Vice President of Development

Organization

Palmer Home for Children provides superior care for children while introducing the love of God through our service to each individual child.

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the Executive Team, the Vice President of Development provides strategic leadership for Palmer Home's philanthropic growth, donor relationships, and Development team. This leader will build upon a strong foundation of established systems, programs, and relationships while developing the fundraising capacity needed to advance Palmer Home's strategic plan.

The Vice President will lead a comprehensive and diversified development strategy; personally cultivate and solicit significant gifts; strengthen the regional donor pipeline; and ensure continuity of key relationships through organizational leadership transitions. This leader will partner closely with the President, Board of Directors, Executive Team, and Marketing team to increase philanthropic support and connect donors meaningfully to Palmer Home's mission and impact.

• Develop and execute a multiyear development strategy aligned with Palmer Home's strategic plan, annual organizational priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.

• Lead the development strategy necessary to achieve Palmer Home's annual philanthropic goals, including the FY27 goal of $6.8million, while building sustainable revenue capacity for future growth.

• Build a diversified funding model across major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation partnerships, churches, planned giving, grants, events, and other appropriate revenue sources.

• Partner with organizational leaders to develop funding strategies for program growth, trauma-informed excellence, quality and accreditation, facilities, and organizational capacity.

• Assess organizational readiness for future capital or strategic campaigns and develop the relationships, systems, case for support, and internal alignment needed for success.

• Monitor philanthropic trends and changes in the funding environment to position Palmer Home proactively for emerging opportunities and risks.

• Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Strengthen and expand Palmer Home's donor base and major-gift pipeline, with particular attention to Memphis, North Mississippi, and the surrounding region.

• Build upon Palmer Home's established legacy giving program and strengthen planned-giving awareness, cultivation, and stewardship.

• Establish consistent relationship-management and stewardship practices that deepen donor engagement, retention, and long‑term investment in the mission.

• Ensure donor relationships, history, preferences, and next steps are accurately documented so institutional knowledge and relationship ownership extend beyond any one individual.

• Lead, coach, and develop the Development team through clear goals, defined ownership, regular communication, and accountability for individual and team results.

• Build upon established team strengths and systems while identifying opportunities for continued growth, collaboration, efficiency, and effectiveness.

• Establish clear expectations for portfolio, pipeline, activity, and revenue across the Development team, and regularly review progress toward goals.

• Ensure effective use of Bloomerang for donor records, pipeline management, forecasting, reporting, and analysis.

• Develop and manage the Development budget and allocate resources in alignment with fundraising priorities and expected return on investment.

• Maintain high standards of donor…