connect donors with mission impact.

Executive and Board Engagement

• Work closely with the President & CEO and Chief Growth Officer to identify, cultivate, and solicit high-capacity donors.
• Partner with Board members and volunteer leaders on relationship mapping, prospect strategy, and donor introductions.
• Prepare leadership and volunteers for donor meetings, presentations, and solicitations.
• Facilitate volunteer engagement in fundraising activities and major gift cultivation efforts.

Strategic Planning & Revenue Growth

• Support achievement of annual fundraising goals and long-range development objectives.
• Collaborate with Annual Giving, Institutional Giving, Corporate Partnerships, and Special Events teams to create integrated donor strategies.
• Analyze donor trends, giving patterns, and fundraising performance to identify growth opportunities.
• Utilize data and analytics to strengthen donor retention, upgrade strategies, and campaign performance.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide leadership, coaching, and support to major gifts staff, as assigned.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, excellence, and donor-centered fundraising.
• Participate as a key member of the Resource Development leadership team.
• Support organization-wide initiatives that strengthen fundraising capacity and community engagement.

Operational Excellence

• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, proposals, and forecasts within the organization's CRM.
• Monitor portfolio performance through key metrics and regular reporting.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and donor stewardship best practices.
• Manage expense budgets associated with donor cultivation and stewardship activities.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.
• CFRE certification preferred.
• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, business, public administration, communications, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of successful nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated track record of securing and closing five-, six-, and preferably seven-figure gifts.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio and complex donor relationships.
• Experience partnering with boards, executives, and volunteers in fundraising activities.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, and prospect management best practices.
• Experience within a large nonprofit or youth-serving organization preferred.
• Familiarity with the Atlanta philanthropic community strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to inspire confidence and credibility with donors, board members, and community leaders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Salesforce CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and youth development.

Physical and Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment with regular in-person donor meetings and club visits.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events and community engagements.
• Travel throughout Metro Atlanta required.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and youth development.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.

Hybrid office environment with occasional need to travel to club locations within the Metro Atlanta area. Frequent internal contacts with employees throughout organization required.

Exempt employees are not entitled, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), to the protections of the wage and hour laws of the state or the FLSA. Exempt employees must always be paid on a salary basis and not be subject to reduction based on the quality or quantity of work performed.

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.