Job Description

The Vice President, Philanthropy Operations reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

This position is a senior leader responsible for overseeing and advancing the health system’s philanthropic strategy and initiatives. This leader plays a critical leadership role in leading and optimizing NMF operations and driving data-informed decision-making across the organization’s fundraising and philanthropic initiatives. This individual, in partnership with IS, will oversee the development, management, and optimization of fundraising data systems, analytics, and reporting tools that support strategic goals in donor engagement, fundraising growth, and stewardship. This leader will lead a team responsible for gift administration, donor database administration, donor data governance, donor pipeline development, fundraising predictive analytics, and insights generation. This leader will also be responsible for NMF budget operations and other operational responsibilities as needed. This role will have a strong partnership with other NM corporate services including OGC, Finance, IS and Analytics teams. This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Administration, NMHC.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive philanthropy operations strategy aligned with the health system's mission, values, and long-term goals.
• Fundraising Operations Leadership:
  • Partner with IS to ensure successful design and implementation of scalable data systems to enhance fundraising, prospecting, and donor relations, including CRM transition, ongoing optimization, and training for NMF team.
  • Champion a data-driven culture by providing insights, metrics, and tools that enable leadership to make informed decisions.
  • Lead team to enhance donor analytics and reporting through the use of the system platforms, including development of reporting and dashboards that identify fundraising trends and KPIs, forecast revenue, assess campaign performance.
  • Lead the PRD team, directing team in designing and executing prospect development strategies to meet established and emerging prospect research, pipeline, and management needs, ensuring balanced portfolios with top prospects for key priority areas.
  • Oversee all aspects of gift administration, ensuring timely and accurate processing of donations and pledges, including ensuring best practices for gift receipting, acknowledgement, and reporting and ensuring compliance with IRS regulators and donor intent.
  • Lead team that collaborates with finance and OGC to manage restricted and endowed gifts appropriately.
  • Partner with donor relations and gift officers to ensure best in class stewardship practices.
  • Stay current on trends in non-profit fundraising, technology, and best practices, integrating innovations that enhance organizational performance.
• Performance Management:
  • Develop and implement performance metrics and evaluation tools to ensure the team’s performance meets or exceeds fundraising targets and other organizational goals.
  • Hire, train, supervise, and coach team members to ensure program goals are achieved and to provide outstanding internal and external customer service.
  • Lead innovation and inculcate the use of data and research to create giving solutions.
  • Motivate a committed team of development professionals to achieve measurable outcomes.
  • Set clear goals for resource development and provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations to support professional growth and skill development.
  • Develop, refine, and facilitate process improvements, and increase efficiency.
  • Ensure consistent application of operating procedures, policies, and processes.
  • Participate in department budgeting and forecasting; effectively manage resources ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and cost-effectively to meet fundraising goals.
• Serve as a key partner to executive and physician leadership to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Experience: 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising or philanthropy, with a demonstrated track record of leading development operations including gift administration, data management, and CRM, preferably in a healthcare or academic setting.
• Expert in fundraising databases and CRM systems, data analytics in fundraising, and MS office. Salesforce experience highly preferred.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to inspire and lead a diverse team. Experience collaborating with senior executives and physician leadership. Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with multiple constituents, including high-level volunteers and Board members.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage and motivate high-level donors.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic and analytical skills with the ability to align philanthropic initiatives with organizational priorities and long-term goals.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and contribute to the product development process, assess donor’s interests, and accurately convey them to a cross-functional team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the development team and across the organization.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with prior experience in public speaking and external relations, and the ability to represent the organization to a variety of stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Prior experience creating strategic multiyear fundraising plans and building consensus among stakeholders to achieve fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated success in staff management and mentorship, with a commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work culture that fosters professional growth and development.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Agility to adapt to changes.
• Undergraduate degree

Preferred:

• A master’s degree in business or law

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.