Leadership role
VP of Development / Advancement
Leads a nonprofit's fundraising from individuals, foundations and corporations, and in advancement models its alumni and constituent relations.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO, or to a Chief Development Officer in large shops. Authority covers fundraising across giving channels and, in advancement models, alumni relations and related communications.
Core responsibilities
- Sets annual and campaign fundraising goals and plans
- Leads major gifts, planned giving, annual fund and foundation and corporate relations
- Engages the board and development committee in cultivation and solicitation
- Oversees donor database, gift processing and restricted gift documentation
- Manages stewardship and donor reporting
- Hires and manages development officers
How it differs
The Chief Development Officer is the C-level fundraising executive; in many organizations this VP is that person with a different title, so match on scope. Director of Development runs fundraising at a lower level or in a smaller shop. VP of Philanthropy is typically used in health care foundations and may be the same job.
By organization size
Below about $10M the top fundraiser is usually a director. Larger organizations split fundraising into teams under this VP, and universities and hospitals may have several VPs reporting to a senior advancement officer.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: VP of Development; VP Development; VP of Advancement; Vice President of Development; VP, Development; VP Advancement