Director, Celebrity Fundraising

Who We Are:

Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Through our mission, we are uniting communities to grant life-changing wishes. As the world’s largest wish-granting organization, we strive to create a sense of community and an environment where we warmly embrace our wish families, volunteers, and colleagues.

Joining Make-A-Wish means becoming part of a mission that believes in the power of a wish.

Location:

Remote positions are open to applicants based anywhere in the continental U.S. Hybrid positions are open to applicants based in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We do not sponsor employment visas or other immigration processes to attain or maintain employment eligibility.

Position Summary:

This position will be responsible for leading and growing the enterprise-wide celebrity fundraising strategy for Make-A-Wish. This includes aligning all aspects of the philanthropy journey with Make-A-Wish for celebrities, athletes, and the entertainment and sports industry. The Director will lead efforts in prospecting, engaging, and connecting stakeholders throughout the celebrity-giving journey and will be responsible for an annual revenue goal.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience as a talent agent/manager/handler or celebrity liaison for a high-profile organization

• Ability to steward relationships for high profile talent

• Excellent relationship building, interpersonal and networking skills with ability to engage effectively with individuals and to follow through on actions

• Experience dealing with a wide variety of stakeholders and resolving challenging situations

• Ability to partner across teams in understanding key needs, prioritizing, taking action to achieve results.

• Proven ability to envision and develop a strategic plan; self-starter who can see the big picture while executing programs and delivering results

• Demonstrated experience in leading complex projects and collaborating with cross functional teams in prioritizing outcomes and achieving results

• Proven ability to generate revenue and awareness for an organization

• Demonstrated innovation to drive achievement of strategic goals and organizational growth

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop long-term Make-A-Wish celebrity engagement in philanthropy: identify objectives, goals, strategies and measures to successfully drive key marketing metrics and deliver revenue target

• Manage pipeline of fundraising opportunities to ensure celebrities are engaged appropriately (considering fit, timing, etc.)

• Develop briefs and objectives for celebrities in conjunction with teams across the enterprise, considering highest and best use of time of resources

• Build and manage relationships with a targeted fundraising portfolio of celebrity supporters as agreed upon with Director, Entertainment & Sports and team to ensure year over year growth of fundraising and wish granting support

• Create and implement framework and guiding principles to navigate and prioritize celebrity-related requests from internal teams in partnership with key stakeholders

• Manage recognition and stewardship strategies for the Entertainment Marketing–managed celebrity portfolio, ensuring timely and meaningful acknowledgment, in coordination with donor care team.

• Represent Make-A-Wish at key events and activations involving celebrity supporters, providing high-touch relationship management, ensuring exceptional partner experience, and advancing engagement opportunities that drive mission and revenue goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit Management, Marketing, Communication, Business or related field required.

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience, with 5+ years working in or with the Entertainment & Sports industry

• Experience in non-profit PR, marketing or fundraising

• Strong management experience and interpersonal skills with volunteers, donors, and executive team members.

• Strong knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Salesforce Experience preferred

Working Environment:

• Ability to thrive in a remote environment.  

• Some travel required, up to 10%.  

• May occasionally require work outside of the traditional Monday through Friday work week. This includes weekends and early evening weeknights.   

This Role's Hiring Range
$115,000—$133,000 USD

What We Offer:

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness

• Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential 

• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options 

• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish America

• Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance

• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service

• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program 

• The organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station/adaptor to new hires

Time Off

• Up to 15 PTO days

• 10 Sick Days

• 11 Paid Holidays

• 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service

• 2 Personal Days accrued annually

• Parental Leave 

Also...

• Employee Awards and Recognition Programs 

• Individual and Leadership Development  

• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets

*Monthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short/long term disability.