Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Hybrid / Fort Lee, NJ
Reports To: President & CEO (with dotted-line relationship to the Chief Operating Officer)
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation offers a competitive health benefits package including medical, dental, and vision; a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match; and a generous vacation policy. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Position Summary
The Vice President of Development is a key member of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s senior leadership team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and expanding comprehensive fundraising strategies that grow the organization’s revenue year over year. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, this is a highly hands-on role requiring active, day-to-day execution of the foundation’s individual giving, major gifts, corporate support, membership, and event-based fundraising programs, in addition to setting strategic direction.
The Vice President of Development builds and sustains a robust portfolio of individual and major donors, key institutional and corporate partnerships and manages a strong pipeline of prospective supporters by cultivating and stewarding meaningful, long-term relationships to advance the Foundation’s mission. Managing a staff of 1–3, this role partners closely with the President & CEO, COO, Board of Trustees, and development staff to ensure fundraising efforts are strategically aligned and that every gift is stewarded with integrity, gratitude, and measurable impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Fundraising Growth
- Develop and implement a comprehensive giving strategy designed to meet the annual revenue budget goals.
- Partner with the President & CEO and Chief Operating Officer to establish quarterly and annual fundraising benchmarks, revenue goals, and performance metrics.
- Collaborate closely with Marketing and Communications to ensure donor messaging, storytelling, acknowledgments, and recognition efforts are consistent with organizational branding and values.
- Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship
- Manage the Foundation’s portfolio of individual and major donors, including developing and executing customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
- Conduct personalized donor outreach, in-person and virtual meetings, and site visits to strengthen relationships and inspire philanthropic investment.
- Design, implement, and evaluate annual giving campaigns, recurring giving programs, and direct mail and digital fundraising appeals.
- Lead donor segmentation and engagement strategies to grow both the donor base under $25,000 and the major donor portfolio of $25,000 and above.
- Board of Trustees
- Partner with Board members and senior leadership to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new donor prospects.
- Serve as key liaison with 25+ person Board; participate in Board development strategies and work closely with the Board’s Fundraising and PR Committees.
- Diversify Revenue Streams
- Continue to diversify revenue by identifying and developing new fundraising opportunities aligned with the Foundation’s strategic mission.
- Lead fundraising efforts for the Foundation’s Annual Gala.
- Lead fundraising efforts for the Annual Summit, including securing sponsorships and exhibitor support.
- Help plan and manage mission-based fundraising events.
- Identify and work with leadership to pursue new corporate grant opportunities that align with organizational priorities and programs.
- Work in conjunction with the Chief Operating Officer to increase and grow the Foundation’s membership portfolio.
- Develop strategies to secure legacy gifts to build a comprehensive planned giving program
- Data Reporting & Systems Management
- Oversee current and new donor tracking, reporting, and moves management using Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge (RENXT).
- Working with staff to ensure accurate and timely gift entry, reporting and reconciliation with finance on a regular basis.
- Develop and deliver regular progress reports, dashboards, forecasts, and analyses to measure fundraising performance and return on investment.
- Use data-driven insights to continuously refine cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, with a focus on donor retention and lifetime value.
- Help establish and track performance metrics that evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s fundraising programs.
- Leadership, Management & Collaboration
- Supervise, mentor, and support development staff, interns, and volunteers engaged in donor relations, research, and fundraising operations.
- Serve as a visible and credible ambassador for The Arnold P. Gold Foundation at donor, community, and professional networking events.
- Partner cross-departmentally to ensure program impact stories, outcomes, and metrics are effectively leveraged in fundraising communications and proposals.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in individual and major gift cultivation and solicitation.
- Proven ability to meet or exceed ambitious fundraising budget /goals.
- Proven track record as a frontline fundraiser in major gift solicitation and closure, as well as corporate partnerships.
- Advanced ability to quickly form relationships with colleagues, Trustees, and current and prospective donors at all levels. Minimum 10+ years in relationship building.
- Ability to participate in weekend and evening events, as needed, to advance the organization’s philanthropic objectives.
- Travel required on a regular basis to meet with our constituents and potential new donors.
- Strong relationship-building, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, organizational, and leadership capabilities.
- Experience working with donor databases, preferably Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge (RENXT).
Application Instructions
Please email your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and including your salary requirements to jcortese@gold-foundation.org.
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.