Vice President, Transformational Giving

Title: VP, Transformational Giving

Location: National Remote

Job Description:

As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We invest in the most promising research to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and devices. We work with government, regulatory officials, and insurance companies to address issues that impact the T1D community -- breaking through barriers that limit access to care worldwide. We provide resources and guidance that makes it easier to live and thrive with T1D. This is more than a moment -- we're empowering a movement for the T1D community. Share your support and help educate and empower individuals facing type 1 diabetes.

 

Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately, cure T1D and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose: As we drive towards curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it.

 

The Vice President of Transformational Giving creates the vision, strategy and direction for transformational-level philanthropy, serving as a key member of the philanthropic engagement leadership team. This position serves as a senior strategist who designs and manages a program to engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, families, and family-related organizations with capacity to make gifts of $5 million or more, ensuring alignment with the organization’s key fundraising priorities and long-term strategy. The Vice President (VP) provides the strategic vision and direction required to increase engagement of our most generous donors and drive transformational revenue growth.

 

Reporting to and working closely with the SVP, Philanthropic Engagement, the VP, Transformational Giving develops and manages the engagement plans of ultra (UHNW) and very high-net-worth (VHNW) prospects and donors. Through collaboration with and coaching of staff and volunteer partners, the VP plays an integral role in both short-term and long-term strategy development for capturing transformational investments in Breakthrough T1D’s strategic priorities.

 

With growth of the portfolio and revenue over time, the Vice President will build a team of transformational giving officers to further expand our engagement of UHNW and VHNW Individuals. The position works closely with the SVP, Philanthropic Engagement to partner with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), other C-Suite executives and volunteer leadership to carry out a targeted fundraising plan engaging high net worth individuals across the country.

 

Responsibilities

• Define and execute strategic direction to drive and secure transformational giving revenue from individuals, families and family-related organizations.
• Manage a personal portfolio of transformational giving prospects and donors, with clear revenue and activity goals.
• Lead and oversee the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of transformational giving prospects and donors on behalf of Breakthrough T1D.
• Activate and engage transformational giving donors and prospects as strategic connectors—leveraging their networks, influence, and insights to identify new opportunities and strengthen the major, principal and transformational gift pipeline.
• Serve as a staff partner to the CEO, Chief Global Development Officer (CGDO) and other C-suite executives to strategically leverage their leadership in the active and meaningful engagement of transformational donors, including preparation, briefing, and follow-up to maximize impact and deepen relationships.
• Leads the development of and management of donor portfolios for the CEO, CGDO and the SVP, Philanthropic Engagement.
• Align transformational giving strategies to organizational priorities by collaborating with Strategic Philanthropic Initiatives team to ensure donor engagement reflects mission impact.
• Use data-driven insights to inform strategy, forecast revenue, and identify trends in donor behavior and philanthropic market shifts.
• Build and expand the transformational gift pipeline by working collaboratively across the organization to grow this critical revenue segment.
• Develop and manage high performing transformational gift officers as the program scales in size and scope
• In collaboration with key partners, guide engagement strategies for transformational donors and prospects in One Society and Breakthrough T1D events and activities.
• Establish and monitor benchmarks to ensure the health of the transformational giving pipeline, including revenue and activity metrics.
• Develop and execute complex gift agreements—in collaboration with appropriate staff partners—that maximize donor impact while ensuring alignment with legal, financial, and strategic considerations to reduce risk and protect the organization’s interests.
• Provide expert counsel on principal and transformational gift strategies to Breakthrough T1D staff and volunteer leadership.
• Deliver insights on revenue and expense budgeting and forecasting to monitor program performance, restrictions, and expenditures.
• Develop and maintain departmental and organization-wide policies and procedures related to the transformational giving program.
• Foster strategic collaboration with development colleagues and cross-functional teams to maximize philanthropic impact from transformational donors and prospects.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy across Breakthrough T1D, promoting shared ownership of fundraising success.
• Model and uphold professionalism and fundraising best practices in all aspects of donor engagement and team leadership.

 

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in nonprofit development, including major gift fundraising, strategic management, and training—preferably within matrixed organizations and the disease or health space; at least 7 years in a senior leadership or supervisory capacity.
• College degree required; Master’s degree and CFRE certification strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex portfolios and securing transformational gifts.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and board members to advance high-level fundraising strategies and donor engagement.
• Deep understanding of transformational giving principles, donor psychology, and philanthropic trends among ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
• Proven ability to engage, inspire, and mobilize donors and volunteer leaders in high-impact, revenue-generating initiatives.
• Outstanding influencing and relationship-building skills to foster collaboration and generate shared success.
• Demonstrated experience in structuring, negotiating, and executing complex gift agreements that balance donor aspirations with organizational safeguards, including legal, financial, and reputational risk management.
• Ability to synthesize donor data, philanthropic trends, and organizational priorities to guide strategy and adapt to evolving opportunities.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple cross-functional initiatives while maintaining attention to detail and a broad organizational perspective.
• Strong problem-solving orientation with a proactive, solutions-driven mindset.
• Highly effective time management and organizational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and adapt under pressure.
• Successful track record in leading and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to achieve development goals.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Strong writing, research, and analytical capabilities.
• Demonstrated initiative and sound judgment in independent decision-making.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms and business tools (including MS Office) that support donor engagement and development operations.
• Proven experience in coaching, managing, and developing high-performing staff and fostering a collaborative team culture.
• Commitment to working in a team-based environment and partnering across departments to achieve shared goals.
• Ability to navigate and contribute within a complex organizational structure.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed and travel up to 60% of the time.

 

Target Salary - $200k - $240k

 

Essential Functions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

 

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and infrequently up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

Additional information:

Requests for medical, religious, and other exemptions will be considered on an individual basis. Breakthrough T1D will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

 

Breakthrough T1D supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Breakthrough T1D is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.