Chief Development Officer

About Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Inc. (VETS)

Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Inc. (VETS) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the veteran suicide epidemic by expanding access to innovative mental health treatments for U.S. military veterans. Founded by veterans and advocates committed to addressing the invisible wounds of war, VETS works at the intersection of resources, research, and advocacy to support veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other mental health conditions.

Through strategic partnerships, education, policy advocacy, and support programs, VETS seeks to accelerate access to psychedelic-assisted therapies and other emerging treatment options that show promise for healing veterans and improving long-term mental health outcomes. The organization has experienced rapid growth in recent years, fueled by national awareness, major philanthropic support, and the release of a widely viewed documentary that expanded the organization’s reach and donor base.

Today, VETS operates with a small but highly committed team working across the country and engages a broad network of advisors, contractors, ambassadors, and advocates supporting the mission in more than 20 states. The organization has grown significantly in recent years, raising more than $6 million annually and expanding its national presence through research initiatives, advocacy coalitions, and direct veteran support programs.

VETS operates with an entrepreneurial spirit and mission-driven culture, where staff members are deeply connected to the cause and committed to driving meaningful change for veterans and their families.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as the executive leader responsible for architecting, leading, and scaling all philanthropic revenue strategy for VETS. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will build a modern, high-performing development enterprise capable of sustaining rapid organizational growth and increasing national impact.

This is a transformative leadership opportunity for a builder. The development function is in its formative stages, and the incoming CDO will be charged with creating the systems, infrastructure, talent strategy, operating cadence, and fundraising roadmap required for a best-in-class advancement operation.

The CDO will design and execute a comprehensive revenue strategy spanning principal gifts, major gifts, mid-level giving, corporate partnerships, foundations, planned giving, community fundraising, campaigns, and signature events. This leader will also establish donor stewardship systems that ensure supporters are thoughtfully engaged, cultivated, retained, and inspired to deepen their investment in the mission.

The ideal candidate will combine executive-level fundraising expertise with entrepreneurial grit, operational discipline, and a passion for building from the ground up. VETS seeks a leader who can move quickly, think strategically, execute decisively, and build a department that matches the ambition and momentum of the organization.

VETS is headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with office space in Southlake. There is a preference for the CDO to be based in the DFW market, though exceptional hybrid or remote candidates will be considered.

• Develop and lead a bold multi-year development strategy aligned with organizational growth priorities and mission outcomes. Create clear annual goals, campaign strategies, performance metrics, and revenue diversification plans that position VETS for significant scale.
• Serve as strategic advisor to the CEO and Board regarding fundraising performance, market opportunities, campaign readiness, donor strategy, and long-term philanthropic growth.
• Lead the organization beyond its current fundraising baseline through thoughtful strategy, disciplined execution, and expansion into new philanthropic channels.
• Develop and oversee strategic revenue generation through corporate partnerships,…