Director of Donor Impact

Job Title: Director of Donor Impact
Department: Philanthropy
Reports to: Vice President of Philanthropy
Effective Date: April 2024
Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000

Working at the Vermont Community Foundation

For more than 35 years, the Vermont CommunityFoundation has served Vermonters and their families throughphilanthropy and building stronger communities. Our mission—BetterTogether: inspiring giving and bringing together people andresources to make a difference in Vermont—provides the bedrock forour workplace culture. Our employees are passionate about making adifference every day. We approach our work with curiosity, respect,and integrity and believe in collaboration, equity, and diversity.When you join our team, your work will matter.

Position Overview

The director of donor impact at the VermontCommunity Foundation (VCF) is responsible for leading stewardshipactivities for fundholders and donors, to expand the VCF’scharitable impact in Vermont by doubling the dollars sustainablyactive in the community by 2027. The director's primaryresponsibilities include: 

• Providing high-quality stewardship and customer service toexisting donors and fundholders
• Enhancing the connection between fundholders' philanthropy andtheir impact
• Analyzing fundholder interests and donor behavior to developgrowth strategies
• Contributing to the VCF's impact through revenue and productanalysis
• Working closely with marketing and communications to identifyand define campaign targets

The director oversees the donor impact strategy, which supports andinspires fundholders to utilize their full charitable capacity withVCF. This includes developing effective fundholder stewardshipstrategies, measuring success in delivering donor services, andusing data to continually enhance the stewardship program andinform product innovation. The director collaborates closely withthe Philanthropic team, Grants and Community Impact (GCI) team,Finance team, and Communications team, to develop processes,proposals, and content that align with fundholder and donorinterests. They utilize technology and data systems to track donorpreferences and inform stewardship plans and productdevelopment.

The VCF is on a growth trajectory and is looking for leaders with agrowth mindset. As a member of the leadership team for VCF, thisposition models VCF’s core values and serves as a positive rolemodel for change. This position also sits on the Philanthropydepartment’s leadership team. In this capacity, the director helpsto set department goals and targets for success and commits topersonal and professional development.

This position is full-time and  manages a full-time donorimpact specialist. The director reports to the VP forPhilanthropy.

Essential Responsibilities

Donor Impact Strategy

• Oversee the donor impact plan to support and inspirefundholders and donors to utilize their full charitable capacitywith VCF and to make a difference with their giving in Vermont andbeyond
• In close partnership with colleagues on the Philanthropy team,develop targeted stewardship plans for fundholders and professionaladvisors
• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications team todefine and generate leads, refine campaigns, and analyzeoutcomes
• Develop benchmarks of success for donor stewardship andcustomer service
• Leverage software to continually enhance the stewardshipprogram, inform marketing, and generate opportunities for businessdevelopment and product innovation
• Oversee the administrative workflow of all funds and the newfundholder orientation process
• Lead organization-wide customer service training forcommunicating and working with donors, fundholders, andprospects

 
Knowledge and Data Management

• Collaborate with the GCI team to generate landscape scans,grant slates, and other stewardship needs for fundholders
• Serve as primary liaison with the Marketing and Communicationsteam to leverage Insight Hub content that inspires and supportsfundholder and donor interests
• Track donor interest areas, grantmaking styles, and charitableneeds to inform stewardship plans and product development
• Work closely with the GCI team and the Marketing andCommunications team to:
  • Identify topics and content that grow the relationship betweenthe VCF and its key stakeholders (fundholders, professionaladvisors, and nonprofits)
  • Create presentations, reports, and material that support thephilanthropic advising team in their engagement of professionaladvisors (tax, legal, and financial)
  • Leverage software (primarily Salesforce and Pardot/MCAE) forclient management, marketing, and business development
  • Analyze customer data including product use and fee revenue andidentify emerging trends and opportunities

Leadership, Learning, and Innovation

• Establish key performance metrics for impact andinnovation
• Set department goals and targets for success
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices inphilanthropy including the values of equity and racial justice
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop newapproaches to inspire giving and stay abreast of emerging practicesin prospect and donor engagement, philanthropic advising, andfamily philanthropy and multi-generational giving
• Maintain and expand technical awareness and knowledge ofcurrent federal and state regulations related to VCF's charitableproducts and services

Key Competencies 

The VCF’s culture inspires and empowers employees to do their bestwork every day, and we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive,and positive workplace. In keeping with our core values, we areseeking team players who value collaboration, diverse perspectives,and community.

Suitable candidates will have:

• Demonstrated curiosity, integrity, and initiative
• Research skills and ability to organize large volumes ofinformation to communicate clearly with fundholders, anddonors
• Ability to exercise discretion and demonstrate good judgmentwith sensitive and confidential information
• Ability to coach and develop others, carry out performancereviews, and work with staff on career development
• Demonstrated ability to delegate effectively
• Proven ability to interact respectfully and effectively with adiverse range of existing and prospective donors, fundholders,community leaders, professional advisors, and representatives fromnonprofit organizations
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to gather, distill,organize, and communicate clearly
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple competingassignments, projects, responsibilities, and clients
• Enthusiasm for the best interests of Vermont and Vermonters,including a commitment to working towards equity, justice,inclusion, and belonging for all Vermonters
• Proficient in Microsoft platform and database management tools- ideally Salesforce and Marketing Cloud Account Engagement(formerly Pardot) - and other CRM and automation platforms

 
Education

Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years ofprofessional experience in the foundation or trust services fieldwith familiarity with cultivation, development, and donor/clientservices and/or stewardship. (Five or more years of activeexperience in a growth and impact role can substitute for abachelor’s degree.)

Location

This position may be based in Burlington orMiddlebury, VT. Hybrid schedule is an option.