Vice President of Development

Summary

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non‑profit dedicated to equipping the next generation of Americans with the skills to communicate and collaborate across lines of difference. CDI works with U.S. colleges and universities by providing curricular programming for students, professional development for faculty and staff, and strategic guidance to leadership. Our goal is to foster constructive dialogue at every level of the institution and to create the conditions for lasting organizational change.

This role is the Vice President of Development reporting to the Co‑Founder and Executive Director. The VP will lead the organization’s development strategy and will oversee all aspects of philanthropic revenue—including major donors, foundations, and regional funders.

• Lead CDI’s fundraising strategy, with accountability for setting and achieving ambitious, sustainable philanthropic revenue goals in partnership with the Executive Director
• Work closely with the Growth Team to identify and match funders to aligned programmatic and institutional opportunities
• Design and lead thoughtful engagement—updates, convenings, and learning opportunities—that effectively leverages CDI team members
• Represent CDI externally at donor meetings, conferences, and events

• Identify, manage, and grow a portfolio of institutional and high‑net‑worth donors—driving cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Strategically direct the Executive Director’s involvement with funders for greatest impact
• Lead development and submission of compelling grant proposals, reports, and donor materials
• Maintain and refine core assets—case studies, pitch decks, templates, and messaging
• Ensure all deliverables reflect CDI’s voice, strategy, and impact

• Build and manage Hub Spot and development systems for accurate data, pipeline tracking, and reporting
• Oversee grant tracking, deadlines, and donor relationship milestones
• Partner with Finance on forecasting and philanthropic reporting
• Develop scalable infrastructure—workflows, tools, and documentation—to support growth
• Define and execute short‑ and long‑term staffing strategy for the development function, in collaboration with Operations

• 10–12+ years of fundraising experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role shaping and executing development strategy
• Experience in higher education, academia, or a field related to pluralism, dialogue, or bridging divides
• Proven track record securing six‑ and seven‑figure gifts from both foundations and individuals
• Skilled relationship‑builder who earns trust with individuals across the ideological spectrum
• Strategic and entrepreneurial—bringing vision, taking initiative, and generating ideas that move fundraising forward
• Strong communicator who translates complex work into compelling narratives and cases for support
• Equally comfortable zooming out and diving in—able to manage a portfolio, write proposals, run systems, and drive strategy
• Exceptionally organized and self‑motivated—keeping details tight, systems running, and work moving without hand‑holding
• Deeply aligned with CDI’s mission and excited to help bridge divides and promote constructive dialogue
• Compensation—$180,000 - $200,000
• A Mission‑Driven Culture—intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open‑mindedness
• Remote‑First—CDI was founded as a remote‑first organization and maintains a strong team culture across distances
• Unlimited PTO—plus 13 company holidays
• Remote Work Support—up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses
• Other Benefits—employer‑supported health, vision and dental plans, subsidized parental leave, 3% 401(k) match, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, life and AD&D insurance, $1,000 annual professional development budget

Not Applicable

Full‑time

Business Development and Administrative

Non‑profit Organizations and Education