Vital Impacts: Development Director

NRG Consulting Group

2d•$120,000•Remote

About The Position

Vital Impacts is seeking a Development Director to lead and execute our fundraising strategy during a pivotal growth phase.This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in early-stage environments, loves building systems from scratch, and is excited to grow major individual and corporate support. The Development Director will partner closely with our Founder/Executive Director, who brings deep relationships, strong visibility, and a compelling public presence. This role will take ownership of day-to-day development operations, donor stewardship, and revenue growth — helping move Vital Impacts from a small grassroots organization to a more professional, scalable operation. This is not a role for someone who needs a highly structured, large-organization environment. It is a role for a go-getter who sees the vision, isn’t afraid of an evolving organization, and wants to help build something meaningful.

Requirements

7+ years of senior-level fundraising or revenue leadership experience, with clear ownership of results; experience in small, founder-led, or early-stage organizations strongly preferred
Proven success securing and growing 5- and 6-figure gifts from major individual donors and/or corporate partners; candidates do not need equal depth in both, but must bring strength in at least one
Exceptional relationship builder with the ability to engage and steward a wide range of constituencies, including high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, foundations, creatives, journalists, board members, and senior leaders
Demonstrated experience building fundraising strategy, relationships, and processes from the ground up, rather than inheriting a fully built development operation
Strong track record translating mission, programs, and impact into compelling proposals, pitches, and donor communications
Comfortable operating in a startup or growth-stage environment, with the judgment to prioritize, adapt, and move work forward amid evolving structures
Highly self-directed and accountable; able to own day-to-day fundraising execution while partnering closely with executive leadership
Experience fundraising across multiple channels or audiences, rather than working exclusively with a single donor type
Former Executive Directors, Deputy Directors, or senior leaders who have personally led fundraising for small or growing organizations are strongly encouraged to apply
Appreciation for journalism and storytelling, including an understanding of how high-quality reporting is developed, supported, and funded; experience working with journalists, media, or storytelling-driven organizations is a plus

Nice To Haves

Conservation or environmental background is not required

Responsibilities

Lead corporate outreach, pitches, and deal-closing with mission-aligned brands (e.g., creative, technology, youth education sectors)
Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and major donors
Develop tailored sponsorship opportunities tied to Vital Impacts’ programs
Create compelling proposals, pitches, and donor materials in collaboration with leadership and marketing support
Take ownership of donor communications and stewardship, ensuring timely, thoughtful, and personalized engagement
Preserve and scale Vital Impacts’ “secret sauce”: fast, human, heartfelt donor follow-up
Develop strategies to increase donor retention, repeat giving, and average gift size
Translate program impact and storytelling into donor-facing narratives that inspire giving
Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational growth goals
Lead revenue generation across: Major individual gifts Corporate sponsorships and partnerships New foundation and family foundation relationships
Design and manage fundraising campaigns (e.g., Giving Tuesday, program-specific campaigns)
Partner with the ED on donor strategy while independently managing and growing a donor portfolio
Select and implement a CRM to track donor relationships and fundraising activity
Build and maintain clear development systems, pipelines, and reporting processes
Bring visibility and structure to donor data currently spread across platforms and personal relationships
Partner with leadership to professionalize fundraising operations while maintaining flexibility
Support long-term fundraising planning, including exploration of sustained major donor growth and endowment strategies
Advise on future development staffing and team structure
Collaborate with leadership on organizational strategy as Vital Impacts scales
Help document and communicate impact to funders, partners, and supporters