Director or Vice President of - Cincinnati, Ohio

Brave Like Me Foundation Director or Vice President of Advancement Cincinnati, OH
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We’re seeking a Director or Vice President of Advancement to lead fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and national growth at Brave Like Me. This role manages major gifts, grant opportunities, and campaign execution, while building the systems and relationships that will scale our mission and impact across new markets.

Brave Like Me Foundation creates moments of joy for children with complex medical conditions. Through Brayden’s Books, we bring comfort and connection; through Brave Friends Adventures, we create unforgettable experiences; and through Brave Pets, we reunite kids with the pets who love them most. Inspired by Brayden Otten, we exist to bring courage, hope, and joy when families need it most.

Overview

Brave Like Me is seeking a bold, visionary Director or Vice President of Advancement to lead our fundraising and donor engagement strategy. This is more than a fundraising role. It is a rare opportunity to shape the national growth of a rapidly scaling nonprofit that brings courage and joy to children with complex medical conditions.

Based in Cincinnati and reporting to the CEO, this full-time role will guide the development strategy to grow revenue, expand our donor base, secure major gifts and grants, and help define our public identity as we expand beyond our home city.

Final title (Director or VP) will reflect the candidate’s experience. For the right leader, this is a pathway to senior executive leadership within Brave Like Me.

While this is an individual contributor role today, it requires an entrepreneurial spirit and a strategic mindset. As Brave Like Me expands to support children in multiple markets, this position will be responsible for designing the long‑term strategic vision and structure of the development team.

If you believe in the power of joy to heal, connection to uplift, and storytelling to move hearts, this is your invitation to help build something brave.

About Brave Like Me Foundation

Brave Like Me Foundation creates moments of joy for children with complex medical conditions. Through Brayden’s Books, we bring comfort and connection. Through Brave Friends Adventures, we create unforgettable experiences. Through Brave Pets, we reunite kids with the pets who love them most. Inspired by Brayden Otten, we exist to bring courage, hope, and joy when families need it most.

Our programs:

• Brayden’s Books (Mind):
  Literacy, connection, and ease of delivery for children in medical care.
• Brave Friends Adventures (Body):
  Joyful experiences for kids and their best friends.
• Brave Pets (Spirit):
  Reuniting children with their pets in medical settings.

We operate with the values of Bravery, Belief, Hope, Love, Joy, Relentless pursuit, Integrity, Spartan stewardship, and Aspiration for growth.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and lead a multi‑year advancement strategy aligned with organizational growth goals.
• Set annual fundraising targets and KPIs. Track progress using Givebutter and related systems.
• Lead fundraising expansion into new regional and national markets alongside the CEO.
• Build the systems and structures to support scalable, sustainable fundraising.

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects.
• Create and implement acquisition and retention strategies that blend storytelling with metrics.
• Ensure timely, personal, and values‑aligned donor communications.
• Balance digital touchpoints with personal outreach, including phone calls, in‑person visits, and story‑driven donor experiences.

Institutional and Grant Fundraising

• Identify and apply for relevant grants from foundations and corporations.
• Manage application processes, deadlines, and reporting with precision.
• Collaborate with contractors to develop and align campaign strategy and messaging.
• Create briefs and, when needed, execute elements of marketing campaigns including social media posts, email newsletters, direct mail, and online appeals.
• Ensure alignment between development…