Development Director - Vitalant Research Institute and CA

01 VITALANT; Scottsdale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vitalant is seeking a Development Director to advance its mission by securing philanthropic support for Vitalant Research Institute and California development efforts. As a frontline fundraising professional, you will build relationships with donors and prospects, develop tailored strategies, and secure annual and major gifts to support research, science, and patient care.

This hybrid Scottsdale role requires a Bachelor's degree, Master’s preferred, CFRE preferred, and 5–7 years of nonprofit

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, sales, business, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• CFRE certification preferred.
• Five to seven years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience required.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and advancing prospects through a defined relationship-development process.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research, and qualify prospective donors to expand the donor pipeline.
• Manage a strategic portfolio of donors with cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Build relationships with donors, foundation representatives, board members, and community stakeholders.
• Develop proposals and narratives linking donor interests to Vitalant priorities.
• Lead gift solicitations independently and with Foundation leadership.
• Coordinate donor tours, site visits, and recognition events.
• Maintain donor database records and provide regular fundraising performance reports.

Skills

Donor engagement

Portfolio management

Exceptional communication

Confidentiality

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Virtuous donor database

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

CFRE certification preferred

Tools

Virtuous

CRM software

Job description

At Vitalant, the impact you make doing work that is purposeful, meaningful, and worthwhile is vital. As a member of our non‑profit organization, you can be impact‑inspired to provide vital clinical services to communities nationwide, vital products to those in need of a donor's generosity, or vital scientific research that advances blood safety worldwide.

Work Shift (if applicable)

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Job Description

Vitalant is currently seeking a Development Director to advance Vitalant's mission to save and improve lives through blood donation, research, and innovation by securing philanthropic support for Vitalant Research Institute (VRI) and California development efforts. As a frontline fundraising professional and ambassador for the Foundation, this role builds and strengthens relationships with donors and prospects, develops tailored fundraising strategies, and secures annual and major gifts to support research, scientific innovation, and organizational priorities. The Development Director manages a portfolio of donors and prospects, achieves fundraising goals, and cultivates lasting partnerships that expand philanthropic support and advance Vitalant's impact.

Compensation: $83,500 - $110,000

This hybrid position is based in Scottsdale, AZ and requires working onsite three days per week and from an at-home office two days per week.

As a Development Director, you'll get to:

• Identify, research, and qualify prospective donors through targeted outreach, discovery visits, and personalized engagement to expand the donor pipeline and advance fundraising goals.
• Manage a strategic portfolio of donors and prospects, developing and executing tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to maximize annual and long‑term philanthropic support.
• Build productive relationships with donors, philanthropic advisors, foundation representatives, community stakeholders, and internal partners to advance fundraising initiatives and campaign priorities.
• Develop compelling proposals and fundable narratives that connect donor interests with Foundation priorities, partnering with executive leadership, providers, scientists, and other subject matter experts.
• Lead gift solicitations independently and collaboratively with Foundation leadership, development staff, clinical and scientific leaders, and board members.
• Coordinate donor tours, site visits, recognition events, and personalized experiences that showcase Vitalant's mission, patient impact, and innovation.
• Create customized stewardship plans, donor communications, impact reports, and recognition materials that demonstrate fulfillment of donor intent, strengthen relationships, and support donor retention.
• Maintain accurate donor database records, document interactions and next steps, track portfolio progress, and provide regular reports on fundraising performance and goals.

REQUIREMENTS

KNOWLEDGE/EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree required in communications, marketing, sales, business, or related field, required.
• Master's degree, preferred.
• Certified Fund‑Raising Executive (CFRE), preferred.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

None.

EXPERIENCE

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressive nonprofit fundraising, business development, relationship management or related fundraising experience, required.
• Demonstrated success in achieving fundraising, revenue generation, or donor engagement goals.
• Experience managing donor or constituent portfolios and moving prospects through a defined relationship‑development process.
• Experience in qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors through phone, virtual, and in‑person engagement.
• Experience building relationships with donors, foundation representatives, board members, and community stakeholders, and organizational leaders.
• Experience within a nonprofit, healthcare, research, academic, or similarly mission‑driven organization preferred.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Must possess the skills and abilities to successfully perform all assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize scientific concepts for donor audiences.
• Proficiency in donor databases (preferably Virtuous) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic donor engagement and fundraising plans.
• Ability to build credibility and effective working relationships with donors, volunteers, executives, board members, clinicians, researchers, and community leaders.
• Ability to analyze donor information, giving history, and engagement trends to identify opportunities for philanthropic growth.
• High degree of initiative, professionalism, and discretion.
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and detail oriented.
• Local and regional travel with occasional national and overnight for donor engagement.
• Occasional evenings and weekends.

Location

9305 East Via de Ventura

Scottsdale, AZ 85258