Vice President of Development

VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

ABOUT FULFILLMENT FUND

For nearly 50 years, Fulfillment Fund has transformed lives by empowering young people from educationally and economically under-resourced communities to graduate from high school, succeed in college, and launch meaningful careers. Since our founding, we have helped more than 37,000 Los Angeles students build pathways to higher education, economic mobility, and lifelong success through our college access, college success, and career readiness programs.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the Vice President of Development will lead the growth and diversification of Fulfillment Fund’s comprehensive fundraising program. This strategic, results-driven leader will build on current development plans to expand philanthropic revenue, strengthen donor relationships, and create a sustainable pipeline of support for the organization’s long-term goals. As Fulfillment Fund approaches its milestone 50th anniversary, this leader will have a unique opportunity to help shape this landmark moment, celebrating the organization’s legacy while inspiring investment in its next chapter.

Partnering closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and program, finance, and marketing teams, the Vice President of Development will expand relationships with foundations, corporations, and individual donors while using the anniversary to reengage longtime supporters and introduce new audiences to the mission. This leader will also strengthen the development department’s infrastructure, mentor and develop staff, and establish clear systems for accountability, forecasting, and performance. The ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on fundraiser and compelling storyteller who brings a builder’s strategic mindset, strong executive presence, and the confidence to navigate organizational change with internal and external stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Create and execute a comprehensive development plan in close partnership with the CEO, senior leadership, and Board of Directors, aligning fundraising priorities with the organization's multi-year strategic plan and long-term growth goals.
• Develop and execute a diversified fundraising approach that expands unrestricted revenue, strengthens recurring support, deepens engagement and stewardship of existing donors, and cultivates new sources of philanthropic support.
• Strengthen relationships with existing donors, ensuring they feel valued, engaged, informed and inspired to continue supporting Fulfillment Fund.
• Build and maintain a qualified fundraising pipeline, establishing clear performance metrics, realistic revenue forecasts, and transparent reporting on progress and challenges.

Board & External Relations

• Build trusted, collaborative relationships directly with Board members, understanding their individual interests, strengths, and networks, and inspiring meaningful engagement in fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and philanthropic ambassadorship.
• Equip Board members with the messaging, resources, and guidance needed to leverage their networks, build relationships, and confidently represent Fulfillment Fund to prospective supporters.
• Represent Fulfillment Fund at donor meetings, community gatherings, and philanthropic events to strengthen visibility, credibility, and external partnerships.
• Communicate the organization's vision, impact, and future direction with confidence and transparency, building trust among donors, partners, and other stakeholders.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Lead a diversified fundraising portfolio encompassing major gifts, foundation and corporate partnerships, annual giving, grants, planned giving, and special events.
• Develop and implement a major gifts program, establishing clear prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, while personally managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors in partnership with the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Strengthen foundation and corporate partnerships by identifying new funding opportunities, developing compelling proposals, and overseeing grant strategy and funder stewardship to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
• Expand and diversify the donor base through strategic prospecting, stewardship, and retention efforts, including opportunities for alumni engagement, grassroots giving, and participation from emerging generations of donors.
• Partner with program and marketing teams to translate student experiences, program outcomes, and organizational data into compelling stories and cases for philanthropic investment.
• Provide strategic fundraising leadership for the annual gala and other development initiatives in partnership with internal teams and consultants, while expanding revenue opportunities beyond traditional events.
• Leverage donor data, giving trends, and prospect research to inform fundraising decisions, strengthen engagement, and identify opportunities for growth.

Team Leadership & Development Operations

• Lead, develop, and grow the development team, establishing clear responsibilities and performance expectations while fostering a collaborative, accountable culture grounded in trust, constructive feedback, professional development, and shared success.
• Strengthen development operations, including prospect management, donor tracking, portfolio assignments, reporting, and the effective use of Raiser's Edge and other fundraising systems.
• Partner closely with finance to develop accurate revenue forecasts, align fundraising projections with organizational budgets, and ensure timely and reliable financial and grant reporting.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with program and marketing teams to coordinate fundraising activities, respond to emerging opportunities, and ensure effective communication and follow-through.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising or development, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success leading multimillion-dollar fundraising efforts, securing significant gifts from foundations, corporations, and individual donors, and developing diversified revenue strategies. Experience in education-focused fundraising, including relationships with educational foundations or alumni giving programs, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success developing a major gifts program, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and translating fundraising strategies into actionable plans, qualified donor pipelines, and measurable revenue goals.
• Proven experience building, leading, and developing fundraising teams, including developing mid-career professionals, strengthening departmental operations, and establishing clear performance expectations.
• Highly collaborative senior leader with strategic vision, exceptional judgment, emotional intelligence, executive presence, and the ability to inspire confidence among staff, donors, senior leadership, and the Board.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate organizational change, manage competing stakeholder priorities, and build trust through transparency, adaptability, and consistent follow-through.
• Strong financial acumen, including fundraising budgets, revenue forecasting, performance metrics, and data-informed decision-making. Proficiency with donor management systems, prospect tracking, and fundraising analytics; experience with Raiser's Edge preferred.
• A collaborative, hands-on leadership style, with the initiative, decisiveness, and flexibility to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day execution.
• A high level of integrity, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and accountability, with a genuine commitment to developing others and advancing organizational success.
• A deep passion for Fulfillment Fund's mission, educational equity, and expanding opportunities for students from under-resourced communities.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Fulfillment Fund offers the following to eligible employees:

• Annual salary range: $165,000– $190,000 based on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) with match.
• Generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Hybrid work schedule with two in-office days per week.
• Professional development support within a collaborative, purpose-driven culture.

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. The organization promotes equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. In doing so, we comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations to ensure an equal employment opportunity for everyone. We don’t discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, ancestry, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, military service obligation, veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Our policies and personnel practices are intended to ensure that all of us are treated equally with regard to recruiting, hiring, and advancement, and our decisions on employment are made to further the principle of equal employment opportunities for employees.

Envision Consulting has been retained by Fulfillment Fund to search for its Vice President of Development.

Applicants needing accommodation for any part of the application process may contact Envision Consulting at 626.714.7577 to request and arrange for assistance.