Description

This is a pivotal moment for United Food Bank. As we prepare for our next phase of growth—including an upcoming capital campaign—we’re seeking a Director of Strategic Gifts who will help shape the future of our fundraising work.

At United Food Bank, philanthropy is rooted in partnership and long-term impact. This role is for a thoughtful, strategic fundraiser and people leader who excels at building trust, leading strong teams, and engaging donors who want to make a lasting difference. The Director of Strategic Gifts will play a central role in advancing our major and corporate giving efforts and sustaining the momentum behind our mission.

Our Mission and Values:

We are passionate about our Mission of Uniting Communities to Alleviate Hunger. You are most likely to find success at United Food Bank if you are motivated to embrace our values:

• We are Uniters – working together as one united team.
• We are Cultivators – with a growth mindset and willing to try new things.
• We are Optimists – with a positive attitude and a commitment to move our mission forward.

Position Summary:

The Director of Philanthropy serves as a leader within the Philanthropy team, responsible for advancing United Food Bank’s relationship-based philanthropy strategy. This position provides strategic oversight of major gifts, corporate partnerships, donor engagement, and donor stewardship.

The Director oversees two Major Gift Officers, the Corporate Partnerships Manager, and the Donor Engagement Manager, ensuring a unified and strategic approach to donor cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship. The Director plays a key leadership role in preparing donors for deeper philanthropic investment and collaborates closely with the Marketing, and Community Engagement teams to align efforts that inspire long-term partnerships and philanthropic impact.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Major Gift Officers, the Corporate Partnerships Manager, and the Donor Engagement Manager to meet and exceed annual goals.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and donor-centered philanthropy.
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer in developing and implementing comprehensive philanthropy strategies.
• Encourage integration across Philanthropy, Marketing, and Community Engagement teams to maximize donor engagement and impact.

Major Gifts & Individual Philanthropy

• Manage a small, strategic portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, cultivating and soliciting significant gifts.
• Partner with organizational leadership and Board members to engage donors in meaningful, mission-driven relationships.
• Oversee moves management and pipeline development using Salesforce, ensuring accurate data, forecasting, and performance tracking.
• Design and execute stewardship strategies that recognize and retain donors while deepening their connection to the mission.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Provide strategic oversight for donor engagement functions, including mid-level giving, monthly giving, and donor recognition programs.
• Ensure consistent, timely, and meaningful donor acknowledgment practices.
• Create clear pathways for donors to grow their involvement and philanthropic investment over time.
• Collaborate with Marketing to ensure donor-facing communications reflect impact, gratitude, and mission alignment.

Corporate Partnerships

• Supervise the Corporate Partnerships Manager in building and sustaining strategic relationships with corporate donors and sponsors.
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement team to ensure alignment between corporate philanthropy and engagement initiatives such as volunteer programs and employee giving efforts.
• Support the development of customized corporate partnership strategies that integrate visibility, engagement, and impact storytelling.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Marketing to ensure donor communications and public materials reflect the organization’s mission and impact.
• Coordinate with Community Engagement to transition corporate and community relationships into deeper philanthropic partnerships.
• Represent the Philanthropy Department in initiatives that enhance visibility, engagement, and long-term relationships.

Requirements

• Passion for alleviating hunger and serving the community
• Commitment to the organization’s mission and values
• Bachelor’s Degree (BA) or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive fundraising experience, with at least 3 years managing staff. CFRE preferred
• Proven record of securing major and campaign gifts ($50,000+) and building corporate partnerships
• Experience in capital campaign planning and execution strongly preferred
• Proficiency in Salesforce CRM or similar software required
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple complex projects
• Mission-driven, collaborative, and adaptable
• Comfortable working with senior leadership, Board members, and high-capacity donors
• Self-motivated, dedicated to accomplishing tasks, able to take initiative and solve problems
• Availability and willingness to attend evening or weekend events when needed
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and insurability required

Physical demands and work environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms on a daily basis.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• The employee must lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Ability to sit at a computer for extended periods and perform repetitive motions with a mouse and keyboard
• Ability to travel (locally) up to 20% a year for off-site meetings and events 

In instances of a federal, state, or locally declared emergency, United Food Bank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.