Senior Development Advisor

City/State

Virginia Beach, VA

Work Shift

First (Days)

Overview:

• Senior Development Advisor

  This role is an integral part of the Foundation team responsible for major charitable contributions from private, corporate, and community foundations to advance the organization’s mission and long-term philanthropy goals. This role leads the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of foundation donors, with a strong emphasis on developing high-value, multi-year funding opportunities. The qualified candidate will be experienced in personal management of a major gifts portfolio of donors and prospective donors, and for fostering collaboration with executive leadership and service line managers and community leaders in supporting the mission of our organization.

  The Senior Development Advisor is a senior level fundraising professional responsible for developing and managing a robust portfolio of foundation relationships of major gifts that support the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability. This role leads foundation relations fundraising strategy, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of private, corporate, and community foundations. 

  Working collaboratively with executive leadership, program leadership, finance, and grants administration, the Senior Development Advisor translates organizational priorities into compelling funding proposals and multi-year partnership opportunities. This position requires advanced expertise in soliciting major gifts utilizing relationship management, proposal development, exhibiting the ability to manage complex, high-value funding relationships. 

  Key Responsibilities 

  Foundation Fundraising Strategy 

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive foundation fundraising strategy of major gifts aligned with organizational goals and priorities 

  • Identify, research, and qualify new foundation prospects at the local, regional, and national levels 

  • Build and manage a high-value portfolio of foundation funders, including multi-year and six- and seven-figure opportunities 

  • Track funding trends and foundation priorities to inform strategic outreach and proposal development 

  Relationship Management & Stewardship 

  • Cultivate and steward long-term relationships with foundation program officers, trustees, and key stakeholders 

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned foundation partners 

  • Develop customized cultivation and stewardship plans, including site visits, reports, briefings, and leadership engagement 

  • Ensure funder recognition and stewardship activities meet foundation expectations and organizational standards 

  Internal Collaboration & Leadership 

  • Work closely with executive leadership to position strategic initiatives for foundation investment 

  • Support senior leaders and board members in foundation engagement and solicitations as appropriate 

  • Contribute to annual and long-range fundraising planning 

  Data, Reporting & Accountability 

  • Maintain accurate records of foundation activity, proposals, and stewardship in the organization’s CRM system 

  • Monitor and report on foundation revenue goals, pipeline activity, and performance metrics 

  • Prepare reports and briefings for leadership on foundation fundraising progress and opportunities 

  • Collaborate with program, finance, and evaluation teams to gather data, outcomes, and financial information and provide donor impact reports 

  This is a Hybrid position located at Sentara Park, Virginia Beach, VA

  Experience (Required)

  • 7 years of Major Gift Fundraising, philanthropy, or non profit sector fundraiser

Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.

In support of our mission “to improve health every day,” this is a tobacco-free environment.

For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states:

Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.