Vice President/Chief Development Officer YW Boston€¦ · YW Boston is dedicated to eliminating...

YW BOSTON BACKGROUNDER | 1

Vice President/Chief Development Officer YW Boston

Boston, MA http://www.ywboston.org/

Send Nominations or Cover Letter and Resume to: Maureen Huminik Vice President 617-262-1102 [email protected]

The Opportunity

YW Boston (YWCA Boston) is dedicated to

eliminating racism, empowering women, and

promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for

all. Its programs that educate + empower reach

people across racial, gender, class, and

organizational lines to create systemic and lasting

change. The ultimate impact of its programs is

measurable improvement in gender disparities,

racial disparities, and social cohesion in Boston.

Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, YW Boston is the first YWCA in the nation and one of Boston’s

oldest social change organizations. Founded by suffragettes and abolitionists, YWCA Boston has always

provided innovative and effective programs that respond to the needs of marginalized people. Today, YW

Boston serves more than 3,000 individuals each year through its programs in racial justice dialogues, social

http://www.ywboston.org/

mailto:[email protected]


justice leadership, and health and wellness. It works with individuals of all genders and ages, with

communities, with companies, and with nonprofit collaborators.

Lois L. Lindauer Searches is proud to partner with YW Boston to fill this critical role at such an important

time in the organization’s history.

Position Overview – Vice President/Chief Development Officer

Reporting to the President & CEO, and serving on the Senior Management Team, the Vice President and

Chief Development Officer will play a key leadership role both internally and externally, directly managing

fund development staff and volunteers, and working closely with the Board to achieve the organization’s

aggressive financial goals while maintaining a personal portfolio of major individual donors and funders.

The ideal candidate will have both operational and direct fundraising expertise and an ability to understand

a highly complex organization. The incoming Vice President and Chief Development Officer will work

closely with the Senior Team and Board and effectively communicate the programmatic vision and

organization’s mission into fundraising initiatives.

Experience/Qualifications

Fifteen or more years of progressively responsible fund development and management experience

with an emphasis on individual giving.

Minimum two-year tenure as the chief fund development officer for a medium to large social service

organization.

Successful experience with planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining a multi-million

dollar, comprehensive fundraising program, preferably within a social services or advocacy setting.

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills; a professional

demeanor and a proven track record in establishing and nurturing long-term relationships with Board

members, donors, and community leaders.

Knowledge of Boston corporate and community leaders and philanthropists.

Successful administrative experience, including donor/market analysis, and data and personnel

management.

Demonstrated leadership ability, program development, and presentation skills.

Demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, and social justice.

Proficiency with technical systems. Knowledge in managing and using Raiser’s Edge preferred.

Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred.


Major Duties

As part of the organization’s recently approved strategic planning process, the Vice President and

Chief Development Officer will lead the implementation of a long-term fundraising effort that builds

on the organization’s strengths and annually increases its financial capacity to address the needs of

YW Boston constituencies.

Identify, develop, close, and steward ever-increasing sources of financial support for YW Boston

including major individual gifts, annual appeals, special events, planned giving, and government and

foundation grants. Assertively initiate and maintain a high level of interaction with, and stewardship

of, board and committee members and corporate, foundation, and major individual funders and

prospects.

Direct the ongoing development, management, implementation, and achievement of all YW Boston

fundraising plans. Ensure YW Boston’s mission, intended impact, theory of change, and branding

are appropriately integrated into all facets of the organization’s fund development efforts.

Successfully establish, implement, monitor, and achieve annual, detailed, written fund development

plans — including specific goals, budgets, performance management, evaluation, and outcome

measures for each YW Boston fundraising initiative.

Working closely with Senior Management, Board, and senior-level corporate, philanthropic and

community leaders, and other collaborators, identify and address long-term opportunities and

challenges to YW Boston’s intended impact.

Work closely with the Fund Development Committee (comprised of Board Members and other active

volunteers) to achieve the organization’s fundraising and friendraising goals. Facilitate fundraising

subcommittees focused on all aspects of fund development.

Work closely with the Governance Committee (comprised of Board Members) to assist in developing

a board candidate pipeline.

Supervise Fund Development staff including: their management of organizational resources to

achieve defined fundraising outcomes; interaction with individual donors, corporate and foundation,

and government funding sources; and engagement, participation with and understanding of YW

Boston programs, volunteers, and constituents.

Supervise the Marketing and Communications Manager who is responsible for developing and

executing YW Boston’s marketing plan.

Working with the President & CEO and Vice President for Programs, develop synergies between

program revenue and philanthropic fundraising plans.

Maintain YW Boston personnel policies and fund development contracts.

Oversee the development, implementation, operation, and control of essential fundraising

information and its reconciliation and integration into the organization’s overall financial reporting.

Manage resources of the Fund Development function against goals and within budget.


Development Overview

YW Boston currently operates under a $2 million budget, of which the Development Department needs to

raise $776,000. Funds raised each year include individual giving (major gifts, annual fund), corporate and

foundation giving, and United Way giving. The organization has for several years hosted two major

fundraising events each year, the Elevating Lives Breakfast and the Academy of Women Achievers

luncheon. In 2016, the organization celebrated its 150th Anniversary, which included a fundraising and

visibility campaign in recognition of this milestone. The goal is $1 million. Major events associated with the

campaign have included a gala and two speaker panel events. Working within the guidelines of the 2015-

2018 strategic plan, the new Vice President/CDO will create an aggressive fund development plan to

increase giving to YW Boston to meet the needs of a growing organization.

Members of the Board are highly engaged at the strategic and policy levels. A number of board members

are actively engaged in fund development activities. The organization has seen a significant increase in

average gift size from the board.

Client Overview

YW Boston is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom,

and dignity for all. Given its 150-year history of progressive social justice work, particularly in service of

women and people of color, YW Boston is uniquely qualified to address issues at the nexus of racial,

gender, and social equity.

YW Boston provides a high level of staff experience, engagement, and professional development. Its culture

is one of continual assessment and improvement with well-trained volunteers and strong board involvement


and support. The organization also benefits from high YWCA brand recognition and successful partnerships

with key Boston institutions, as well as a track record of well-executed programs with measurable

outcomes. YW Boston’s financial resources derive from a healthy mix of revenue paths (including

management fees, program fees, ground lease, and investments), and diverse fund development income.

YW Boston aligns its work to achieve systemic change. It works to incrementally reduce systemic racial and

gender disparities and improve social cohesion in Boston neighborhoods. Working across racial, religious,

gender, and economic divides, it moves to:

Use an educate + empower approach in delivering programs, organizing convenings, and

undertaking advocacy efforts.

See outcomes of:

o Enhanced knowledge;

o Improved attitudes/trust;

o Immediate behavioral change.

Catalyze measurable improvement in gender disparities, racial disparities, and social cohesion in

Boston.


Programs

LeadBoston

LeadBoston is a year-long executive leadership program, growing Boston’s executives into a cross-sector

network of socially responsible leaders.

Celebrating its 25th year, LeadBoston

focuses educating its participants about the

inner workings of Boston, trends and issues

that impact the city's social and economic

vitality, and socially responsible leadership.

The program is geared to corporate, public,

and nonprofit mid-to-senior level executives.

It connects professionals across sectors,

increasing their knowledge about the city,

awareness of neighborhood realities, and

their capacity to address complex work and

community dynamics.

Through their participation in the program, proven leaders across a diverse spectrum of sectors hone their

understanding and ability to address and reduce the racial, gender, and social inequities that prevent some

of Boston’s residents from accessing health and education resources, finding jobs to support their families,

and living safe and healthy lives.

Since 1991, LeadBoston has competitively selected more than 1,000 men and women as LeadBoston

participants. Representing the gamut of Boston’s professional, racial, ethnic, religious, and gender diversity,

LeadBoston participants are typically executives with 15 to 30 years of experience who have the ability to

influence change within their organization, professional sector, or in the larger Boston community.

Participants are sponsored and financially supported by their employers.

Organizations who sponsor participants have found that their employees are more effective in solving

challenging problems, making complex business decisions, managing conflict, and leading an increasingly

diverse workforce.


Youth Leadership InItiative

YW Boston’s Youth Leadership Initiative (InIt) is an academic year youth leadership program that develops

high school students who care into social justice leaders who act.

InIt provides leadership and workplace skills and

ignites a passion in high school students to

create socially responsible

communities. InIt’s goal is to build students’

abilities to work across differences and design,

implement, and engage other teens in a

community action project. These projects

address inequities in their schools, community

groups, and neighborhoods. Administered by

professionally trained YW Boston staff and adult

volunteers, the program introduces teens to

peers from different racial, religious, socio-

economic, and geographic backgrounds and builds them into a network of student leaders who can affect

change.

The program can serve as foundation to support a school or teen organization’s growing

commitment to community service and/or student leadership development, or as a complement to

existing programs.

InIt also builds students’ college admissions profile, aiding them in pursuit of acceptance and

scholarships; 88% of its alumni have attended a four-year college.

Since its founding as Anytown 25 years ago, more than 3,700 students have graduated from the

program. Alumni include Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, Facebook executive Erick Tseng,

astrophysicist Emmanuel Fonseca, National Urban Fellow Karla Acevedo, and

Springfield Renaissance Charter School Principal Stephen Mahoney, among others.

Youth/Police Dialogues

YW Boston’s Youth/Police Dialogues (YPD) program is a series of

facilitated dialogues and activities repairing trust between youth and police

officers, one neighborhood at a time.

It creates a safer Boston for all by engaging young people and police to

build a strong relationship between the community and the police who have

taken an oath to serve and protect them. The Dialogues help to curb

conflict and increase trust and cooperation in neighborhoods of Boston

most affected by violence and crime.


YPD brings together racially and ethnically diverse groups of local youth and police officers for interactive

dialogue sessions conducted by professional facilitators. A lack of meaningful communication between

youth and police is a serious public safety concern. YW Boston seeks to improve these relationships by

helping participants break down stereotypes and communication barriers and build mutual respect and

understanding.

Each Dialogue has 15-25 youth (ages 12-19), 4-6 police officers, and 2 professional facilitators. Youth and

officers are recruited from the same neighborhood so they continue to have positive interactions outside the

formal dialogue space. Facilitators are trained and receive ongoing coaching and feedback. The Dialogues

cover stereotypes, community concerns, the "stop snitching" culture, and how to work together. The topics

and scenarios are carefully selected and honed to elicit the most honest and productive discussion about

the most critical issues.

Youth/Police Dialogues occur all over the city of Boston. However, particular emphasis is placed on

communities with higher levels of mistrust between youth and officers such as Roxbury and Dorchester

YPD partners with schools, community centers, churches, and any youth serving agencies to host a

Dialogue.

Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity

YW Boston’s Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity is a series of facilitated group dialogues unlocking the power

of diversity in companies, nonprofits, and community groups.

It is an ongoing project to bring people from all walks of

life together to create stronger, safer, and more unified

neighborhoods, schools, communities, and

organizations. Over five sessions, a group of diverse

participants from the same neighborhood, organization,

or school engage in structured conversations about race

and ethnicity. The series is led by trained, skilled

moderators and culminates with the group developing

an action plan to address a race-related issue negatively

impacting their organization or community.

Action plans in the past have varied from a commitment to diversifying a school’s Parent Council, to

becoming a regular participant in YW Boston’s Stand Against Racism, to establishing a dinner group to

meet regularly to discuss community issues.


Girls’ Health

YW Boston’s Girls’ Health program is a health workshop series giving middle school and high school girls

the tools to make healthier choices, strengthen their wellbeing, and grow their potential.

Adolescent girls deserve comprehensive support during this

critical developmental stage, where they are likely to face

unique challenges to their mental, physical, and sexual

health. Schools and youth-serving organizations want to

support girls’ health and wellbeing, but many lack the

resources to run effective health programs. YW Boston’s

Girls’ Health program combines targeted health education

with skill-building opportunities, empowering girls to care for

themselves in all aspects of their lives. YW Boston offers the

workshop series at no cost to schools.

Women’s Health and Wellness

YW Boston’s Women’s Health and Wellness program is a health workshop series ensuring all women have

the health information they need, and the wellness support they deserve.

Since 1993, YW Boston’s Women’s Health and Wellness

Program has empowered women to take control of their

health by providing healthcare access, health literacy

education, and referral and reminder services to

underserved women in Boston’s neighborhoods. Its

Community Health Educators are fluent in English and

Spanish, allowing YW Boston to provide multi-lingual

educational services. YW Boston provides health outreach,

education, and links to care access through a women's

health workshop series, breast health phone-a-thons, and a

health text reminder service.


Leadership

Sylvia Ferrell-Jones

President and Chief Executive Officer of YW Boston

Sylvia Ferrell-Jones joined YW Boston in late January 2007, after 25 years in the fields

of real-estate investment management, nonprofit governance, and executive

leadership.

At YW Boston, she has shepherded a dramatic shift in the organization's focus, leading towards greater

financial stability and enhanced programmatic outcomes.

For twenty years, Ferrell-Jones focused on management of real-estate based assets, serving as a director

at AEW Capital Management, headquartered in Boston, and as a principal investment officer with the state

of Connecticut Trust Funds, with portfolios ranging up to $2 billion.

Subsequently, Sylvia served as Director of Agency Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America,

where she provided governance, management, and fundraising consultations to a $26 million nonprofit

affiliate portfolio.

Ferrell-Jones earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her juris doctor from Yale Law

School. She has held leadership roles with numerous community

and professional organizations, including local, regional, and

national real estate organizations; the Massachusetts Conference

of the United Church of Christ; Big Brothers Big Sisters of

America; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay;

LeadBoston; and The Partnership.

Sylvia currently serves on the board of directors for United

Church Funds; Andover Newton Theological School; and the

Wellesley Centers for Women, and sits on an advisory board for

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network, and

the corporate advisory board for Women of ALPFA (Association

of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting).


Location

Boston, MA

YW Boston's historic 140 Clarendon Street headquarters

is also a multi-use building that contains a 65-room three-

star hotel, Hotel 140; The Boston Lyric Stage; several

corporate offices; an annex to Snowden International High

School, and market rate and affordable SRO and one and

two bedroom apartments that comprise the Parlin

Apartments.

Background Checks

Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. LLLS does verify academic

credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an

offer.

To learn more, call Maureen Huminik, Vice President at

617-262-1102 or send nominations or cover letter and resume to

[email protected].

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

Setting the Standard in Development Search

420 Boylston Street, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02116

617.262.1102

www.LLLSearches.com



http://www.lllsearches.com/

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