Director of Philanthropy

Company: The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
Location: Kansas City
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Job Objective: The Director of Philanthropy plays a key and integral role in the success of the Kansas & Western Missouri Division's (KWM) fund development efforts, specifically through ongoing and proactive relationship management, strategic communications plans, gift cultivation, and solicitation activity. The director leads the team of gift officers who oversee a managed portfolio of qualified major, planned/estate planning, and capital campaign donors. The director and team will increase gifts to The Salvation Army, focusing on moves management and blended gifts while retaining and strengthening existing giving, for operating, endowment, and capital purposes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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• Serve as key participant on the development senior leadership team
  
• Oversee implementation of all transformational philanthropic programs of the KWM Division, including major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns, and ensure the gift officers are meeting benchmarks and key performance indicators
  
• Consult KWM leadership and Corps on current best practices in major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns
  
• Develop a strategy, in collaboration with divisional leadership, for developing high-level asks (research, strategy, case, pitch, team, timing, etc.)
  
• Lead and manage the assignment of portfolios to each gift officer within the division
  
• Organize and lead regular donor review meetings with major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaign gift officers to plan cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies in coordination with the Executive Director of Development and Sr. Development Director
  
• Work with the Sr. Development Director to ensure cooperation and communication between field development staff and divisional gift officers, including assigning donor portfolios to field staff
  
• Prepare the annual revenue budget for the major gift, planned giving, and capital campaign areas and monitor actuals to align with the budget
  
• Supports the administrative and logistical functions of the MG/PG/Capital Campaign teams
  
• Ensures the department interacts with fundraising and community outreach events as assigned by the Executive Director of Development
  
• Ensure excellent customer service is provided to donors through accessibility to staff and leadership (as granted), timely responsiveness, quality in all interactions, and personalized communications.
  
  Additional Duties:
  
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    Enhance/Maintain knowledge of fundraising trends through study and participation in fundraising conferences and seminars.
    Maintain work ethic and public perception consistent with The Salvation Army's mission
    
  • Perform all other duties as assigned.
    
    
    Minimum Qualifications
    Education: Four-year college degree in a related field (i.e., business, advertising, marketing, sales, or management); relevant experience, as determined by The Salvation Army, may be considered in lieu of education qualification; an advanced Degree and/or Professional Certification highly desired.
    
    Experience: Ten years of experience in non-profit development, five or more in a designated leadership position. Demonstrated leadership in marketing, business goal planning/strategy, and team organization.
    
    Certifications/Licenses: None
    
    Skills/Abilities:
    
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    • Ability to work with and supervise a wide variety of personalities.
      
    • Must be discerning and able to make sound decisions based on a variety of information and input.
      
    • Computer knowledge and skills required, software experience should include but not be limited to; Microsoft Word, Excel, Lotus Notes (or Microsoft Outlook), and any competitive Donor Management software.
      
      Supervisory Duties:
      
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      • Gift & Estate Planning Director(s)
        
      • Gift & Estate Planning Associate
        
      • Major Gifts Donor Relations Director(s)
        
      • Major Gifts Donor Relations Associate(s)
        
      • Capital Campaign Manager
        
        Physical Requirements: Includes sitting; climbing and/or balancing; stooping, kneeling, bending, stretching, crouching and/or crawling; standing; walking; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; use of vision; driving a vehicle; pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying 25 pounds; traveling by airplane; both outdoor and indoor navigation of settings, and standing and/or walking up to 12 hours per day.
        
        Mental Demands:
        
        
        Work under stressful conditions.
        Interact with others with courtesy and tact.
        Manage and prioritize multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner to meet tight deadlines.
        Respond to crisis situations in a calm and effective manner.
        Complete projects on schedule.
        Maintain confidentiality.
        Maintain regular and punctual work attendance.
        
        
        Communication Demands:
        The position requires: professionally communicating verbally with co-workers, other departments and program staff, clients, vendors, donors, volunteers, board members, philanthropic decision-makers, and officers; written communication; talking on the telephone; responding to written or verbal requests; training/giving verbal and written instructions; receiving verbal and written instructions; writing/composing written language; reading; visiting/working at other worksites and non-worksite locations; communication via the latest technologies.
        
        Travel: Occasional travel throughout division and territory, average 1 week/month
        
        Driving: Must possess a valid driver's license from the state in which you reside. Must be approved through The Salvation Army Fleet Safety Program to drive either a Salvation Army or personal vehicle on Salvation Army business.
        
        Working Conditions: Daily work is performed in a typical office environment; may require some weekend and evening work. Event work may include hotels, indoor/outdoor venues, Corps Community Centers, and other public venues.
        
        All employees recognize that The Salvation Army is a church and agree that they will do nothing as an employee of The Salvation Army to undermine its religious mission.
        
        The Salvation Army Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
        
        The Salvation Army is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who are back-to-work, US Veterans, people with disabilities, people who have been impacted by the justice system, and/or people without a college degree are encouraged to apply.

Keywords: The Salvation Army USA Central Territory, Saint Joseph , Director of Philanthropy, Executive , Kansas City, Missouri