Associate Vice President of Individual Giving

Institution Overview

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is the nation's first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children. Since its start in 1855, CHOP has been the birthplace for countless breakthroughs and dramatic firsts in pediatric medicine. Built on a foundation of delivering safe, high-quality, family-centered care, the Hospital has fostered medical discoveries and innovations that have improved pediatric healthcare and saved countless children’s lives. Today, families facing complex conditions come to CHOP from all over the world, and the Hospital’s compassionate care and innovation have repeatedly earned a spot on the U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll of the nation's best children's hospitals.

CHOP advances pediatric healthcare by translating scientific breakthroughs into new therapies and cures. To accelerate this process, the CHOP Foundation inspires philanthropic giving to support the hospital’s needs. Philanthropic support enables CHOP’s world-renowned clinicians and scientists to work collaboratively – and to guide each and every patient family to their own personal best outcome. The CHOP Foundation has the privilege of seeing philanthropy in action. The Foundation sees new possibilities for sick children where, just a few years ago, none existed. In recent years, the Foundation has expanded the breadth and depth of its philanthropic initiatives. This type of success doesn’t happen without a dedicated team, and the CHOP Foundation is seeking more people to grow with it during this exciting time.

Context for Recruitment and Role Summary

The CHOP Foundation is hiring an Associate Vice President of Individual Giving (Associate Vice President) to lead and manage the overall operations of individual giving units comprising the areas of major gifts, research program and special project development, annual giving, and planned giving. The Associate Vice President also manages and solicits a portfolio of major and principal gifts donors (with capacity at $5 million and above), often in partnership with the Hospital’s executive leadership, physicians, and volunteers. This position is responsible for raising (directly and indirectly) a significant component of the annual Foundation goal of over $140 million annually.

The Associate Vice President for development and philanthropy in individual giving will coach and manage a highly energized, talented, and productive staff who are committed to creating and implementing best-practice engagement and giving strategies and programs. In addition to distinctive programmatic strength in major and planned giving, CHOP has built one of the most technologically sophisticated annual giving programs in the field of philanthropy. The Associate Vice President will continue to grow the team of over 40 staff members, helping the Foundation drive toward an overall goal of achieving $165 million in total annual fundraising outcomes by 2027, expanding into new territories regionally and nationally. This leader directly manages the following positions: Executive Director of Clinical Development; Executive Director of Research Programs and Special Projects (a newly created role); Executive Director of Annual Giving; and Executive Director of Planned Giving.

The Associate Vice President of Individual Giving reports to the Vice President of Development and works closely with Hospital leadership, including the CEO, Department Chairs, and the Chief Scientific Officer, to determine and execute fundraising priorities and strategies.

The hybrid work model for the position requires 1-2 days per week onsite at CHOP’s Philadelphia Campus and home/remote office located within a commutable distance.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic and highly organized individual with particular sophistication in organizational diplomacy, strategic facilitation, coaching, and mentorship. Experience in leading the ongoing evolution of state-of-the art, complex individual giving programs is desired, with the ability to add value by translating vision into strategy and tactical plans and driving corresponding decision making.

While the CHOP Foundation will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience:

• Dedication to the mission and goals of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience across the areas of philanthropy, marketing, communications, and nonprofit management with a demonstrated track record of directing and managing successful fundraising programs within a complex major and principal gifts-focused nonprofit environment (e.g., education, healthcare, NGO). Sophisticated knowledge regarding major, annual, and planned giving and best practices and emerging trends in philanthropy, including the optimal integration of individual giving programs to deepen and expand constituency engagement, diversify the funding base, and cultivate greater donor commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and operational management, leadership, and coaching, including developing a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of advancement professionals, with a flexible and adaptive approach to management that brings out the best in staff and yields collegiality, shared accountability, and a sense of pride. Track record of setting strategic direction, establishing goals, and benchmarking, as well as working across divisional/departmental lines when necessary to achieve results. Experience in building and enhancing advancement systems and processes as well as effectively leveraging technology to streamline or integrate processes and expand the team’s reach.
• Demonstrated capability of effectively strategizing and engaging various groups and constituents, including administrative and clinical leaders, physicians, volunteer leaders, partner institutions, and individual fundraising prospects and donors, as well as other colleagues across CHOP and the CHOP Foundation. Skill in nurturing and developing partnerships and collaboration across organizational and departmental lines.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of how to build diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising and alumni relations functions; competent with respect to issues such as racial, cultural, religious, sexual, and gender identity.
• Significant experience and success personally identifying, cultivating, and soliciting gifts of $5 million and above.
• Results oriented and efficient in managing multiple deadlines and competing priorities. A self-starter and quick study with excellent organizational skills, strong work ethic, a sense of urgency, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in a dynamic, fast-paced, and sometimes ambiguous environment. Must have a creative approach to problem solving and capacity to leverage emerging opportunities. A commitment to continuous improvement.
• Capacity to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process. Working knowledge of modern data management practices.
• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees preferred.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

CHOP strongly encourages all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

The CHOP Foundation has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of the Diversified Search Group to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted at https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/20221 or directed to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Managing Director and DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice Leader
Diversified Search Group
The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10174
[email protected] | 212.542.2587