Vice President of Development

Vice President of Development

Help Group is a leading nonprofit organization that has supported children, adolescents, adults, and families across Los Angeles for 85 years. Through a connected network of schools, clinical and therapeutic services, recreational and social engagement programs, vocational pathways, residential living, community-based support, and lifelong learning opportunities, Help Group serves individuals with diverse learning, behavioral, emotional, developmental, and mental health needs.

Guided by deep expertise and respect for each person's unique journey, Help Group meets individuals and families where they are, providing compassionate, multidisciplinary support that builds resilience, creates hope, and helps unlock limitless potential. Its vision is a future where everyone, regardless of ability, circumstance, or difference, can live an engaging and fulfilling life shaped by possibility, purpose, and the power of help.

About the Position

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Vice President of Development (Vice President) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, and will drive all fundraising, philanthropic partnership, and donor engagement initiatives across Help Group. The Vice President will propel sustainable revenue growth through individual, corporate, foundation, institutional, major gifts and event-based giving. In partnership with organizational leadership, the Vice President will identify and cultivate meaningful donor relationships, prioritize new funding opportunities and partnerships, and advance strategies that strengthen the organization's long-term financial sustainability and mission impact.

Additionally, the Vice President will provide visionary leadership to the development team while fostering a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization. The ideal candidate has proven success in fundraising, donor relations, team leadership, and is skilled in using donor databases and data analytics to guide strategic decisions and boost donor engagement.

Roles & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Execute a comprehensive development strategy that advances the organization's mission, strategic priorities, growth objectives, and long-term sustainability.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization, ensuring development is integrated into organizational planning and decision-making.
• Partner with the CEO, board members, and senior leadership to create and execute an annual fundraising plan.
• Oversee the development of major campaigns, grants, corporate partnerships, and planned giving initiatives.
• Evaluate fundraising performance, analyze giving trends, and use data to inform strategic decisions and continuous improvement.

Fundraising and Revenue Growth:

• Lead all philanthropic fundraising efforts, including major gifts, annual giving, institutional giving, grants, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, individual donations, and special events.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other key funding partners.
• Design and execute fundraising campaigns that support annual operations, strategic priorities, and long-term organizational growth.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit transformational gifts that support both annual operations and long-term organizational priorities.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the organization, strengthening relationships with community leaders, funders, business partners, and strategic collaborators.
• Implement strategies to upgrade donor giving levels and create donor loyalty programs.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build a high-performing, mission-driven team committed to achieving ambitious fundraising goals.
• Provide strategic direction and coaching in major gifts, grant writing, donor stewardship, and fundraising best practices.
• Establish clear performance goals for the development team and provide regular feedback and support.

Board, Committee and CEO Support:

• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to strengthen fundraising leadership, donor engagement, and governance initiatives.
• Identify, recruit, engage, and steward influential community members, business leaders, advocates, and philanthropists who are aligned with the organization's mission and can contribute to its financial and strategic objectives.
• Ensure the Board is effectively engaged in fundraising, including providing regular updates on progress and preparing them to make personal gifts or solicit gifts from others.
• Lead fundraising efforts for board-driven events and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, public administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of eight to ten years of progressive fundraising leadership experience, with a demonstrated track record of securing major gifts, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, annual giving, and special event revenue.
• Proven success executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that increase philanthropic revenue, diversify funding sources, and support long-term organizational sustainability.
• Demonstrated experience leading high-performing teams, fostering a collaborative culture of philanthropy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with experience engaging major donors, foundations, corporate partners, Boards of Directors, volunteer leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Strong strategic, financial, and analytical acumen, including experience with fundraising budgets, performance metrics, donor stewardship, data analysis, and CRM/database management.
• A collaborative, mission-driven leader who demonstrates the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to advancing the organization's mission through philanthropy and community engagement.

Compensation & Benefits

Help Group offers a competitive executive compensation package commensurate with experience with a salary range of $180,000-$200,000 and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement, and paid time off. This role also provides opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.

Help Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees, applicants and program beneficiaries. Help Group does not discriminate against any person because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, political affiliation or citizenship. All qualified applicants, including minorities and women, are encouraged to apply.