Vice President of Development

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children seeks a Vice President, Development in Alexandria, VA, to lead private philanthropy and translate the five-year growth plan into actionable fundraising strategies.

The role blends enterprise leadership with frontline fundraising, building a team across individual giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, events, and operations, while personally cultivating major gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10–12 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• At least 5 years supervising fundraising staff.
• Experience growing or transforming a fundraising program.
• Experience in a complex or mission-driven organization where funder relationships are held by leaders outside Development.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-year philanthropy strategy with annual revenue targets.
• Direct Development across giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, events, and operations.
• Cultivate and close significant gifts and partnerships.
• Build donor retention, upgrade, and pipeline-development programs.
• Partner with Communications and executives to engage funders.
• Establish Salesforce as system of record for donor activity.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Relationship management

Business development

Fundraising expertise

Salesforce proficiency

Analytical and planning

Excellent communication

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

CRM software

Job description

LAST UPDATED: September 2026

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President, Development leads NCMEC's private philanthropy strategy and translates the organization's five-year growth direction into an integrated, measurable plan. The Vice President will refine and operationalize the strategy already underway, testing assumptions, identifying gaps, setting priorities, and building the capabilities needed to grow sustainable private revenue.

This is both an enterprise leadership role and a front-line fundraising role. The Vice President partners with leaders across NCMEC, connecting Development with program, operations, communications, finance, legal, and executive leadership. Because many of NCMEC's strongest funder relationships are held across the organization, the Vice President must lead through influence, create shared accountability, and equip mission and executive leaders to play clear, effective roles in cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.

The Vice President builds a disciplined fundraising operation across individual giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, events, and third-party partnerships. This requires a leader who combines strategy with execution: someone who has built or significantly strengthened a fundraising program, can personally cultivate and close significant gifts, develops a strong team, and ensures timely follow-through. The successful candidate brings a relationship-driven approach to stewardship, a growth and sales mindset, sound business judgment, and the ability to represent NCMEC with credibility, enthusiasm, and appropriate urgency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, refine, and implement NCMEC's multi-year philanthropy strategy, translating enterprise goals into annual priorities, revenue targets, portfolio strategies, investment needs, and measures of progress.
• Serve as senior philanthropy strategist and business partner to the President and CEO and leaders across NCMEC, ensuring fundraising is integrated across the organization rather than siloed.
• Assess the existing strategy and operating model; identify gaps and recommend adjustments based on experience, data, and results.
• Lead the Development team across individual giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, digital fundraising, events, and development operations, with clear goals, decision rights, and accountability.
• Build a culture of stewardship and follow-through, ensuring funders and partners receive timely engagement before, during, and after a gift or partnership, with ownership and next steps clearly documented.
• Create coordinated strategies for relationships led by executives, program leaders, board members, or staff. Clarify roles, prepare internal partners for funder engagement, and provide the coordination and follow-up needed to advance each relationship.
• Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 40 principal and major gift relationships across individuals, foundations, and corporations, with an annual solicitation goal set with the President and CEO.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and close significant gifts and partnerships, modeling an assertive, respectful, mission-aligned approach to business development.
• Grow sustainable, unrestricted private support while developing well-structured programmatic opportunities with appropriate cost recovery and organizational alignment.
• Build and strengthen leadership, mid-level, major, and principal giving pipelines, including a disciplined donor retention, upgrade, and reactivation program.
• Partner with Communications to convert NCMEC's national reach into donor acquisition, stronger donor journeys, and sustained relationships.
• Partner with corporate, program, and operational leaders to build compelling value propositions for partners, and support strong transitions from new business to ongoing relationship management and renewal.
• Establish Salesforce as the system of record for donor and partner activity; ensure timely documentation and use CRM data to drive decisions and accountability.
• Set and review revenue goals, portfolio assignments, and development plans for team members. Monitor progress monthly and coach staff toward stronger performance.
• Report regularly to the President and CEO and other leaders on revenue to goal, pipeline health, forecast, retention, and key risks or decisions, reconciled with Finance.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a talented Development team, including first-time managers.
• Partner with the President and CEO and Board leadership to engage the Board in fundraising through clear, individualized actions, including introductions and stewardship.
• Work with the President and CEO and Committee Chair to support the Development and Marketing Committee, including quarterly meetings and progress updates.
• Respond directly and constructively to ideas and concerns. When an idea should not advance, communicate the decision and rationale rather than letting it stall.
• Manage all work in accordance with NCMEC policies and perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10-12 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including at least 5 years directly supervising fundraising staff.
• Demonstrated success building, transforming, or materially growing a fundraising program, not solely maintaining an established one.
• Demonstrated success managing a six- to seven-figure portfolio and personally closing gifts from individual, foundation, and corporate supporters.
• Experience in a complex or mission-driven organization where key funder relationships are held by leaders outside Development.
• Experience building or strengthening donor stewardship, retention, upgrade, and pipeline-development programs.
• Experience translating growth strategy into executable fundraising plans, staffing, systems, budgets, and performance measures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strategic judgment: able to work within an established direction while constructively challenging assumptions and shaping execution.
• Enterprise leadership and influence: able to build trust, align colleagues, and create shared accountability without relying solely on direct authority.
• Exceptional relationship management, including consistent follow-through and the ability to sustain trust over time.
• Business development and sales acumen: identifying mutual value, developing tailored value propositions, negotiating effectively, and advancing opportunities with urgency.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution across enterprise priorities, team management, and direct donor engagement.
• Ability to coach, develop, and retain fundraising staff and build a collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising practices across individual giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, digital fundraising, events, donor-advised funds, and planned giving.
• Strong proficiency with Salesforce, including reports and dashboards for forecasting, pipeline management, and performance measurement.
• Strong analytical, planning, prospect strategy, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to represent NCMEC with credibility, discretion, enthusiasm, and respect.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with integrity.
• Adaptability and sound judgment in a fast-paced environment with multiple demands.
• Ability to work additional hours and travel as needed.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The Vice President, Development oversees the Development department and manages four direct reports: Senior Director, Digital Fundraising; Director, Major Gifts; Director, Corporate Partnerships; and Manager, Development Operations.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT

Approximately 25%, or as needed to fulfill position requirements.

HOURS & SCHEDULE

Generally Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (minimum 37.5 hours within five days per week), unless otherwise required or approved by management. The position is based at NCMEC headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and requires a hybrid in-office presence. Flexibility is required for scheduling, after-hours and weekend response, travel, and collaboration with staff and stakeholders.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee may be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other duties as assigned by an authorized individual.

Duties are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities required to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at-will employment relationship.