Vice President of Development

The Vice President of Development is Project Rescue’s senior fundraising executive, responsible for leading and growing development efforts across Project Rescue Ministries and Project Rescue Foundation. This role develops a diversified fundraising strategy, builds relationships with major donors, churches, businesses, foundations, and other partners, and personally secures significant gifts. As a member of the senior leadership team, the VP leads the development team, strengthens fundraising systems and donor engagement, and advises executive and Board leadership on revenue opportunities.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, relational, and hands-on fundraiser committed to ethical, survivor-safe storytelling and Project Rescue’s mission of rescuing and restoring survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking. This full-time, in-office position is based in Springfield, Missouri, and requires regular travel.

Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy for Project Rescue Ministries and Project Rescue Foundation.

Establish revenue goals, budgets, forecasts, performance measures, and reporting systems.

Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and secure significant gifts and multi-year commitments.

Build partnerships with churches, pastors, businesses, foundations, and philanthropic organizations.

Lead, coach, and strengthen the development team while improving fundraising systems, CRM practices, and donor data.

Oversee donor acquisition, retention, recurring giving, upgrades, reactivation, events, direct mail, and digital fundraising.

Collaborate with executive leadership, the Board, Finance, Programs, Marketing, and Communications to align fundraising with organizational priorities.

Ensure donor communications and fundraising stories protect survivors’ dignity, privacy, and safety.

Represent Project Rescue at donor meetings, church engagements, events, and other development opportunities.

Strong fundraising and development leadership experience.

Proven ability to cultivate major donors and secure six-figure or larger gifts.

Strategic planning, revenue forecasting, budgeting, and performance measurement.

Team leadership, coaching, and accountability.

Excellent relationship‑building, communication, and presentation skills.

Ability to work effectively with church leaders, executives, businesses, foundations, and high-capacity donors.

Knowledge of CRM systems, donor data, pipeline management, and fundraising analytics.

Ability to balance executive-level strategy with hands-on fundraising.

Strong judgment, integrity, discretion, and commitment to survivor-safe practices

Faith-based or Christian ministry fundraising.

Church and pastor partnership development.

Principal gifts, capital campaigns, or transformational philanthropy.

Corporate and foundation partnerships.

Planned giving.

Digital and direct-response fundraising.

Working with external fundraising consultants.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

7-10+ years of progressive fundraising and development leadership experience.

Demonstrated success leading a comprehensive development program and achieving significant revenue growth.

Proven experience personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts.

Demonstrated experience with six-figure and preferably seven-figure gifts
.

Experience leading and developing a fundraising team.

Strong executive presence and ability to advise senior organizational leaders.

Exceptional relationship‑building, communication, and presentation skills.

Ability to build trust with pastors, church leaders, business executives, high-capacity individuals, foundations, and philanthropic partners.

Strong…