Vice President of Fundraising

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Vice President of Fundraising.

Purpose of the Position

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Vice President of Fundraising (VPF), plays a pivotal role in leading the development team to advance S:US's commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy. As a key member of the CEO’s executive leadership team, the VPF is responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive fundraising strategies, while actively supporting the Board of Directors and CEO in securing, sustaining, and expanding S:US’s revenue-generating initiatives. This role involves shaping the development vision and strategy, enhancing the organization’s unrestricted individual giving program, and increasing support from foundations, corporations, and planned giving sources.

The VPF will collaborate closely with the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, and work cross-functionally with communications, programs, and finance teams to strategically position S:US for long-term contributed revenue growth. Additionally, the VPD will oversee and mentor the development team, ensuring the creation of meaningful donor engagement opportunities, the development of compelling proposals and grant requests, and the advancement of donor stewardship priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Partner with the CEO, Board of Directors, and members of the executive leadership team to maximize fundraising opportunities by enhancing existing efforts and expanding the organization’s capacity to raise revenue from private sources.
• Serve as an external representative of S:US, its affiliates, programs, and initiatives, personally stewarding donors and building awareness among New York’s corporate community, philanthropists, and leaders.
• Work with CEO to grow Board of Directors with new members to focus on fundraising.
• Serve as a senior member of S:US’s executive leadership team, ensuring cross-functional collaboration in fundraising efforts, processes, and procedures throughout the organization.
• Partner with the Vice President of Marketing/Communications to implement best-in-class strategies that amplify the dissemination of S:US’s messaging.

Revenue Generation and Strategic Planning

• Design, develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive strategic funding plan encompassing annual and major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Identify new major gift prospects and develop outreach strategies, including site visits, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current donors.
• Collect and analyze data on the annual budget and fundraising metrics for the Development Office, integrating insights into institutional fundraising strategies.
• Oversee existing foundation and corporate grant initiatives and lead staff in developing strategies for ongoing renewal and potential expansion.
• Expand the annual spring benefit, Dinner for a Better New York, to attract new prospects and increase support from New York’s philanthropic and corporate communities.
• Create new fundraising events in addition to the Dinner.
• Collaborate with leadership to engage and cultivate the existing donor base, securing increased financial commitments.
• Support the development and implementation of revitalized direct mail and online fundraising campaigns.
• Collaborate closely with the Vice President of Marketing/Communications to align messaging, optimize campaign timing, and leverage storytelling best practices for maximum engagement.

Staff and Operational Management

• Serve as a team-builder for the development team by recruiting, appointing, and retaining top-tier fundraising talent, and fostering mentorship and career growth opportunities.
• Oversee daily operations of the Development Office using a fundraising platform (currently Raiser’s Edge), including prospect tracking, gift acknowledgment and processing, and timely reporting to institutional donors.
• Manage the development budget to ensure financial viability, sustainability, and alignment with annual growth targets; promote fundraising skills across all organizational levels.
• Communicate relevant information—both verbally and in writing—in a timely manner to Board members, staff, donors, prospects, and key stakeholders.
• Ensure exceptional donor service and stewardship across the team, prioritizing responsiveness and engagement.
• Retain and coordinate the services of special events and fundraising consultants as needed to support development initiatives.

Critical Success Factors

Accountability

• Make clear your specific set of expectations for each team member, for the team as a whole, and for the process and the outcome. Ensure that individuals have the capability to meet your expectations, and if not, provide the necessary training, or delegate to another person.

Business Judgment

• Apply the principles of management in a not-for-profit environment to exercise financial, HR and technology management in accomplishing the organization’s mission. Display effective and efficient decision-making skills in the areas of selecting the right people for the job, using excellence as the standard to lead the workforce, ensure a well-trained workforce, use technology to its advantage and encourage prudent risk taking.

Communication

• Foster a work environment that encourages creative thinking, psychological safety, and the ability to maintain focus, intensity and persistence, even under adversity.

Strategic

• Set the vision and define the strategy of the organization and the development team. Understand the big picture and align priorities with broader Agency-wide goals; measure outcomes, use feedback to change as needed, evaluate alternatives, is solutions oriented, and seek alternatives; identify the connections within complex issues; demonstrate ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of the organization, as well as the external opportunities and threats. See where current trends will lead, and how they may influence the organization’s direction. Foresee opportunities that will come and go. Translate the vision for a program or the organization into clear strategies.

Trust

• Behave and express oneself in an open and honest manner. Be consistent in word and actions. Tell the truth even when it is difficult. Share information accurately, completely and appropriately. Follow through on assignments and commitments. Support S:US goals and initiatives. Adhere to all policies and procedures.

Metrics

• Work with CEO to create measurable metrics to include:
• Number of new corporate sponsors
• Number of new board members
• Number of new foundations engaged
• Number of family offices engaged
• Number of new grants

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The successful Vice President of Fundraising candidate will have demonstrable experience in managing best-in-class fundraising operations, including mentoring and developing staff, coordinating fundraising strategies, and implementing a comprehensive fundraising plan. The Vice President of Fundraising will have a proven ability to collaborate effectively across institutional departments to enhance the impact of S:US and expand both short- and long-term revenue streams.

Candidates should have the following qualifications and characteristics:

• Minimum of seven years of leadership experience in development, with at least five years of demonstrated success leading a team.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with the CEO and senior team members.
• Strong interpersonal skills, essential for building meaningful relationships with high-capacity donors, government representatives, corporate executives, and foundation leaders at both local and national levels.
• Proven track record across all fundraising disciplines, including individual giving, corporate and foundation support, event-based fundraising, and planned giving – combined with the ability to integrate these approaches effectively.
• Prior experience in teaching and coaching fundraising techniques to staff and non-executive leaders, fostering a strong culture of philanthropy within S:US.
• Preferred experience managing or collaborating closely with communications teams.
• Exceptional oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills – confident demeanor, strong instincts, and sound judgment.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Metropolitan New York, across the state, and nationally as required.

Key Relationships

Services for the Underserved Executive Leadership Team

• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development
• Chief Compliance Officer
• Vice President of Communications and Marketing
• Chief Program Officer

Direct Reports

• Associate Vice President of Special Events
• Director of Development
• Director of Volunteer Relations

Additional Stakeholders

• Board of Directors
• Existing and Prospective Donors
• Community Partners

Personal Attributes and Skills

• An entrepreneurial spirit with a demonstrated ability to plan and lead a development program successfully; should be resourceful and not afraid of rolling up his or her sleeves.
• Charismatic leadership with a desire to build a high functioning, innovative, and growth-focused development team.
• Management experience in a social service, higher education, cultural or medical setting is a plus.
• Knowledge of the New York philanthropic community is a plus.
• Sound interpersonal skillset and a sense of humor.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited institution is preferred. Significant experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.

SE: 510735962