Vice President of Individual Giving

About GLAAD

As the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, GLAAD is at the forefront of accelerating acceptance to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation that leads to cultural change. For over 35 years, GLAAD has been a dynamic media force rewriting the script for LGBTQ acceptance. Our work tackles tough issues that shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. 

The work of GLAAD is a campaign-style work environment that operates on a breaking news cycle; there is always a high level of energy and rapid activity for everyone in the organization; preparing for the next events/campaigns to accomplish our important media advocacy work, challenging anti-LGBTQ activism, and changing hearts and minds about our need for full equality. Staff members are expected to consciously and continuously promote the mission, values, programs, and impact of the organization when presented with opportunities for participating in membership development and reaching out to personal connections on behalf of GLAAD.

GLAAD operates with support from foundations, corporations, and individuals from every corner of the United States. Our highly skilled team of more than 60 staff works out of our Headquarters in New York, Los Angeles, and remotely. 

The Opportunity

The Vice President of Individual Giving is charged with leading, developing, and executing a comprehensive, integrated individual giving program, including creating meaningful and multiple opportunities for donors to invest in GLAAD’s mission and programmatic initiatives at all giving levels. This role reports directly to the Chief Development Officer and serves as a key member of the Development Department’s management team, alongside the Vice President of Strategic Partnership. They will work with them to strengthen current fundraising strategies, set strategic goals, and train and develop staff.

The Vice President, of Individual Giving will thoughtfully coordinate activities of the Major, Annual, and Planned Giving teams to maximize long-term revenue and donor engagement. This role will also be responsible for personally cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of individual prospects with six- and seven-figure capacity and will provide stewardship and support to donors and prospects in the portfolio of executive leadership, including but not limited to the President & CEO. They will lead a team of 4 including the Senior Major Gifts Officer, Philanthropy Officer, Senior Director of Membership, and Senior Memberships Associate. The successful candidate will exhibit sophisticated management skills and a strong orientation toward teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, strategy, and accountability. 

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide guidance, direction, and leadership to the Individual Giving team, ensuring strategies and support systems are in place to achieve department goals and objectives with an eye toward growth

• Develop overall strategic direction, objectives, and budget for all Individual Giving (current budget: $3.4M)

• Manage and report on team progress, challenges, successes, and needs to the Chief Development Officer

• Collaborate with the entire Development department and Senior Organizational Leadership to meet and exceed annual goals

• Partner with members of the Board to achieve the personal and individual components of their annual give/get goals

• Create opportunities for engaging donors to demonstrate the impact of their giving and growing their gifts to events, campaigns, and other fundraising efforts

• Collaborate with external partners and consultants to support new organizational fundraising initiatives to diversify income streams and overall organizational financial stability 

• Collaborate with the Fundraising Operations team to effectively oversee Gift Officers’ usage of the donor database to track fundraising plans, opportunities, and actions

Major Giving

• In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer, create the vision and implementation plan for the major gifts program to increase unrestricted gifting from high-net-worth individuals, including sophisticated prospect research, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and build and manage a pipeline of new individual donors

• Oversee and build out new donor affinity groups such as Parents for Progress and the GLAAD Ambassador programs

• Support key donors, including the Board of Directors, and develop new ways to engage donors through cultivation experiences and events  

• Support and help manage the President & CEO’s major gifts portfolio 

• Develop, execute, and measure the performance of tailored outreach strategies

• Execute strategic prospect research to secure financial support from new donors 

Annual Giving

• Build a growth strategy for annual donors (<$1500 annually), including enhanced strategies through monthly donor programs, merchandise, and digital fundraising

• Manage current donor engagement programs and create and implement plans to successfully grow them or create new initiatives aligned with GLAAD’s strategic priorities

• Supervise the Senior Director of Membership and collaborate on growth strategy and assessments of current initiatives

• Provide oversight and guidance for all membership communications including the monthly newsletter and annual campaigns

Planned Giving 

• Create a sustainable planned giving strategy utilizing best industry practices including an implementation plan, recognition program, recruitment, and stewardship.

• Oversee the reception and acknowledgment of realized bequests 

Candidate Profile | Competencies | Personal Qualities

The ideal candidate should possess the following experience, competencies, and personal qualities:

Experience | Education: 

• Minimum of 10 years experience in major gifts and individual giving with a proven track record of raising significant revenues to support a social impact cause, start-up venture, or nonprofit enterprise 

• Experience in engaging and supporting high-net-worth individuals’ giving and proven ability to create sustainable pipelines of donors (five- to six-figure annual gifts)

• Proven track record in developing annual giving programs and conceptualizing new campaigns utilizing a range of tactics

 Competencies | Personal qualities

• A strong commitment and passion for GLAAD’s mission and core values

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and successfully in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals and closing gifts

• Entrepreneurial and open to risks and failing forward 

• Excels at forming and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders 

• Excellent writer with experience in drafting correspondence in different voices and developing fundraising proposals and reports

• Ability to adapt quickly, plan for, prioritize, and manage multiple projects while working in a fast-paced environment both as part of a team and independently

• Highly organized and deadline-oriented

• Works collaboratively across the Development department and institution

• Ability to work in donor databases and to leverage the tool fully for fundraising

• Experience using Client Relationship Management (CRM) software, with a particular background in Salesforce highly preferred but not required

• Keen attention to detail with the ability to track multiple projects at one time

• Exercises good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters  

• Think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings 

• Provides intentional, equitable, and constructive feedback 

• Flexibility in balancing the needs of staff and meeting organizational goals 

• An inspiring and motivating leadership style that fosters teamwork and a collaborative work culture 

• Proactive in anticipating department needs and challenges, and able to offer creative solutions

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate, and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences  

GLAAD Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

GLAAD is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, height, and weight, or other personal characteristics as may be protected by applicable law. 

Commitment to Diversity: 

GLAAD was established with the premise that expanding diversity within the organization enhances the work experience and furthers the understanding of the entire mission that GLAAD is based upon. An atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards difference is indispensable to the work process and enables the free interchange of ideas that is the basis of a successful organization. These differences may be cultural, ethnic, religious, intellectual, ideological, or political. Each of these qualities is integral to the identity we form as individuals, and all are essential to creating a vibrant workforce here at GLAAD composed of individuals with unique perspectives and backgrounds. GLAAD has committed itself to a workforce of inclusion, respect for difference, and fairness, and guarantees the same rights to all its employees to ensure the fullest degree of success within the organization.

GLAAD is also committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, height, and weight, or other personal characteristics as may be protected by applicable law. We especially encourage members of historically underrepresented communities to apply, including LGBTQ people, women, people of color, and people with disabilities. 

Compensation 

A competitive salary commensurate with experience is $150,000-$170,000. Benefits include 403(b) retirement plan participation; escalating vacation beginning with 19 days plus holidays; and organization-paid health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, healthcare, and dependent options; flex spending accounts; and life and long-term disability insurance.