Vice President of Development and External Affairs

MDS Foundation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Flexible PTO

Remote work environment

Job summary

The MDS Foundation seeks a visionary Vice President of Development and External Affairs to lead a comprehensive fundraising and external engagement strategy. This senior leader will drive sustainable revenue growth, strengthen donor relationships, and elevate the Foundation's visibility through major gifts, foundations, and legacy giving, while guiding marketing, events, and research communications.

Reporting to the CEO, the role requires a track record of securing seven-figure gifts, building

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising leadership.
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Proven ability to build, scale fundraising programs and drive unrestricted revenue.
• Experience growing infrastructure, systems, and strategy in growth or turnaround environments.
• Strong donor motivations understanding and patient-centered storytelling; excels in grant writing and donor messaging.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy to drive diversified, unrestricted revenue.
• Set annual revenue targets, forecasts, and performance metrics across philanthropic streams.
• Lead major gifts, foundations, and legacy giving; build a sustainable development function.
• Partner with the CEO and Board to expand networks and secure transformational gifts.
• Oversee events, marketing, and external engagement to elevate visibility and revenue.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Strategic fundraising

Storytelling

Grant writing

Donor communications

Forecasting / modeling

Board relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Vice President of Development and External Affairs

Lead a comprehensive fundraising and external engagement strategy that drives sustainable growth and strengthens the Foundation's reach.

About the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation is the global nonprofit leader dedicated to improving the lives of patients and families affected by MDS through patient support, education, research, advocacy, and strategic collaboration. We serve as a trusted resource for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry partners worldwide while working to accelerate better outcomes and, ultimately, cures.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Development and External Affairs leads the MDS Foundation's comprehensive fundraising and external engagement strategy, driving diversified, sustainable revenue growth while strengthening the Foundation's visibility, philanthropic partnerships, and long-term organizational sustainability.

This role serves as the Foundation's senior leader for individual, foundation, and legacy philanthropy, overseeing the full lifecycle of philanthropic engagement — from donor acquisition and cultivation to stewardship, renewal, and long-term relationship management. The Vice President will build and lead a high-performing development function that strengthens financial resilience and fuels the Foundation's long-term strategic priorities.

In addition, this role oversees the Foundation's marketing, communications, and signature fundraising events team, including the Move for MDS walk program, ensuring alignment between brand, storytelling, community engagement, and revenue generation. The Vice President will drive integrated campaigns that elevate visibility, deepen donor and community engagement, and strengthen the Foundation's brand and philanthropic reach.

The Vice President also provides strategic leadership for the Foundation's philanthropic and external engagement efforts related to research, working closely with the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB) and Foundation leadership to translate research priorities, outcomes, and impact into compelling funding opportunities, donor communications, and strategic initiatives. This includes aligning research initiatives with fundraising priorities, developing fundable opportunities, and positioning research as a central driver of donor engagement and philanthropic investment.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President will help shape the Foundation's long-term growth strategy by identifying new philanthropic opportunities, strengthening external visibility, and expanding engagement across individual, foundation, and community audiences. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, strategic builder who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment, combining big-picture vision with a hands-on approach to execution. They are energized by the opportunity to transform and scale the Foundation's development function, build sustainable philanthropic revenue streams, and strengthen the Foundation's visibility and impact within a complex and evolving rare disease landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy to drive diversified, sustainable, and unrestricted revenue growth.
• Establish annual revenue targets, forecasting models, and performance metrics across all philanthropic streams.
• Identify and scale opportunities across individual giving, foundations, memorial/tribute giving, and planned giving.
• Partner closely with the CEO and Board to expand networks, activate relationships, and secure transformational gifts.
• Build the infrastructure, processes, and discipline required to support long-term fundraising success.

Individual and Major Giving

• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of major and principal gift donors.
• Strengthen and scale mid-level and annual giving programs to increase unrestricted support.
• Design and execute high-impact donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Lead the development of annual appeals and campaigns to drive donor acquisition, retention, and engagement.
• Establish and grow a structured planned giving program, including bequests and legacy commitments.
• Expand and elevate memorial and tribute giving programs with thoughtful, mission-aligned engagement.
• Implement best-in-class processes to ensure timely acknowledgment, stewardship, and donor experience.

Foundation and Institutional Giving

• Lead unrestricted fundraising strategy, including prospect identification, cultivation, proposal development, stewardship, and reporting.
• Secure multi-year philanthropic commitments aligned with strategic priorities.
• Ensure strong grant management, compliance, and impact reporting.

Events, Marketing, and External Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership for the Foundation's signature fundraising events, including the Move for MDS walk program, driving participation, sponsorship, community engagement, and revenue growth.
• Develop integrated campaigns that connect mission, community, and revenue generation.
• Work with the Director of Marketing to establish and track KPIs across fundraising, events, and marketing, using data to optimize performance and ROI.
• Elevate the Foundation's visibility, positioning, and external presence to support donor growth and engagement.

Research Communications and Philanthropic Engagement

• Partner with Foundation leadership and the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB) to align research priorities with philanthropic opportunities and strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Translate scientific priorities, research progress, and outcomes into compelling donor-facing communications and funding opportunities.
• Develop philanthropic strategies that expand support for the Foundation's research initiatives.
• Ensure research impact is effectively communicated to donors, partners, and stakeholders to strengthen engagement and investment.

Infrastructure, Team Leadership, and Build-Out

• Establish scalable processes, systems, and workflows to support growth and accountability.
• Strengthen CRM systems, donor segmentation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Lead a high-performing development function, including coaching and performance management.
• Partner cross-functionally to integrate donor insights, storytelling, and analytics into all engagement strategies.
• Operate with a builder mindset, balancing strategy with hands-on execution to drive results in a lean environment.

Qualifications & Experience

Required / Preferred

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising, with increasing scope and responsibility
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts, ideally within healthcare, rare disease, or complex mission-driven environments
• Proven ability to build and scale fundraising programs, including developing unrestricted revenue streams and diversified funding portfolios
• Experience operating in a growth or turnaround environment, with the ability to build infrastructure, systems, and strategy from the ground up
• Strong understanding of donor motivations and patient-centered storytelling, with the ability to communicate the impact of a complex and under-resourced disease area in a compelling and credible way
• Track record of partnering effectively with executive leaders
• Strategic and analytical thinker with strong revenue modeling and forecasting ability
• Exceptional relationship-building with executive presence and the ability to influence, engage, and inspire major donors, Board members, and senior stakeholders
• Compelling communicator and storyteller, with demonstrated strength in grant writing, donor messaging, and articulating complex impact clearly and credibly
• Proven ability to build and scale development systems, infrastructure, and processes to support sustainable growth
• Collaborative, cross-functional leader with an entrepreneurial mindset and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Builder mindset — highly strategic yet hands-on, with the ability to set direction, problem-solve, and execute in a lean organization

Compensation

We offer a competitive and thoughtfully designed compensation package that reflects the importance of this role and supports our team's well-being, flexibility, and long-term success:

• Competitive annual salary of $120,000–$150,000, commensurate with experience
• 401(k) with employer match to support long-term financial planning
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) policy that encourages rest and recharge
• Generous holiday schedule, including organizational closures around major holidays
• Flexible/remote work environment, with a focus on outcomes and work-life balance

Why Join The MDS Foundation

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a growing global organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by MDS. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Vice President of Development and External Affairs will play a central role in building a modern, diversified fundraising engine, expanding the Foundation's visibility and philanthropic reach, and securing the resources needed to advance patient-centered programs, research, education, and global impact.