Vice President of Development

Nov 20

National Humanities Center
Durham, NC

Anticipated Start Date: 2/1/26

Description

In partnership with the President & Director, Board of Trustees, and Development team, the Vice President of Development will be responsible for leading, planning, and implementing the Center's development programs, which include individual giving (annual and major gifts), institutional and corporate sponsorships, grants and foundations. The Vice President of Development will play a key role in ensuring the Center has the annual revenue to operate and grow its programs and will track and share progress toward fundraising goals regularly with the President & Director, the Board of Trustees, and the larger team.

The successful leader will need to be a strategic thinker as well as be able to execute the steps needed for the organization’s fundraising programs and activities. The Vice President of Development will carry a portfolio of top donors and prospects and help establish a moves management system whose execution is shared among the President & Director, Board volunteers, staff, and others. The ideal candidate will establish rapport with foundations, corporations, and individual donors and investors who share the vision and values of the Center and will strategically work to expand the community connected to the organization.

The Vice President of Development will supervise a team of two full-time staff members – the Development Manager and Development Coordinator – and will be instrumental in assessing the needs of the development operation and creating new positions to expand the program, engaging a team of staff and volunteers in meaningful development opportunities to grow the base of support. Their peers on the senior leadership team include the Vice President for Knowledge Management and Digital Services, the Vice President for Public Engagement, the Vice President for Scholarly Programs, the Vice President for Finance and Operations, the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, and the Vice President for Education Programs.

Responsibilities

The Vice President of Development will work with the President & Director, senior leadership team, and Development team to cultivate and implement a comprehensive development strategy to include individual, foundation, corporate, higher education, and other funding sources, with a focus on:

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Development Department Leadership: Provide vision, mentorship, and day-to-day leadership to the Development team, overseeing annual giving, major gifts, institutional giving, corporate/foundation relations, and alumni relations.
Annual & Multi-Year Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising plan and multi-year campaign strategies that align with the Center’s strategic goals.
Team Management: Develop and retain a talented, creative, and engaged development staff, maintaining a collaborative and empowering team culture and encouraging opportunities for professional development.
Budget & Operations: Oversee the Development department's budget, manage fundraising operations, and maintain a strong donor database (and other technology platforms as needed) to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Performance & Metrics: Set annual performance goals for the team and individual staff members, and regularly track and report progress to the President & Director and Board of Trustees.

Fundraising Execution & Major Gifts

Principal & Major Gifts: Serve as a frontline fundraiser, personally managing a portfolio of top-tier, principal-level prospects ($100,000+), and guiding the team’s strategy for a wider portfolio of major gift prospects.
Cultivation & Solicitation: Lead by example in developing and executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the Center's most significant donors.
Transformative Opportunities: Work with the President & Director and Board to identify and secure transformative gifts that advance the Center’s mission.
Stewardship: Foster strong relationships with existing donors, institutional partners, and Trustees that foster continued and increasing levels of support.

Institutional Collaboration & Partnerships

Senior Leadership Partner: Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team (SLT), providing strategic input and collaborating on Center-wide initiatives and cross-team programs.
Presidential Partner: Work closely with the President & Director to coach, prepare, and support their active and effective participation in fundraising meetings and donor solicitations.
Board & Volunteer Engagement: Partner with the Board of Trustees and other volunteer leaders to engage them in cultivation and solicitation efforts.
Internal Alignment: Partner with program directors to understand funding priorities and craft compelling cases for support.

Reporting & Industry Acumen

Data & Systems Management: Oversee the documentation of all prospect interactions and strategies within the Center's CRM system (Raiser's Edge).
Reporting: Prepare and present regular reports on departmental performance, campaign progress, and key fundraising metrics to the President & Director, SLT, and Board of Trustees.
Best Practices: Stay informed of trends in nonprofit and higher education advancement and integrate best practices into the Center’s fundraising operations.

Requirements

Required Attributes, Skills, and Qualifications

The Vice President of Development must share a passion for the humanities and for fostering a culture that is empowering, responsible, intentional, collaborative, and curious.

In addition, they should possess a variety of attributes, including the following:

Education and Experience

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required. A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., nonprofit management, business administration, public administration) is strongly preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of successful experience in development, with a proven track record of securing significant gifts and leading a fundraising team.
Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a team of development professionals.
Fundraising Acumen: Proven ability to personally close five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts and to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies.
Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders, such as high-net-worth donors, Trustees, internal peers, corporate partners, and academics.
Collaborative Mindset: Respectful and insightful consensus-building and team-player mentality.
Management Skills: Proficiency in budget management, strategic planning, and performance tracking.
Systems Proficiency: Expertise with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) and data management tools.
Availability: Ability to travel frequently (25%) and work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

A growth-oriented individual with the skills and drive to grow unrestricted giving to the Center.
Experience supporting Board activities related to the development function.
At least eight years of significant supervisory experience, including crafting and managing budgets and successfully leading a team to achieve short- and long-term objectives.
Experience leading a capital campaign would be an advantage.
Demonstrated ability to extract, analyze, and present data to support quality decision-making.
Comfort with Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Drive, Asana, and AirTable.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$150,000 to $200,000

How to Apply for this Job

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