With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is dedicated to putting this mission into action, strengthening communities by ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.  To achieve this, the Y adopted a bold Strategic Plan that positioned its twenty-three centers, five camps and hundreds of extension sites to meet the changing needs of the more than 200,000 members and nearly 70,000 children it serves every year. The Y’s annual budget is over $85 million, and a key strategic goal of the organization is to expand the percentage of philanthropy that makes up the annual budget.
 
In 2013, the YMCA of Metro Chicago changed its mission to reflect the far-reaching impact of its programs and services in building stronger and healthier communities. YMCA Leadership envisions more vibrant and compassionate neighborhoods where the Y is seen as an essential leader in making our city a world-class place to live and raise a family.  Four anchors of the mission guide all strategies and activities, and guide the work of the Mission Advancement team:

• Academics readiness
• Character development
• Violence prevention
• Fitness and healthy living

As one of the largest human service providers in northeast Illinois in these areas, the Y seeks to engage and involve investors in these mission areas.  It puts the Mission in Action in neighborhoods across Chicagoland, having the presence and partnerships to not just promise, but deliver, positive change.  It does so via these principles:

• The Y is community centered. For more than 150 years, we've been listening and responding to our communities.
• The Y brings people together. We connect people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.
• The Y nurtures potential. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
• The Y mobilizes local communities to effect lasting, meaningful change.

 
This mission is delivered through 23 Centers, 5 Resident Camps, 13 Early Education and Care Programs, 15 Community Schools, 4 Regional Housing Centers and 6 Senior Housing Centers.  By commitment to outcomes and impact, the Y has also invested in a Learning and Evaluation team that helps provide data and metrics to substantiate the Case for Support.  
 
Founded in 1858 by a group of dedicated Chicagoans, the Y has long established itself as a vital part of the Metropolitan Chicago community.  In 2008, the YMCA of Metro Chicago celebrated its 150th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to the millions of lives the Y has touched. The Metro Y continues to expand and evolve towards the betterment of people at all stages of their lives through its breadth of programs, from swimming lessons to gang intervention, mentoring and family programming to prenatal care and elderly support.  The Y continues to change and grow and will move in 2015 to a transformational new headquarters at 1030 W. Van Buren in Chicago from its current location in Chicago’s Gold Coast.  The new headquarters will provide opportunities to showcase our mission in action, enable rich employee development, and serve as a resource for the non-profit community in Chicagoland. The Y is currently engaged in a feasibility study in preparation for the advanced gift stage of the “1030 Campaign.” As one of the largest cause-driven organizations in Chicago, the YMCA continues to be a leader in making Chicagoland a world-class place to live and raise a family. 
 
 
The Opportunity:  Director of Advancement
 
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement, the Director of Advancement is a new leadership role that will work closely with and in support of the Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement to provide strategic direction and develop the systemic supports necessary to meet Mission Advancement goals, including capitalizing on and integrating all philanthropic opportunities to best serve the organization and its donors. The Director will be accountable for building a sustainable donor and prospect pipeline in order to promote increased donor engagement with the YMCA’s mission and impact.  The Director of Advancement will also be responsible for conceiving of and implementing strategies to increase unrestricted and restricted gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations and will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects.  The three direct reports to the Director of Advancement include an Individual Giving Manager, a Manager of Development Operations and Donor services (who supervises a Donor Services Coordinator), and an Associate Director, Membership Center Fundraising.  The Director of Advancement will have a key role in helping to optimize our fundraising structure and practices in order to maximize philanthropic growth, operational efficiencies, and to make a lasting impact on how the YMCA approaches philanthropy.
 
Performance Objectives
 
Leadership and Fundraising Management

• Work closely with the Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement and the Mission Advancement team to create and implement strategies and departmental goals for the identification, solicitation and stewardship of an active portfolio of prospects and donors.
• Track all philanthropic revenue progress toward goals, and any variances, takes action and makes recommendations to enhance progress towards goals
• Tracks key metrics and progress against strategic and tactical goals in an annual progress plan; ie number of solicitations, number of cultivation events, etc..
• Direct the project management of the mid-year analysis and reporting of fundraising progress, and leads the process for assembling the annual fundraising plan in collaboration with team members)
• Motivate, develop and retain a team of fundraising professionals (currently three direct reports) to deliver on specific components of the development pipeline. This includes providing strategic direction for Mission Advancement team members and supervision of assigned Mission Advancement team members, and driving accountability for achieving annual fundraising goals.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to actively promote the growth and development of team supervised, including opportunities to learn new skills and advance both personally and professionally.
• Develop and maintain collaborative and impactful relationships with YMCA colleagues, the YMCA Board, other volunteers, donors, prospects, the philanthropic community and other related constituency groups.
• Play an integral role on the Mission Advancement team, continually advancing the role and importance of philanthropy within the organizational culture.  Collaborates closely with other YMCA teams to synchronize branding and messaging, and to communicate outcome measures and value of the YMCA’s mission, program offerings and services.

 
Fund Development Management and Implementation

• Develop and implement an annual revenue generation strategy in collaboration with the Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement that meets the needs of the YMCA and improves on fundraising effectiveness.
• Work with the Senior Vice President of Mission Advancement, Mission Advancement staff, and Board of Directors to develop a targeted list of individual, corporate, foundation and government prospects, and strategies for engagement for each.
• Build an effective individual donor base, including coaching and supporting team members in foundation and corporate prospect identification, solicitation and stewardship processes.
• Manage a personal portfolio of individual, corporate and/or foundation donors and prospects.
• Work with and provide training and support for the YMCA’s Board and senior leadership team to enhance fundraising activities, an overall culture of philanthropy, and to solicit and close gifts. 
• Nurture partnerships and relationships with current and prospective funders through donor recognition programs and stewardship. Cultivate long-term relationships to ensure continued funding and funder engagement and involvement.
• Prepare the YMCA’s CEO, Board Members and the Development team for donor meetings and cultivation activities.
• Assign key participants to various donor and prospect relationship-building initiatives.
• Leverage Board Members and champion relationships, and maintain a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects while staffing and coaching the CEO and Board Members in managing their donor portfolios to increase support for the YMCA.
• In collaboration with the Mission Advancement team, edit and/or write powerful and inspiring letters and proposals and prepare dynamic presentations and materials customized for target audiences.
• Work with the Marketing colleagues to oversee the management all fundraising events through the lens of engaging individual donors in YMCA’s mission.  
• Ensure ethical and appropriate financial administration of contributed income, including overseeing the donor and prospect records, gift processing, gift acknowledgement and donor stewardship functions.
• Track industry trends, strategy and best practices, including educating others and evaluating opportunities for continuous improvement. Act as a resource for current practice and strategy particularly around current published materials on current industry trends.

 
External & Community Relations

• Serve as an articulate, passionate and visible spokesperson for the YMCA, and as a prominent face of fundraising throughout the organization and in the community.
• Maintain active membership and a strong presence in professional organizations, community groups, and other spaces relevant to the work of the YMCA and its mission.
• Provide a best practice approach to the YMCA’s efforts to effectively communicate the mission, goals and accomplishments to donors, prospective donors and the broader community.
• Create and implement a plan to identify and build strong relationships with key donors, community leaders and volunteers, and engage organizations with which the YMCA should partner.

 
The Qualified Candidate
 
The YMCA seeks an accomplished and strategic professional with a minimum of seven years of fundraising experience with a recent concentration on managing a diversified portfolio of Major Gift donors and prospects (individuals, foundations and/or corporations), and experience managing a team of fundraising professionals.  She/he will have strong knowledge of fundraising best practices and be passionate and committed to YMCA’s mission.  She/he will be have a strong sense of accountability, take initiative, as well as be adaptable, highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to build collaborative relationships and foster trust both internally and externally.   
 
Specific Requirements Include:

• Keen interest in the YMCA’s mission with the demonstrated ability to understand its diverse program offerings and be able to communicate narratives that enhance fundraising effectives.
• A minimum of 7 years of Mission Advancement and fundraising experience with a focus on large gifts; familiarity with the Chicago philanthropic community preferred.
• Successful and progressive background in donor solicitation and stewardship processes with superb skills in motivating, engaging and interacting with Board and other key stakeholders.
• Best practice knowledge and experience in strategy development, systems and best practices and in the cultivation, solicitation and successful closing of gifts from donors.
• Proven ability to effectively motivate and manage staff teams, and to build unified, collaborative partnerships in a fast-paced, complex and deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional leadership, critical thinking, planning, and organizational skills with the ability to translate strategy into operational plans; Strong ability to maintain attention to day-to-day details and translate them into achievement of organizational and team strategies/goal.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills.
• Hands-on experience with Raiser’s Edge and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with planned giving and capital campaigns desired.
• Bachelor's degree; Advanced degree and/or CFRE credential preferred.

 
This position offers a competitive salary with very competitive benefits. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. 
 
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and each of its locations is committed to equality of opportunity in its recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, training and other employment practices. We do not engage in discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity or expression, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  To Apply
 
This search is being managed by Laura Weinman, Senior Consultant and Kelly C. Monahan, Senior Associate of Alford Executive Search, a division of KEES.  Questions may be addressed to lweinman@alfordexecutivesearch.com. 
 
To apply, candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to: https://alfordexecutivesearch.applicantstack.com/x/openings.  To assure confidential tracking no resumes will be accepted via email.
 
Alford Executive Search (www.alfordexecutivesearch.com), a division of KEES:  Kistner Eddy Executive Services, is a retained search firm dedicated to providing recruitment services of exceptional quality and strengthening the not-for-profit community through professional staffing solutions.