The Vice President, Philanthropy (externally designated as the Chief Advancement Officer) advances the mission of Medical Teams International by leading a bold and integrated strategy to expand and scale private philanthropy. This executive leader oversees all philanthropic fundraising—cultivating transformative partnerships that fuel organizational growth and mission impact.
The Vice President, Philanthropy provides both strategic vision and disciplined execution—aligning people, systems, and structure to drive breakout and sustained growth in private revenue. The ideal candidate is a seasoned and entrepreneurial leader who thrives in moments of opportunity and inflection—someone who has successfully led organizations through periods of significant expansion, built high-performing teams, and inspired generosity that unlocks lasting impact.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this leader partners closely with the CEO, Board, and peer executives to ensure that philanthropic engagement is deeply aligned with organizational priorities, brand identity, and long-term financial sustainability.
The Chief Advancement Officer title is used externally to position this leader for success in donor, philanthropic, and partner relationships requiring executive-level representation.
Medical Teams Mission Statement
Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.
Position Summary
The Vice President, Philanthropy (externally designated as the Chief Advancement Officer) advances the mission of Medical Teams International by leading a bold and integrated strategy to expand and scale private philanthropy. This executive leader oversees all philanthropic fundraising—cultivating transformative partnerships that fuel organizational growth and mission impact.
The Vice President, Philanthropy provides both strategic vision and disciplined execution—aligning people, systems, and structure to drive breakout and sustained growth in private revenue. The ideal candidate is a seasoned and entrepreneurial leader who thrives in moments of opportunity and inflection—someone who has successfully led organizations through periods of significant expansion, built high-performing teams, and inspired generosity that unlocks lasting impact.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this leader partners closely with the CEO, Board, and peer executives to ensure that philanthropic engagement is deeply aligned with organizational priorities, brand identity, and long-term financial sustainability.
The Chief Advancement Officer title is used externally to position this leader for success in donor, philanthropic, and partner relationships requiring executive-level representation.
Scope of Leadership
- Primary Accountability: All private philanthropic revenue across the full donor lifecycle (mass, mid-level, major, principal, corporate, foundation, and planned giving)
- Core Teams Supervised: Principal & Major Portfolio, Mid-Level Portfolio, Mass & Recurring Giving, Development Operations, Planned Giving, and Donor Relations
- Collaborative Partnerships: Deep alignment with the Vice President of Marketing & Mobilization (Chief Mobilization Officer) to ensure unified storytelling, donor acquisition, brand integrity, and a cohesive donor experience; and with the Chief of Global Programs and Chief Financial Officer to ensure that donor offerings are aligned with our financial reporting and management frameworks, and foundationally grounded in our front-line, programmatic work.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Stewardship
- Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year philanthropy strategy that supports rapid and sustainable growth across the full donor pipeline.
- Align team structure, systems, and resources to achieve long-term growth and organizational efficiency.
- Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to set strategic priorities, manage resources, and shape a performance-driven culture.
- Oversee annual planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes to optimize ROI and ensure financial discipline across all fundraising channels.
Pipeline Development & Donor Growth
- Design and manage a comprehensive donor pipeline strategy that builds sustained movement from mass to mid-level, and mid-level to major and principal gifts.
- Oversee donor segmentation, portfolio strategy, and engagement plans to maximize conversion, retention, and lifetime value.
- Collaborate closely with Marketing & Mobilization to ensure seamless integration of donor acquisition and cultivation strategies.
- Build data-driven systems for prospect identification, qualification, and upgrade forecasting.
Philanthropy & Donor Relations
- Lead and inspire a culture of generosity, cultivating deep and lasting relationships with donors at every giving level.
- Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and institutional partners capable of transformational giving.
- Drive innovation in donor journeys, campaign strategy, and stewardship experiences.
- Engage Christian philanthropists and mission/values-driven donors as a central pillar of fundraising strategy.
Operational Excellence & Performance Management
- Oversee Development Operations to ensure excellence in gift processing, CRM management, analytics, and reporting.
- Establish KPIs and dashboards to track performance and forecast long-term growth.
- Partner with Finance to integrate private income projections into enterprise planning.
- Drive breakout and sustained growth in private philanthropic revenue through strategic expansion, innovation, and deep donor engagement.
Team & Culture Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Philanthropy team aligned with Medical Teams’ mission, organizational identity, and values.
- Foster collaboration, transparency, and innovation across all teams.
- Build and sustain a culture of gratitude, accountability, and excellence.
