Vice President of Development

illuminationfoundation

Santa Ana (CA)

On-site

USD 155,000 - 175,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental and Vision

Life, AD&D and LTD

401K with Company Matching

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Illumination Foundation is seeking a strategic, hands-on Vice President of Development to lead a growing philanthropy program across major gifts, individual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships. Reporting to the CEO, you will shape a multi-year fundraising strategy and build a high-performing team while personally cultivating and stewarding major donors.

Based in Southern California, this leadership role offers a highly competitive salary of $155,000–$175,000 annually, comprehensive

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
8–10+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising leadership.
Proven success securing major gifts at 5–7 figures.
Experience across major gifts, corporate & foundation relations, and campaigns.
Ability to collaborate with CEOs, Boards, and donors.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a three-year comprehensive fundraising strategy.
Lead and grow a high-performing development team.
Personally cultivate and solicit major donors.
Manage donor stewardship and campaigns.
Oversee CRM usage and forecasting reporting.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relations

CRM systems

Forecasting

Team leadership

Strategic fundraising

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Tools

CRM software

Job description

“Every person deserves compassion, dignity, and the safety of a place to call home.”

Homelessness is the largest social and public health crisis in California. Illumination Health + Home is a growing non-profit organization dedicated towards disrupting the cycle of homelessness by providing targeted, interdisciplinary services in our recuperative care centers, emergency shelters, housing services and children's and family programs. Illumination currently has 13+ facilities with 22+ micro-communities scattered across Orange County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a strategic, hands-on Vice President of Development to lead and grow our philanthropic revenue while building a high-performing, mission-driven team. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the executive leadership team, you will shape and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy spanning major gifts, individual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, special events, Board engagement, and campaign development.

This is a leadership role for a fundraiser who loves both the work and the people. You will set strategy and lead a team, while personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and philanthropic partners.
The pay range for this position is$155,000 - $175,000 annually, depending on experience.

What you'll do

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth

Develop and execute a three-year comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities, with annual goals by revenue stream and quarterly revenue, pipeline, and activity targets.

Maintain a fundraising pipeline sufficient to support 2–3 times the annual major-gift and institutional goals, and identify opportunities to diversify revenue and grow unrestricted support.

Monitor performance and provide the CEO and Board with regular reports on revenue, pipeline, projections, and progress, partnering with Finance on accurate forecasts.

Major Gifts & Individual Philanthropy

Build and personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors, developing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

Personally lead or participate in five, six, and seven-figure solicitations, and grow the number and value of major gifts.

Develop compelling cases for support, and partner with the CEO and Board to identify and engage high-capacity individuals and community influencers.

Build and deepen relationships with corporations, foundations, and institutional partners, moving funders from transactional grants toward strategic, multi-year partnerships.

Corporate, Foundation & Board Engagement

Build and deepen relationships with corporations, foundations, and institutional partners, moving funders from transactional grants toward strategic, multi-year partnerships.

Partner with the CEO and Board to maximize their effectiveness as ambassadors and fundraisers, setting clear annual engagement expectations and providing tools, coaching, and meeting preparation.

Create opportunities for Board members to leverage their networks to expand the donor base.

Donor Stewardship & Campaigns

Design and lead a comprehensive stewardship strategy, with a goal of increasing donor retention by at least 5% in the first year.

Drive donor upgrades, recurring and multi-year giving, and re-engagement of lapsed donors, ensuring donors receive timely, meaningful communication about their impact.

Assess organizational readiness for future capital and transformational campaigns, completing a campaign readiness assessment within the first six months.

Team Leadership & Operations

Lead, coach, and develop a teamsetting clear goals and expectations and fostering a culture that is collaborative, supportive, accountable, and donor-centered.

Lead with kindness, humility, professionalism, and respect while maintaining high standards, and encourage collaboration across Finance, Programs, Marketing, and Executive Leadership.

Ensure the CRM is fully utilized for fundraising management, with standardized dashboards, reliable monthly and quarterly forecasting, and accurate reporting in partnership with Finance.

What you'll bring

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

8–10+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, including leading development functions and managing fundraising professionals.

Demonstrated success securing major gifts, ideally at the five, six, and seven-figure levels.

Proven ability to build fundraising strategies that produce measurable revenue growth.

Experience across major gifts, individual giving, corporate and foundation relations, events, stewardship, and campaign planning.

Skilled at partnering with CEOs, Boards, major donors, and community leaders.

Experience with CRM systems, pipeline development, forecasting, and metrics-driven management.

Strong financial acumen and excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Experience in healthcare, homelessness, housing, or human services preferred.

Experience in healthcare, homelessness, housing, or human services preferred.

Meaningful connections within Orange County and/or Southern California a plus.

Who you are

You are an entrepreneurial, relationship-oriented fundraising leader who pairs a strong track record of results with genuine care for people. You lead with kindness, humility, and accountability, you are comfortable rolling up your sleeves alongside your team, and you bring energy, creativity, and a genuine commitment to our mission.

Benefits