Director of Development, Children’s Health

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

Development

Job Summary:

The Vanderbilt Health Executive Search Team is conducting a national search for a Director of Development, Children’s Health. The Director of Development is a frontline fundraiser focusing on mid-level gifts for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. This role will actively engage prospective donors and families within the Nashville community, cultivating relationships and collaborating closely with colleagues at Monroe Carell. This position will be responsible for growing this important donor group, identifying new prospective donors, and supporting major gift pipeline development. This position requires exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic vision, and a passion for improving pediatric care through philanthropy.

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Shift: First Shift; Days

Role Accountabilities:

• Lead and manage a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects with a focus on securing annual and multi-year commitments in the $5,000–$25,000 range; develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to deepen engagement and increase giving.

• Identify, qualify, and actively engage new prospective donors within the Nashville community and beyond, including grateful patient families, community leaders, and emerging philanthropists, to grow the mid-level donor pipeline.

• Partner closely with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital leadership, physicians, and clinical staff to uncover compelling funding priorities and align donor interests with institutional needs, enabling meaningful philanthropic investments in pediatric care, research, and programs.

• Collaborate with gift officers, major gift teams, and advancement leadership to strategically transition high-potential mid-level donors into the major gifts pipeline, ensuring a strong continuum of donor development.

• Utilize data analytics, donor insights, and CRM tools to track and manage prospect activity; ensure accurate documentation of donor interactions, movement through the pipeline, and timely execution of next steps.

• Oversee and implement comprehensive stewardship plans, including personalized communications, donor impact reporting, campus visits, and engagement events, in partnership with Strategic Communications to strengthen donor loyalty and retention.

• Coordinate and support targeted fundraising initiatives, campaigns, and special projects that advance Monroe Carell’s strategic priorities, including participation in hospital events, community outreach, and donor recognition opportunities.

• Work in collaboration with Community and Corporate Relations, Foundation Relations, Digital and Direct Marketing, and other development teams to identify cross-functional giving opportunities and align strategies for donors with diverse philanthropic interests.

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of mid-level fundraising strategies and programs; regularly assess performance metrics and adjust approaches to maximize donor engagement, retention, and revenue growth.

• Ensure consistent, high-quality donor experiences by maintaining proactive communication, timely follow-up, and thoughtful relationship management practices.

• Represent Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the community, serving as an ambassador for its mission and philanthropic priorities.

• Maintain a strong understanding of industry trends and best practices in fundraising, particularly within healthcare and mid-level giving programs, to inform strategy and innovation.

• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment that aligns with VUMC’s core values and commitment to excellence.

• Fulfill responsibilities that may require travel, as well as evening and weekend availability for donor meetings, events, and hospital-related activities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to convey commitment and passion for VUMC while always representing the Medical Center in a professional manner.

• Experience making cold calls and personal, face-to-face solicitations.

• Ability to develop interpersonal relationships and collaborate effectively with multiple diverse constituencies.

• Ability to compose high-quality written communications, correspondence, reports, and other documents with meticulous attention to detail.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to work on a team that emphasizes measurable objectives, including mutually agreed upon targets for fundraising goals. Competence in database utilization and a variety of software programs used to track solicitation efforts and results.

• Must take initiative, be personally accountable for work, and be a problem solver.

• Ability to be flexible and adaptable. Ability to work well in high pressure/touch customer service situations and work well under deadlines while balancing multiple deadlines simultaneously.

• Knowledge of industry best practices in healthcare/other non-profit fundraising and annual giving.

• An employment history highlighted by a demonstrated ability to exercise interpersonal sensitivity and judgment with colleagues, donors, and the public.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 3 years of experience

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Preferred Qualifications:

• 7+ years of fundraising experience strongly preferred.

• Experience securing or managing individual gifts in the range of $5,000 to $25,000 or greater strongly preferred.

• Experience with donor stewardship and recognition programs strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with annual giving programs strongly preferred.

• Experience in non-profit fundraising, health care advancement, and/or a related field development experience, including annual or membership campaigns, is preferred.

• Demonstrated success engaging leaders and volunteer partners in the development of meaningful and productive relationships with prospects and donors strongly preferred.

Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.

At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level:

3 years

Education:

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.

About Us

PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO.

Great health care takes great people.

We’re looking for like-minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt Health, where we value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

We’re the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and an expanding footprint across towns and communities throughout the region.

We employ more than 43,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research and graduate medical education. Our employees also serve in critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fundraising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many other departments.

Our growing academic health system has more than 2,100 licensed hospital beds at eight hospitals:

• Vanderbilt University Hospital
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
• Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
• Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital
• Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital
• Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital
• Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital
• Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital

Vanderbilt Health is the Mid-South's largest provider of specialty care, with hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region, and Tennessee’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for adults and children. We are one of the nation's busiest critical care centers, home to Middle Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center for adults and children, and Middle Tennessee’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are the nation’s largest transplant center, and last year we performed the most heart transplants than any center worldwide.

Vanderbilt Health is an epicenter for biomedical research, winning over $1 billion in annual research awards from government, industry, foundations and donors. We are also a national leader in medical training and education, with the largest clinical training center in the Mid-South and the only training center in Tennessee for many adult and pediatric specialties.

We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals for quality, safety and patient satisfaction. Three of our hospitals — Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital — have been awarded a Five-Star Quality Rating from Medicare.

We support each other and encourage excellence among every member of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Join us in advancing health care.

Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health

Our mission: Personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities