Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Development

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Development based in California, United States. The Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Development will lead philanthropic strategy and fundraising operations to advance an organization's long-term mission and financial sustainability. Working closely with executive leadership, you will strengthen donor relationships, develop strategic funding opportunities, and build a disciplined pipeline of major donors and institutional funders. You will transform complex policy, research, advocacy, and program priorities into compelling investment cases that inspire philanthropic support. The role combines executive partnership, strategic planning, persuasive communications, and hands-on project management. You will collaborate across departments to improve fundraising systems, accountability, and operational effectiveness while helping close annual funding gaps. This fully remote leadership opportunity is ideal for an experienced professional who can influence senior stakeholders, build trusted partnerships, and deliver measurable results in a mission-driven environment. Accountabilities: As Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Development, you will work directly with executive leadership to shape and execute fundraising strategy, strengthen donor engagement, and establish the systems needed for sustainable philanthropic growth. Your responsibilities will include: - Lead fundraising strategy: Partner with the President and CEO, CFO, and executive leadership of the affiliated advocacy organization to develop and implement comprehensive philanthropic strategies aligned with organizational priorities.

- Support executive donor engagement: Prepare for major donor and foundation meetings through prospect research, relationship mapping, briefing materials, meeting strategies, and tailored communications. - Cultivate and steward strategic relationships: Identify opportunities to engage major donors and institutional funders, develop personalized solicitation strategies, and ensure timely follow-up and ongoing stewardship. - Manage the prospect pipeline: Build and maintain a prioritized pipeline of major donors and foundations, including cultivation plans, funding targets, relationship ownership, next steps, and stewardship activities. - Establish fundraising accountability: Organize regular pipeline reviews, track performance, and implement processes that strengthen accountability and ensure consistent follow-through. - Lead grant development and communications: Produce high-quality grant proposals, reports, concept papers, donor correspondence, pitch decks, and other persuasive materials for prospective and existing funders. - Translate strategy into funding opportunities: Turn policy, advocacy, research, legal, and member-support initiatives into compelling investment cases supported by clear narratives, evidence, and measurable impact. - Strengthen fundraising operations: Develop and maintain fundraising systems, procedures, calendars, proposal timelines, donor databases, and tracking tools to improve efficiency and coordination. - Create consistent operating rhythms: Establish effective protocols for meeting preparation, follow-up, stewardship, reporting, and cross-functional fundraising reviews. - Coordinate cross-functional teams: Work with Finance, Communications, Advocacy, Policy, Legal, Research, and Program teams to gather information, align messaging, prepare proposals, and fulfill donor commitments. - Refine strategic messaging: Collaborate with executive leadership to develop the organization's case for investment, tailoring funding narratives and proof points to different donor audiences and incorporating feedback and philanthropic trends.