Director of Institutional Advancement

The Director of Institutional Advancement is responsible for developing and leading comprehensive advancement strategies that support our mission to serve families caring for children with serious illness. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will establish the organization's formalized development plan, build advancement infrastructure and systems, oversee fundraising strategy and execution, and lead communications and brand development efforts. This position will work cross-functionally with staff and board members to align advancement initiatives with organizational objectives and will build capacity for future team growth. Key Responsibilities Strategic Planning and Development Infrastructure Develop and implement the organization's comprehensive, multi-year development plan including revenue goals, donor acquisition and retention strategies, and advancement priorities Build systems, processes, and infrastructure to support sustainable revenue growth and donor engagement Establish metrics and evaluation frameworks to track advancement performance and organizational impact Create strategic roadmap for team growth and capacity building Partner with Executive Director and board to set ambitious yet achievable fundraising goals Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Development Develop and oversee integrated fundraising campaigns across all donor segments Create compelling case for support and fundraising narratives that translate program impact into donor engagement Lead prospect research and identification strategies to build robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation supporters Cultivate and solicit major gift prospects and corporate partners Oversee grant strategy, including foundation research, proposal development, and funder relationship management Design and implement donor stewardship framework that celebrates contributions and demonstrates impact Communications Strategy Develop and execute communications strategy that advances and supports fundraising goals Oversee creation of donor communications including annual impact reports, newsletters, case statements, and multimedia content Ensure all external communications reflect organizational values and resonate with diverse audiences Collaborate with senior staff to create authentic storytelling that showcases organizational impact Event Strategy and Execution Develop strategic approach to fundraising events that advances revenue goals and donor engagement Oversee event planning, logistics, and vendor relationships for multiple annual events Create peer-to-peer and third-party fundraising programs that expand organizational reach Evaluate event performance and refine strategy based on ROI and engagement metrics Database Management and Analytics Establish and maintain development database with accurate donor records, giving history, and engagement tracking Develop reporting frameworks and dashboards to inform strategic decision-making Create donor segmentation strategies for targeted campaigns and personalized communications Prepare briefing materials and donor profiles to support cultivation and solicitation efforts Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred 5+ years of progressive fundraising and advancement experience with demonstrated strategic leadership Proven track record developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies and campaigns Strong experience in communications strategy and organizational positioning Demonstrated success building development infrastructure, systems, and processes Experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations Excellent grant writing skills with track record of securing foundation and corporate support Proficiency with fundraising databases, CRM systems, and analytics platforms Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with ability to craft compelling narratives Knowledge of fundraising ethics, best practices, and current trends in nonprofit advancement Essential Skills and Competencies Strategic thinking with ability to translate vision into actionable plans Strong leadership and team-building capabilities Systems thinking and process development expertise Excellent project management with ability to balance strategic priorities and tactical execution Data-driven decision making with strong analytical skills Relationship building at all levels - donors, board, staff, community partners Creative problem-solving and innovation in fundraising approaches Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive fundraising practices Preferred Experience Experience building development programs or infrastructure from the ground up Background working with healthcare organizations or family-centered nonprofits Previous work supporting families affected by serious illness Experience with capital campaigns and/or major donor programs Knowledge of foundation landscape and grant-making trends Experience with planned giving and legacy fundraising programs Familiarity with digital fundraising tools and peer-to-peer platforms Personal Attributes Empathetic leader who understands the unique challenges facing families of children with serious illness Visionary yet pragmatic, able to set ambitious goals while building incrementally Collaborative partner with strong interpersonal and cross-functional skills Entrepreneurial mindset comfortable building new systems Detail-oriented with excellent organizational abilities Ethical and transparent in all donor relations and advancement activities Resilient and adaptable in a dynamic nonprofit environment Authentic relationship-builder with strong emotional intelligence