The OpportunityWe are seeking a strategic, hands-on Vice President of Development to lead and grow our philanthropic revenue while building a high-performing, mission-driven team. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the executive leadership team, you will shape and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy spanning major gifts, individual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, special events, Board engagement, and campaign development.
This is a leadership role for a fundraiser who loves both the work and the people. You will set strategy and lead a team, while personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and philanthropic partners.
The pay range for this position is
$155,000 - $175,000 annually, depending on experience.
What you'll doFundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth
- Develop and execute a three-year comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities, with annual goals by revenue stream and quarterly revenue, pipeline, and activity targets.
- Maintain a fundraising pipeline sufficient to support 2-3 times the annual major-gift and institutional goals, and identify opportunities to diversify revenue and grow unrestricted support.
- Monitor performance and provide the CEO and Board with regular reports on revenue, pipeline, projections, and progress, partnering with Finance on accurate forecasts.
Major Gifts & Individual Philanthropy
- Build and personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors, developing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Personally lead or participate in five-, six-, and seven-figure solicitations, and grow the number and value of major gifts.
- Develop compelling cases for support, and partner with the CEO and Board to identify and engage high-capacity individuals and community influencers.
- Build and deepen relationships with corporations, foundations, and institutional partners, moving funders from transactional grants toward strategic, multi-year partnerships.
Corporate, Foundation & Board Engagement
- Build and deepen relationships with corporations, foundations, and institutional partners, moving funders from transactional grants toward strategic, multi-year partnerships.
- Partner with the CEO and Board to maximize their effectiveness as ambassadors and fundraisers, setting clear annual engagement expectations and providing tools, coaching, and meeting preparation.
- Create opportunities for Board members to leverage their networks to expand the donor base.
Donor Stewardship & Campaigns
- Design and lead a comprehensive stewardship strategy, with a goal of increasing donor retention by at least 5% in the first year.
- Drive donor upgrades, recurring and multi-year giving, and re-engagement of lapsed donors, ensuring donors receive timely, meaningful communication about their impact.
- Assess organizational readiness for future capital and transformational campaigns, completing a campaign readiness assessment within the first six months.
Team Leadership & Operations
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of seven, setting clear goals and expectations and fostering a culture that is collaborative, supportive, accountable, and donor-centered.
- Lead with kindness, humility, professionalism, and respect while maintaining high standards, and encourage collaboration across Finance, Programs, Marketing, and Executive Leadership.
- Ensure the CRM is fully utilized for fundraising management, with standardized dashboards, reliable monthly and quarterly forecasting, and accurate reporting in partnership with Finance.
What you'll bring- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 8-10+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including leading development functions and managing fundraising professionals.
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts, ideally at the five-, six-, and seven-figure levels.
- Proven ability to build fundraising strategies that produce measurable revenue growth.
- Experience across major gifts, individual giving, corporate and foundation relations, events, stewardship, and campaign planning.
- Skilled at partnering with CEOs, Boards, major donors, and community leaders.
- Experience with CRM systems, pipeline development, forecasting, and metrics-driven management.
- Strong financial acumen and excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Experience in healthcare, homelessness, housing, or human services preferred.
- Meaningful connections within Orange County and/or Southern California a plus.
Who you areYou are an entrepreneurial, relationship-oriented fundraising leader who pairs a strong track record of results with genuine care for people. You lead with kindness, humility, and accountability, you are comfortable rolling up your sleeves alongside your team, and you bring energy, creativity, and a genuine commitment to our mission.
Benefits- Medical Insurance funded up to 91% by Illumination Foundation (Kaiser and Blue Shield), depending on the plan
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life, AD&D and LTD Insurance funded 100% by Illumination Foundation
- Employee Assistance Program
- Professional Development Reimbursement
- 401K with Company Matching
- 15 days vacation PTO/year
- 6 days sick PTO/year
- 10 days holiday PTO/year
- Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSFL) for federally qualified loans
