Director of Philanthropy
: Job Details :

Director of Philanthropy

About United Way of Greenville County

For over 100 years, we have united the community to help people live better, safer, and more successful lives. While our work has evolved to meet the challenges of the day, our vision remains the same: We believe everyone should have access to the tools and opportunities that empower them to achieve their full potential.

Mission & Vision

Our mission is to mobilize people and resources to improve lives, strengthen the community, and advance equity for the benefit of all. Our vision is a Greenville County where all people have access to the opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Star Values

Our focus on collaboration, internally and externally, connects our team and work to our community so we can achieve the balance and symmetry needed to consistently show up for all of Greenville County.

Support- We collaborate with our team, stakeholders, and organizations to support our community and move our mission forward.

Trust- With integrity and respect, we embrace transparency and build relationships with each other and the community to deliver on our promises.

Act- Each day we show up to do our best work for our coworkers, our investors, and our community by staying proactive, adaptable and innovative.

Reflect- We reflect the change we wish to see within our communities by holding each other accountable to our mission, recognizing how our leadership today will impact the future of Greenville County.

Where We Serve

We serve people across the cities of Greenville, Greer, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, Mauldin, and Travelers Rest. Our impact also extends to the following communities: Berea, City View, Dunean, Five Forks, Gantt, Golden Grove, Judson, Parker, Piedmont, Sans Souci, Marietta, Taylors, Tigerville, Wade Hampton, Ware Place, and Welcome.

Our Strategy

Poverty is persistent in Greenville County. We can't let it win—because everyone deserves a shot at a better life. Our donor base is changing. So much we. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z and beyond, we must adapt and evolve to remain relevant.

To flip the script and win for our community, United Way of Greenville County (UWGC) must inspire and activate donors to increase access and reduce barriers to higher earnings for low-income earning members of the community.

Where We Play

Our strategy to reduce barriers to higher earnings starts with increasing access in four critical areas:

Affordable Housing Post Secondary Education

High-Quality, Affordable Childcare Transportation and Mobility

INVEST IN ONLY WHAT WORKS

Nobody likes a bad investment. Data-driven decision-making ensures we're making smart choices.

TELL STORIES THAT CHANGE NARRATIVES AND INSPIRE

Knowing is only half the battle. To unite the community behind real solutions, we tell stories that reframe common narratives about the causes of poverty and how to solve it.

FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT HELP, NOT HURT

It takes more than money to win for our community. We advocate at all levels of government for policies that help us beat back poverty.

Position Summary

The Director of Philanthropy plays a crucial role in fundraising for United Way of Greenville County and is primarily responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding large philanthropic gifts from individuals, and sometimes foundations or corporations, that advance the mission and vision of the organization.

Reports to: Chief Philanthropy Officer

Location: Greenville, SC

FLSA Status: Exempt

Areas of Responsibility

Donor Cultivation and Relationship Building

• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals and key stakeholders who have the potential to make major gifts to United Way of Greenville County.
• Build personalized engagement strategies to develop long-term relationships with donors, focusing on understanding their philanthropic goals and aligning them with the priorities of UWGC.

Solicitation of Major Gifts

• Develop and implement strategies for the solicitation of gifts of $1,000 and above, typically in the range of $10,000 or more.
• Prepare and present compelling proposals, often meeting with prospective donors to directly ask for contributions.

Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and current donors, ensuring timely and appropriate follow-up, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Accurately and promptly track and report on progress using our CRM System, StratusLIVE.

Collaboration with Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with executive leadership, board members, and other fundraising staff to develop strategies for reaching individual and collective fundraising goals.
• Partner with program staff or subject-matter experts to articulate funding needs in a way that aligns with donor interests.

Event Participation and Coordination

• Participate in or help coordinate various events that serve to engage major gift prospects and steward current donors.
• Develop special engagement opportunities, like exclusive briefings or one-on-one meetings with organizational leaders.

Stewardship and Donor Recognition

• Ensure donors are appropriately acknowledged, recognized, and informed about the impact of their gifts through personalized communications, reports, or public acknowledgments.
• Manage and maintain relationships post-gift, focusing on donor retention and ongoing engagement.

Research and Prospecting

• Conduct research to identify potential major gift prospects, using wealth screening tools, databases, and networking to build the pipeline of new donors and maximize the lifetime giving of current donors.
• Develop profiles and prepare briefing materials for donor meetings.

Reporting and Data Management

• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, gift commitments, and follow-ups in StratusLIVE.
• Prepare regular reports on progress toward major gift fundraising goals for internal stakeholders.

Compliance and Ethical Fundraising

• Ensure all fundraising activities comply with legal and ethical standards, including donor confidentiality and IRS regulations regarding charitable donations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required.
• At least 2 years of fundraising or sales experience is required.
• Flexibility to adjust schedule to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an awareness of the nuance required to connect with diverse audiences.
• Listen to understand and speak to be understood.
• Obsess over the details, but don't be a perfectionist.
• Strive for best-in-class.
• Challenge assumptions without being rude or disrespectful. Know when enough is enough.
• Think big and be creative.
• Be thoughtful and kind.

Interested Candidates

Submit your resume and cover letter directly to ...@unitedwaygc.org with Director of Philanthropy in the subject line. Qualified candidates that bring a diversity of thought, experience and background are encouraged to apply.

United Way of Greenville County offers competitive compensation based on prior experience and qualifications as well as comprehensive benefits in order to best support our people. Benefits we offer include: health, dental and vision insurance where United Way of Greenville County pays generously towards the cost of these benefits for employees and their families.

United Way of Greenville is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.