Director of Philanthropy

The Organization

The United Church of Christ, National Ministries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is an inclusive and diverse community of Christians connected by faith and a calling to build a just world for all. UCC’s ministries advocate at a national and global level, with roots that are planted firmly in local churches and communities.

The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 from the merger of several earlier denominations. From the Justice and Witness Ministries in the National Office in Cleveland, Ohio, its policy advocacy office in Washington DC, to supporting movements around the world, the United Church of Christ serves through public witness, policy advocacy, issue education, and grassroots empowerment to build more equal, compassionate, and inclusive communities.

The United Church of Christ answers God’s call for a just world for all through local, national, and global efforts. UCC focuses on key issues facing our world today through its various ministries including Racial Justice, Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, Gender and Sexuality Justice, and the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, DC.

There are approximately 5,000 local UCC churches in the U.S. today with over 800,000 members and 10,000 authorized clergy leaders.

The Opportunity

The United Church of Christ, National Ministries is seeking an innovative and visionary leader committed to advancing the organization’s strategic philanthropic and fundraising agenda. This is an opportunity to be an integral member of UCC’s leadership team and to carry forward the legacy of UCC’s transformational programs and services locally, nationally, and globally.

The Position

The Director of Philanthropy will report to the General Minister and President and CEO of the United Church of Christ. The Director will manage the Philanthropy staff. The Director of Philanthropy will provide oversight for executing the UCC's strategic fundraising vision and agenda. The Director is charged with catalyzing a focus on the creation and implementation of a comprehensive philanthropy program that encourages participation, generosity, and enthusiasm

throughout the United Church of Christ in every setting.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

• Works with the Generosity Officers to build Regional Philanthropy Strategies of Engagement with Conferences, Associations and Local Congregations.
• Creates a fund development plan that includes short and long-term strategies and tactics to accomplish financial development goals.

Fundraising:

• With the General Minister and President and CEO sets goals for all fundraising efforts annually including campaigns, growth of endowments, operating funds, special mission offerings, etc.
• Develops policies and make recommendations to the GMP and CEO for fundraising efforts and identifies proper procedures for all fundraising in the national setting.
• Develops and implements stewardship programs that promote the financial well-being of individuals, families, and local faith communities.
• Provide regular reports to the GMP and CEO and Philanthropy team on successful major gift asks of donors, including how the major gifts fit into the strategy of the particular campaign or goal.
• Establishes a systems approach to fund development that demonstrates strong collaboration with and utilization of the General Minister and President and CEO, Associate General Ministers, and other cross-departmental senior leaders.

Organizational Outreach:

• Collaborates with other expressions of the church in developing and presenting the case for giving.
• Leads denomination-wide financial development initiatives and funding campaign with specific numeric goals for each.
• Invites and receives gifts in support of the mission of the national and global ministries and collaborates with other leadership to nurture financial development in other settings.
• Leads the national setting in establishing a culture of philanthropy and engage every expression of the denomination in reconsidering the gifts of God, and how we activate and steward them.
• Cultivates long term, collaborative, strategic relationships with key partners.

Management and Development:

• Provides effective training, support and leadership to volunteers and leaders to meet annual and long-term financial goals in all settings of the church.
• The Director, Philanthropy will design a plan for UCC staff development that includes training, coaching, and measurements of effectiveness so that staff members understand that every engagement is a potential donor cultivation.
• Leads and serves as primary administrator of the philanthropy division including regular reporting, planning, budgeting, program direction, goal setting, supervision, and evaluation of the Philanthropy staff.

Board Relationships:

• Collaborates with the Development Committee of the United Church of Christ Board in order to cultivate a culture of Board Fundraising.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the General Minister and President and CEO

Qualifications

Ideal Leadership Profile and Background:

The Director of Philanthropy is an accomplished and highly regarded senior manager with experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and philanthropy, and will possess a deep appreciation and passion for UCC’s mission of justice for all. The successful candidate will have demonstrated an ability to set strategy, inspire and lead a team-oriented staff, bring new and creative approaches to fundraising, and communicate well with the organization’s board, community partners, global partners, and fundraising sources. The Director will support the vision of the denomination as a multiracial, multicultural, open and affirming church, accessible to all, as it is lived out in and through the Local Church.

Education, Experience, Skills:

• College degree or equivalent combination of education and experience; Certificate of Fund Raising Executive ideal.
• Professional fund development and Philanthropic experience.
• Demonstrated competence in financial development including planned giving, capital or other campaigns, special gift solicitation, grant writing, development and maintenance of ongoing relationships with foundations.
• Demonstrated management skills, including financial management, personnel administration, and general business administration.
• Demonstrated skills at leading a team and working with a richly diverse staff.
• Proficient in technology and current trends, including social media.
• Working knowledge of Office 365, Raiser’s Edge and Base Camp preferred.

Leadership Competencies and Personal Attributes:

• Desire and sensitivity to work in diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious settings with commitment to diversity in the workplace as well as an understanding of mission.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and collegially as well as independently.
• Committed to the work of fund development in the context of faith communities.
• Familiarity with the United Church of Christ, its diverse theology, traditions, heritage polity and structure.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary.

Other Requirements:

• This position is based in Cleveland, OH and requires at least 3 days/in the office.
• COVID-19 vaccination is required for employment (proof of record will be requested during the onboarding process).
• This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for the position and is subject to review and change at any time in accordance with the needs of the ministry. Since no job description can detail all duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a position, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a position shall also be considered part of the position holder’s responsibility.
• It is expected that the person who holds this position will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the policies of the UCC and in a manner that will reflect positively on the organization. All staff are encouraged to nurture safety within the work performed on behalf of the UCC by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources.

About UCC:

• UCC offers a Comprehensive Benefits Package Employer paid health, dental, life insurance, and pension benefits.
• Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not. We believe in God's Continuing Testament, We believe in Extravagant Welcome, We believe the church's mission is to Change Lives.
• The United Church of Christ National Ministries celebrates diversity and an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to a workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the broad spectrum of our diverse society. We endeavor to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. We are proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. People Architects and our clients are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. Applicants for employment with any of People Architect’s clients will never be asked to provide money (even if reimbursable) as part of the job application or hiring process.

*no external agencies/3rd parties.