🚀 Director of Individual Giving

Position Summary

The Director of Individual Giving is a key leader in advancing YWCA Minneapolis’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. This position leads a comprehensive individual giving strategy that inspires generosity, deepens engagement, and strengthens a culture of philanthropy across our community.

In partnership with the Chief Development Officer and the Advancement team, this role helps translate mission into measurable impact through storytelling, relationship-building, and equitable fundraising practices that honor the diverse experiences of donors and the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the creation and implementation of a dynamic individual giving strategy aligned with YWCA’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to design data-informed goals for donor acquisition, retention, and growth.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy internally, building understanding, enthusiasm, and ownership of fundraising across staff, volunteers, and board members.
• Integrate equity-centered practices into donor engagement and stewardship, ensuring communications and events are inclusive and representative of our diverse community.

Donor Relationship Management

• Manage a personal portfolio of 75–100 donors and prospects capable of making mid-level to major gifts ($2,500+).
• Develop and implement personalized strategies that align donor passions with YWCA’s impact areas, including Early Childhood Education, Girls and Youth, Workforce Development, and Racial Justice initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop compelling donor materials, storytelling assets, and impact communications.
• Work closely with program leaders to stay informed on outcomes, impact data, and stories that inspire philanthropy.

Team & Program Oversight

• Supervise and mentor the Annual Fund Officer and Database & Prospect Research Manager.
• Provide leadership and accountability for donor segmentation, stewardship calendars, and annual campaign planning.
• Partner with the Database & Prospect Research Manager to maintain data integrity and leverage analytics for forecasting and strategy refinement.

Planned Giving & Campaign Support

• Lead planned giving marketing and stewardship, ensuring donors are inspired to make legacy commitments through the YWCA Empower Legacy Circle.
• Collaborate with the CDO and CEO on leadership-level donor strategies and campaign-related initiatives.
• Support board members and volunteers in donor engagement; provide tools and coaching to increase confidence and participation in philanthropic outreach.

Measurement & Reporting

• Track progress against annual fundraising goals and KPIs, including donor retention and lifetime value.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to internal stakeholders and the board.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and ethics in donor relations.