Vice President of Philanthropy

Title:
Vice President of Philanthropy

Salary: $170,000 – $190,000 with bonus eligibility

Please Note: Due to our holiday closure, applications submitted during this period will not be reviewed until the first week of January. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

About The James Beard Foundation:

The James Beard Foundation(“JBF”) is a vital cultural institution with deep roots honoring and advancing the culinary arts industry. JBF’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As a 501(c) (3) national non-profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country.

The Vice President of Philanthropy is a highly visible senior leadership role responsible for driving JBF's comprehensive fundraising strategy. This position requires an experienced frontline fundraiser who will personally cultivate major gifts while managing a team of five and overseeing all philanthropic revenue streams, including major gifts, institutional giving, annual giving, fundraising events, and membership.

Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, this role collaborates closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership to achieve ambitious financial goals and advance organizational priorities in a fast-paced environment.

The VP will represent JBF externally at a wide variety of events across the country.

• Develop and execute an annual strategic fundraising plan to achieve current budget of $8M, with a goal of building sustainable renewable support to $10-12M within 3-5 years
• Serve on and collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team, fostering a culture of philanthropy across all departments
• Design and lead a capital campaign to raise between $5-10M for the historic James Beard House on West 12th Street, in partnership with Executive Leadership, the Board, and consultants to be retained
• Develop and manage an annual departmental budget and regularly present financial performance to the CGO, CEO, and Board

• Build the Major Gifts program and personally manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the 5-, 6-, and 7-figure level through strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Ensure rigorous donor research and moves management systems to secure new and renewed major gifts
• Partner with the CGO, CEO, and Board to maximize their effectiveness as organizational ambassadors and fundraisers

• Expand JBF's foundation and corporate funding pipeline through relationship cultivation; oversee the Director of Institutional Giving in developing compelling proposals and impact reports
• Ensure grant compliance and timely reporting to institutional funders

• Staff and drive agenda for the Board’s Development Committee, including fundraising strategy, trustee giving and engagement, campaign updates, and quarterly reporting
• Coach and support trustees in their individual fundraising efforts

• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of 5 development professionals, with a commitment to ensuring best practices in fundraising
• Establish departmental systems, policies, and metrics to track progress toward strategic goals
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team culture with emphasis on professional growth

• Relationship Building:
  Exceptional ability to establish trust and cultivate meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-net-worth individuals, foundation officers, board members, and colleagues
• Strategic Thinking:
  Ability to develop innovative fundraising strategies aligned with organizational mission and market opportunities
• Communication Excellence:
  Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills; comfort representing the organization at public events
• Analytical
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and data-driven…