Vice President, Breakthrough Partnerships & Foundations

Ladders; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10 sick days

10 U.S. holidays

20–25 days PTO

Medical, dental & vision

403(b) with employer match

Job summary

Ladders is seeking an accomplished executive to lead breakthrough partnerships and foundations from Seattle. You will shape philanthropic strategy, translate program outcomes into compelling donor narratives, and drive major gifts with cross-functional collaboration.

The role requires building long-term donor relationships, representing the organization at philanthropic forums, and guiding external messaging to secure transformative support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 15+ years of major gift fundraising or strategic relationship development.
• Track record of closing private transformational gifts or partnerships at $50M+.
• Deep knowledge of philanthropic ecosystems, especially AI and technology sectors.
• Ability to translate complex programmatic content into donor narratives.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a pipeline of $100M+ multi-year philanthropic prospects.
• Develop tailored pitches for significant prospects using programmatic impact evidence.
• Foster relationships with effective altruism and cost-efficiency networks.
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve donor-facing narratives and strategies.
• Contribute to long-range fundraising strategy and represent the organization externally.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Gifts closing at $50M+

AI/Tech philanthropy

Donor narrative storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President, Breakthrough Partnerships & Foundations to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space.

This executive-level role will drive a high-impact philanthropic strategy focused on building transformative partnerships and advancing large-scale fundraising opportunities. The position calls for an experienced relationship-builder who can translate complex program outcomes into compelling donor narratives that inspire major gifts and long-term support. You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to strengthen external messaging, shape strategy, and represent the organization in key philanthropic forums.

Location: Seattle, WA - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $300,000 – $350,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a pipeline of $100M+ multi-year philanthropic prospects
• Develop tailored, compelling pitches for significant prospects using programmatic impact evidence
• Foster relationships with effective altruism and cost-efficiency networks
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve donor-facing narratives and strategies
• Contribute to the long-range fundraising strategy and represent the organization in relevant external forums

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required
• 15+ years of experience in major gift fundraising or strategic relationship development
• Demonstrated track record of closing private transformational gifts or partnerships at the $50M+ level
• Deep knowledge of philanthropic ecosystems, particularly in AI and technology sectors
• Proven ability to translate complex programmatic content into compelling donor narratives

Benefits

• 10 paid sick leave days
• 10 U.S. holidays
• 20-25 days of generous paid time off based on role and tenure
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match and immediate vesting

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.