Vice President of Development

About the Position

The Vice President of Development is a strategic leader, major-gift fundraiser, coach, and relationship builder who partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team to shape the future of philanthropy at The Neurodiversity Alliance.

The Vice President will lead the organization’s multi-year fundraising strategy; guide and coach the CEO and Board in major-gift fundraising; and build a strong individual-giving program spanning annual, major, transformational, and planned gifts. This leader will personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects while ensuring that the CEO and Board are well prepared for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

The Vice President will build upon the expertise, relationships, systems, and institutional knowledge of the existing development team. The role will provide strategic guidance and executive-level support while preserving clear functional ownership across the department. In particular, the Vice President will partner with the Director of Development & Donor Relations.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, Jesse Sanchez, and working closely with Executive in Residence, Maya Enista Smith, this full-time, FLSA exempt position is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week remotely from anywhere within the contiguous United States, though preference is given to those located in the Tri-State Area. The typical workweek is Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm ET or 8am to 4pm PT, with occasional overnight travel and limited evening and weekend hours required.

• Develop and lead a bold, multi-year fundraising strategy that fuels The Neurodiversity Alliance’s next chapter of growth and national impact.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and leadership team to inspire transformational philanthropy and build enduring relationships with visionary supporters.
• Identify new opportunities to expand and diversify revenue, ensuring long-term sustainability while remaining responsive to a rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape.
• Establish ambitious fundraising goals and leverage data, insight, and relationship management to measure progress, inform strategy, and celebrate success.
• Serve as a trusted strategic thought partner on organizational priorities, innovation, and opportunities to elevate The Neurodiversity Alliance’s influence across philanthropy and beyond.

• Serve as the CEO’s primary fundraising adviser and coach, helping the CEO grow as the organization’s chief fundraiser and external ambassador.
• Prepare the CEO for donor meetings and solicitations by developing relationship strategies, meeting objectives, briefing materials, talking points, ask amounts, and next steps.
• Debrief major donor meetings with the CEO, assign follow-up, and ensure that each relationship continues moving through a thoughtful cultivation and solicitation plan.
• Partner with the Board to identify prospects, open doors, deepen relationships, and participate effectively in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Provide the CEO and Board with the coaching, tools, accountability, and confidence needed to advance major and transformational gifts.

• Set the organization’s overarching institutional and corporate fundraising direction in partnership with the Director of Development & Donor Relations and executive leadership.
• Support the Director’s role as the primary relationship manager for the organization’s foundation portfolio and assigned corporate sponsors and philanthropic partners,…