VP of Development

Constructive Dialogue Institute • New York, NY

219d • $180,000 - $200,000 • Remote

About The Position

CDI is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial leader to serve as our Vice President of Development. Reporting to the Co-Founder and Executive Director, the VP will lead the organization’s development strategy and will oversee all aspects of philanthropic revenue—including major donors, foundations, and regional funders.
This is both a strategic and hands-on role. The VP will build and drive a comprehensive development function from the ground up: cultivating their own portfolio, closing significant gifts, developing systems and materials, and laying the foundation for future team growth. The ideal candidate brings 10–12 years of fundraising experience, a track record of securing major gifts, and the mindset of a builder who moves fast, brings fresh ideas, and leads with clarity and confidence.

Requirements

• 10–12+ years of fundraising experience, including at least 3 in a leadership role shaping and executing development strategy
• Experience in higher education, academia, or a field related to pluralism, dialogue, or bridging divides
• Proven track record securing six- and seven-figure gifts from both foundations and individuals
• Skilled relationship-builder who earns trust with individuals across the ideological spectrum
• Strategic and entrepreneurial—you bring vision, take initiative, and generate ideas that move fundraising forward
• Strong communicator who translates complex work into compelling narratives and cases for support
• Equally comfortable zooming out and diving in—able to manage a portfolio, write proposals, run systems, and drive strategy
• Exceptionally organized and self-motivated—you keep details tight, systems running, and work moving without hand-holding
• Deeply aligned with CDI’s mission and excited to help bridge divides and promote constructive dialogue

Nice To Haves

• Strong preference for candidates on the East Coast or expertise with East Coast funders

Responsibilities

• Lead CDI’s fundraising strategy, with accountability for setting and achieving ambitious, sustainable philanthropic revenue goals in partnership with the Executive Director
• Work closely with the Growth Team to identify and match funders to aligned programmatic and institutional opportunities
• Design and lead thoughtful engagement—updates, convenings, and learning opportunities—that effectively leverages CDI team members
• Represent CDI externally at donor meetings, conferences, and events
• Identify, manage, and grow a portfolio of institutional and high-net-worth donors—driving cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Strategically direct the Executive Director’s involvement with funders for greatest impact
• Lead development and submission of compelling grant proposals, reports, and donor materials
• Maintain and refine core assets—case studies, pitch decks, templates, and messaging
• Ensure all deliverables reflect CDI’s voice, strategy, and impact
• Build and manage HubSpot and development systems for accurate data, pipeline tracking, and reporting
• Oversee grant tracking, deadlines, and donor relationship milestones
• Partner with Finance on forecasting and philanthropic reporting
• Develop scalable infrastructure—workflows, tools, and documentation—to support growth
• Define and execute short- and long-term staffing strategy for the development function, in collaboration with Operations

Benefits

• Compensation — $180,000 - $200,000
• A Mission-Driven Culture — we practice what we preach, so our work culture is characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness.
• Remote-First — CDI was founded as a remote-first organization, and we work hard to maintain a strong team culture across vast distances.
• Unlimited PTO — as well as 13 company holidays.
• Remote Work Support — up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment (like desks, chairs, or webcams) and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses.
• Other Benefits — employer-supported health, vision and dental plans, subsidized parental leave, 3% 401k match, short- and long-term disability insurance, life and AD&D insurance, $1,000 annual professional development budget.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees