LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity so that people and places can thrive. We do this by acting as a conduit for grants, loans and equity--and by providing technical assistance and capacity building--to locally rooted organizations that carry out the work in communities.
Position Summary
The Vice President, Strategic Development will lead the design and execution of a national fundraising and resource development strategy that advances LISC’s mission through an integrated approach to enterprise strategy and operations, policy, programming, and capital. This role sits at the intersection of business units, ensuring that Development is fully aligned with—and actively shaping—the organization’s enterprise priorities.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Development, the VP will serve as a key strategic partner to senior leadership, translating actionable, fundable strategies across organizational priorities. This leader will drive cross-functional alignment across national programs, local offices, and capital deployment ensuring that development efforts are informed by enterprise strategy and responsive to market opportunities.
Responsibilities
As a core integrator across business units, the Vice President will ensure that development strategies are cohesive, data-informed, and executed with consistency and excellence nationwide. Success in this role requires the ability to connect vision to execution, influence across a complex organization, and deliver measurable results that advance both fundraising performance and organizational impact, including but not limited to the following:
- Lead the development and implementation of national fundraising strategies in partnership with the SVP of Development, and Strategy & Operations, ensuring alignment with LISC’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
- Drive a results-oriented culture by establishing clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures for development performance.
- Foster collaboration across the National Development Team and LNP to align fundraising efforts with community impact priorities.
- Identify and operationalize national to programming and local connection points, ensuring equitable representation of community needs in national fundraising strategies.
- Oversee the creation of high-quality fundraising concepts, proposals, pitch decks, and executive briefings that reflect LISC’s impact and value proposition.
- Lead strategic planning processes, including annual development plans, and performance tracking, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
- Partner with LNP and other business units, where necessary to ensure grant budgets, deliverables, and programmatic goals are achieved with accountability and transparency.
- Establish and manage systems for tracking proposal pipelines, deadlines, and funder requirements to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.
- Analyze philanthropic trends and funding landscapes to identify opportunities that advance investment in communities.
- Develop and deliver regular reports, insights, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
- Advance enterprise-wide strategic initiatives that integrate development, programmatic impact, and field priorities.
- Ensure consistency and clarity in messaging, positioning, and storytelling across all fundraising efforts.
- Strengthen internal alignment and collaboration to maximize fundraising effectiveness and organizational impact.
- Support the cultivation and stewardship of high-priority funders by contributing to strategy, messaging, and engagement plans.
- Manage and mentor staff as applicable, fostering an inclusive, high-performing, and collaborative team culture.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MPA, or related field) preferred.
- 15 years of relevant experience in nonprofit development, strategy, consulting, community development finance, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience leading or supporting enterprise-level strategy that integrates development, programmatic priorities, policy and capital deployment.
- Proven success in fundraising, business development, or capital raising, ideally within a national or multi-market organization.
- Experience working with or alongside program teams, capital deployment and impact investing, with an understanding of how capital stacks (debt, equity, and subsidies) are structured and deployed in support of program outcomes.
- Familiarity with public policy and advocacy environments, including the ability to translate policy priorities into funding opportunities and strategic initiatives.
- Experience operating within complex, matrixed organizations and leading cross-functional initiatives that require alignment across program, policy, capital, and development teams.
- Knowledge of community development, including housing, economic development, and/or financial inclusion, preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing equitable outcomes and integrating community voice into strategy and execution.
Skills & Competencies
- Strategic Integration: Advanced ability to connect strategy, policy, programming, and capital into cohesive, fundable initiatives.
- Fundraising & Capital Strategy: Ability to align philanthropic, public, and private capital, including experience with blended finance approaches (grants, debt, and equity) in support of programmatic outcomes.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to synthesize complex information, identify opportunities, and develop actionable strategies.
- Results Orientation: Proven ability to translate strategy into execution, with a focus on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
- Programmatic Acumen: Strong understanding of how programs are designed, implemented, and scaled, with the ability to translate program impact into compelling funding opportunities.
- Collaboration & Influence: Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to work across teams and influence diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit, corporate, philanthropic, and public sector partners.
- Execution & Accountability: Results-driven with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver on ambitious goals.
- Belonging: Demonstrated commitment to advancing equitable outcomes and integrating community voice into strategy and execution.
- Project Management: Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while communicating progress effectively.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including strong writing and editing capabilities and the ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
- Adaptability: Comfort operating in a dynamic environment with evolving priorities and the ability to lead through change.
- Technical Proficiency: Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, and the ability to learn and navigate systems such as NetSuite, Salesforce, Conga, and other proprietary platforms.
COMPENSATION:
LISC offers a competitive salary ($173,944-$221,779) and excellent fringe benefits.
*Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education, work location and other qualifications.
Our benefits include:
Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health plans for you and your family's well-being; Disability Insurance: Long-term and short-term coverage for peace of mind; Retirement Savings: Secure your future with our 401(k) and 403(b) plans; Generous Holidays: Enjoy ample time off to recharge and celebrate; Vacation, PTO, and Sick Days: Take advantage of flexible time-off policies to maintain work-life balance; Tuition Assistance: Pursue your educational goals with support from our tuition assistance program; Referral Program: Earn rewards for referring qualified candidates to join our team; Professional Development Opportunities: Grow and advance in your career with access to ongoing training and development programs tailored to your goals.
LISC is an equal opportunity employer. LISC does not discriminate in employment on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military status or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.
