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About Airlink

Airlink is a Washington, DC-based global humanitarian organization that connects vetted nonprofits with aviation and logistics resources to deliver critical aid and emergency responders/relief workers to communities in crisis worldwide. Through strategic partnerships and rapid response capabilities, Airlink ensures that relief reaches those who need it most - efficiently and safely. To date, Airlink and its partners have deployed over 15,000 passengers and 8,100 tons of aid cargo to over 75 million people in need. Airlink has also saved its partner organizations more than $56,000,000 in humanitarian logistics and transportation costs over the past 15 years.  

As Airlink continues to grow, the organization is seeking a dynamic and strategic Vice President of Development to advance a diversified revenue strategy. 

Position Summary 

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Vice President of Development is a member of the senior leadership team, responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising and revenue diversification strategy to increase Airlink's annual cash revenue by 50%. This role will lead efforts to significantly grow Airlink's financial resources, with strong emphasis on consolidating corporate partnerships, growing individual giving, and expanding philanthropic and institutional donor support. 

The Vice President of Development will oversee all aspects of development, including major gifts, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, foundation engagement, and, as needed, in-kind resource mobilization. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, results-oriented, and a hands-on leader with a proven track record of scaling revenue in mission-driven organizations. 

Due to the nature of Airlink's work in disaster response, there will be an occasional need to work extended hours or on weekends with limited advance notice. 

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising and revenue diversification strategy aligned with Airlink's growth and impact goals, including global expansion. 

• Establish and meet annual budget goals, achieving a baseline of $11.5 million in revenue (2026). 

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO, senior leadership team, and the Board of Trustees on revenue opportunities and trends.  

• Collaborate with the Humanitarian Programs Team to expand Airlink's Gift-In-Kind model, with a focus on professional service donations. 

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure fundraising performance, inform strategy, and support donor growth and retention. 

Donor Engagement & Stewardship 

• Sustain and grow Airlink's donor pipeline, including individuals, corporations, and institutional donors. 

• Strengthen donor stewardship, retention, renewals, and upgrade strategies. 

• Partner with the Marketing and Communications Team to elevate Airlink's storytelling, impact reporting, and brand visibility. 

Team Leadership 

• Lead, manage, and mentor a high-performing development team of four (4). Empower direct reports to own their respective portfolios. 

• Establish clear performance goals, metrics, and accountability systems, while maintaining a culture of trust, respect, and autonomy. 

• Foster collaboration across the team and the organization to drive fundraising success. 

• Ensure development processes, infrastructure, and systems, including database management, prospect research, gift acknowledgements, renewals, mailings, and calendar are well managed and optimized. 

Board & Volunteer Engagement 

• Partner with Airlink's Board of Trustees on revenue diversification strategy and leverage their networks in support of Airlink's fundraising goals. 

• Support and prepare the Board to represent Airlink with donors, including in building the organization's nascent Major Gifts Program. 

• Manage the Ambassadors Program, a volunteer network comprised of dedicated Airlink supporters and former Board Trustees. 

Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.  

• 10-15 years of progressive development experience, with at least five years in a senior management role, and experience working with and supporting boards. Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) or Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) certification, would be a plus. 

• Strong people and project management skills; ability to work well on a collaborative and interdisciplinary team. 

• Proven track record of significantly growing revenue in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, including designing and executing development and fundraising plans that: unlocked funding from foundations and other grant-making entities, including USG / DG ECHO / FCDO; secured six/seven-figure individual gifts; and/or produced strong corporate partnerships. 

• Exceptional relationship-building and communications skills; ability to craft pitches/storytelling that resonate across audiences and cultures. 

• Knowledge of fundraising/development principles, donor research and cultivation, and grant proposal processes. 

• Demonstrated proficiency with core fundraising tools and platforms including Salesforce (or comparable CRM), Microsoft Office, Mailchimp, and Donorbox (or other comparable tools). 

• Willingness to travel within the U.S. and internationally (10-20%). 

• Unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. 

Preferred Skills and Personal Characteristics: 

• Collaborative and problem-solving leadership style. Proven experience leading and managing organizational change, with the ability to adapt strategies and teams to evolving circumstances and opportunities. 

• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem-solving skills, embraces innovation. 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, in-the-trenches, mission-driven environment. 

• Maintains a professional, principled, organized, and respectful approach, showing responsiveness and taking strong initiative. 

• Passion for Airlink's mission and commitment to aiding those in need. 

• Knowledge of the aviation, logistics, and/or humanitarian and global development sectors. 

Location: 

Airlink is headquartered in downtown Washington, D.C. and operates a hybrid work schedule with the team in-office three days a week. Given the collaborative nature of this position, we are only considering candidates who are in or willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area. 

Compensation & Benefits: 

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000. Additionally, Airlink provides a comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to: 

• 75% company-paid health benefits, including dental and vision for employees 

• Competitive 401(k) matching 

• Three weeks of paid vacation per year, sick leave, and paid parental leave 

• Company-paid life, short-and-long-term disability insurance 

• EAP Program  

EEO Statement: 

Airlink is an equal opportunity employer. The organization provides equal employment opportunities to qualified persons without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information or make-up, or any other protected category enumerated by applicable local ordinance, state law, or federal law.