The YMCA of Greenville is a dynamic and rapidly growing association that seeks to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The Director of Advancement (Major Gifts) supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. This position is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of individual donors contributing $5,000 and above to the YMCA of Greenville. The role plays a critical part in advancing the organization’s strategic priorities through personalized stewardship, capital and endowment giving, and pipeline development. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and in collaboration with the Vice President of Development, this position cultivates long-term philanthropic relationships with donors and prospects, ensuring they feel connected to and inspired by the mission of the YMCA.

Not only will you be part of amazing mission driven work, we offer the following benefits:

• Access to your Earned Wages before scheduled Pay Days!
• 12% Retirement Contribution, once fully vested
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan
• Separate Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Medical Benefits
• Company Paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 11 Company Paid Holidays, plus 2 Floating Holidays
• Household Membership to the YMCA of Greenville
• 50% Discount on Programs, including Childcare, Sports, Aquatics, and Personal Training

We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. 

We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. 

We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. 

We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. 

We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day.

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

Major Gifts Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of up to 150 prospects and donors, with a focus on those giving $5,000+ annually to the Annual Campaign.
• Maintain deep relationships with an estimated 60 high-capacity donors and ensure timely stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Achieve or exceed performance metrics for portfolio management, including retention, upgrade, and solicitation goals.
• Provide endowment growth and capital campaign support.
• Create Donor Strategy & Pipeline Development
• Identify and qualify 20–30 new major gift prospects annually through research, referrals, and analysis.
• Develop and execute personalized engagement strategies that lead to increased giving and long-term donor commitment.
• Solicit at least one-third of portfolio annually.

Capital Campaign & Endowment Support

• Partner with the CDO to support major gifts for capital projects and endowment growth.
• Align donor interests with YMCA strategic funding priorities and help build capital giving pipeline.

Stewardship & Engagement

• Ensure meaningful, mission-centered stewardship for all donors in the portfolio.
• Execute at least 20 intentional touchpoints per month, including meetings, calls, handwritten notes, tours, and events.
• Collaborate with marketing and program teams to share impactful stories with donors.

Prospect Research & Reporting

• Use donor research tools and analytics to inform moves management strategies and segment outreach based on donor behavior and capacity.
• Track donor activity and progress in the CRM (e.g., Raiser’s Edge), ensuring accuracy and timely documentation.
• Analyze giving trends and develop reports for internal planning and leadership updates.

Other Expectations

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers
• Attend/complete required abuse risk management training
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers
• Follow mandated reporting requirements
• Adhere to job specific abuse risk management responsibilities

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in a relevant field such as non-profit management, communications public relations, marketing, business administration and
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in areas like fundraising or development, donor relations/stewardship, event coordination, and/or volunteer management
  • Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• CFRE certification preferred
• Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors at the $5,000+ level
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and persuasive writing
• Familiarity with donor CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Commitment to the YMCA’s mission, values, and community impact
• Experience with Database administration (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce NPSP)
• Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.

BENEFICIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Professionalism, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity
• Enthusiasm for mission-driven work and community impact
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Donor database proficiency – managing records, generating reports, maintaining data accuracy
• Strong communication skills – writing donor acknowledgments, event invitations, and impact reports
• Project and event management – coordinating stewardship events and campaigns
• Analytical mindset – for tracking donor metrics, pledge fulfillment, and ROI
• Collaboration and teamwork – partnering with finance, programs, marketing, and executive teams
• Discretion and confidentiality – handling sensitive donor and financial information
• Detail-oriented – ensuring accuracy in acknowledgments, data entry, and reporting
• Customer-service orientation – for responding to donor inquiries and providing a high-quality experience