Lighthouse Central Florida is a mission-driven, values based organization providing optimal blend of rehabilitation training services and real world application to help individuals of all ages, who live with any degree of vision loss to adjust to their reality with grace and confidence so they can remain active, productive members of our community.

We are seeking a VP of Mission Advancement who will be responsible for developing and overseeing fundraising goals and creating sustainable revenue streams for Lighthouse Central Florida and our Social Enterprise, Lighthouse Works.

The VP of Mission Advancement will lead a comprehensive fundraising program that includes, but is not limited to, major gift fundraising, annual giving, employee giving, planned giving, board giving, special events, corporate and foundation grants, and donor stewardship. The VP will provide leadership and guidance to a dynamic fundraising team, developing and implementing fundraising strategies that align with programmatic objectives and both short and long-term organizational priorities. Reporting to the EVP/COO, the VP will serve as a trusted advisor and a member of Lighthouse's Executive Leadership Team and will work collaboratively with Program Services, operations, marketing/communications, finance, and administrative departments to further the organization's strategic direction and plan. The VP of Mission Advancement will motivate a core team of philanthropy professionals and build a strong culture of philanthropy within the organization.

Essential Job Requirements:

• Provide Lighthouse with strong, creative, energetic, strategic leadership on all fundraising initiatives and set new, ambitious, but attainable goals in order to increase annual operating funds.
• Recruit, hire, train, manage, coach, provide professional development support and evaluate an effective Fund Development team.
• Monitor progress on annual goals on a regular basis to maximize staff performance, ensuring the utilization of appropriate metrics on a team and individual basis.
• Ensure that efficient processes and data-informed decision-making guide the work of the Fund Development team.
• Benchmark with peer institutions to ensure the organization is on track and employing best practices.
• Develop a tactical plan that sustains and grows all levels of the annual and recurring giving and ensures the efficient allocation of resources, including administration, management, and oversight of the donor database system, billing, pledge processes and closeouts, donor cultivation, and retention management.
• Oversee the major gift, special event, fundraising campaigns, corporate and foundation identification, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Manage a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including individual and institutional sources, moving them through stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ensure strategic management of fund development activities, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, grant proposals, reports, mailings, and events.
• Lead/Oversee the creation of written diversified, comprehensive development plans with clearly defined goals, objectives, timelines, and assignment of responsibilities that result in fundraising success each year to achieve strategic planning goals and support the annual operating goals of the organization.
• Support and coordinate marketing and communication efforts for the organization as related to events, donor development and retention, brand awareness, and other areas as required.
• Work closely with team members to collect, organize, and share compelling opportunities, stories, and programs.
• Ensure constant, quality research of funding sources and trends across both regional and national funding environments as they relate to the organization, its programs, operations, and giving priorities to better position the organization for future changes in the funding landscape and marketplace.
• Execute and manage annual cultivation programs and special events and other programming with the purpose of building and cultivating relationships, and brand awareness, renewing and growing gifts, and generating revenue aligned with budgeted target and stretch goals. Maximize return on investment, including ensuring appropriate integration with major and principal gift strategies.
• Establish performance measures, monitor results, and assist the executive team, development committee, and board evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's fund development program.
• Actively facilitate, contribute to, and drive an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.
• Serve as a passionate and informed advocate for the mission who is one of the key spokespersons for the organization.
• Ensure that philanthropy and fund development are carried out in alignment with the organization's values, mission, vision, and plans.
• Manage the strategic participation of crucial staff, program participants, volunteers, and Board Members in cultivating and stewarding individual, foundation, corporate and other donors.
• Look for opportunities (or position the CEO or other key leadership) to attend community events or serve on community panels or initiatives that better position the organization for improved fundraising or visibility.
• In partnership with the CEO, cultivate and steward meaningful relationships with Lighthouse's Board of Directors, identifying pathways to enhance their contributions and engagement.
• Provide oversight and support to various fundraising consultants, including those engaged in leading specific efforts such as capital campaigns.
• Serve as a vital member of the executive leadership team with shared responsibility for setting and achieving the organization's vision and goals.
• Work with Marketing and Communications to create fundraising campaigns.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing or a related field required. A Master's Degree preferred.

License and/or Certification:

• Fundraising certificate from an accredited institution preferred
• CFRE credential is highly desirable.

Experience:

• 10-plus years of progressively responsible professional experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in fundraising across multiple functional areas, such as individual giving, institutional giving, annual giving, planned giving, stewardship, and board relations.
• Experience leading capital and other large scale development campaigns.
• Experience with financing mechanisms for growing social enterprises through impact investing instruments (program related investments, missions related investments, etc.)
• Direct experience in managing successful major gift programs (cultivation through solicitation and stewardship); knowledge of and experience in planned giving programs is required.

Demonstrated Knowledge and Skills:

• A person with passion and charisma; superior communication skills to express, both orally and in writing, the mission and fundraising goals of the organization and its innovative model with clarity, passion, and persuasion; ability to credibly and compellingly present the Lighthouse mission to external and internal constituencies
• Flexible and adaptable leadership style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives
• Successful track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six figures or greater.
• High energy and passion for the Lighthouse mission
• Ability to construct, articulate, and implement annual strategic development plans
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process with a working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline processes and contribute to the integration of related functions.
• A professional and resourceful style, comfortable with ambiguity, with the ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time

Physical Demands:

• Ability to move about independently
• Moderate ability to move and lift items, usually ranging up to 50 lbs.
• Prolonged standing upon occasion
• Prolonged sitting at a workstation, meetings, and seminars

Requirements:

• Must pass Level II background check.
• Have reliable transportation.
• Moderate travel to conventions, events, etc.

All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.

Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.