Vice President-Philanthropy

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Vice President Philanthropy 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 role involves leading a high-performing development team, cultivating relationships with major donors, and driving strategic fundraising efforts to support the health system's mission of providing high-quality, patient-centered care. This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Administration, NMHC.

Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive philanthropy strategy aligned with the health system's mission, values, and long-term goals. Ensure the execution of fundraising initiatives including planned giving, annual giving, foundation relations, and major gift programs.
• Fundraising & Donor Relations: Cultivate and steward relationships with key stakeholders, including individual donors, corporations, foundations, and community partners. Lead team to secure major gifts and expand the donor base to support health system priorities, such as facility expansion, research, patient care programs, and community health initiatives.
• Embody and consistently reinforce Values.
• 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.
  • 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.
• Serve as a key partner to executive and physician leadership to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities.
• Serve as senior leader on philanthropy team to partner, collaborate, and provide leadership support with other fundraising teams, including donor relations, gift administration and operations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Experience: 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising or philanthropy, with a demonstrated track record of securing major gifts and managing campaigns, preferably in a healthcare or academic setting.
• 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.
• Fundraising Expertise: Expertise in major gift solicitation, fundraising events, annual giving, corporate giving, planned giving, foundation relations and donor stewardship.
• 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.
• Proficient in fundraising databases and CRM systems, data analytics in fundraising, and MS office.
• 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.

#LI-MP1

Preferred:

• A master’s degree in business or law

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.