Vice President of Fundraising

WHO WE ARE

Reading changes everything. Joy makes it possible.

We put books into children's hands that they choose and keep, and create joyful experiences that strengthen engagement, motivation, and lifelong opportunity.

Our Mission. Providing all children equitable access to books of choice in order to promote reading motivation and engagement.

Our Work. At Book Trust, we know joy transforms the way children learn. We partner with schools and communities to ensure more children experience reading as something joyful, possible, and lasting.

Grounded in literacy research and shaped alongside educators and families, our work expands access to meaningful early reading experiences from the very beginning to build engaged and motivated readers. Because when reading belongs to a child, so does possibility.

Our Roots. In 2001, Book Trust launched in three Fort Collins, CO schools with a conviction for every child to choose books they can call their own. Decades later, we’ve expanded book access and sparked joyful reading experiences for 677,108 students in 23 states.

Our Impact. Research and our classroom experience show that when reading is designed to be joyful and personal, children engage more deeply and persist through challenges. Last school year:

• 94% of teachers said book choice supports joyful reading
• 91% of teachers observed joyful moments in action
• Teachers rated Book Trust 8.9 out of 10 for infusing joy into classroom culture

2025-2026

• School Partners: 136
• Students Engaged: 39,610
• Books Chosen & Owned: 244,664
• Revenue: $4,492,088
• Location: Remote
• Staff: 8 full-time, plus contractors and consultants

Learn more at www.BookTrust.org.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to: President and CEO

What You Do

The Vice President of Fundraising joins Book Trust at an important moment of opportunity and growth. With VISION2040, our new strategic plan charting the organization’s path forward, Book Trust is seeking a bold, results-driven leader who is ready to translate ambition into results, accelerate revenue growth, and ensure the resources are in place to bring VISION2040 to life. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team and key partner of the President and CEO, the VP will lead Book Trust’s fundraising strategy while personally driving fundraising results with a team of staff and consultants—deepening relationships with existing supporters, opening doors to new donors and partners, and building a strong and sustainable pipeline for growth. The VP will also contribute to Book Trust’s efforts to look beyond traditional philanthropy, partnering with the President and CEO and other leaders to identify and explore opportunities for diversified revenue.

This is a role for a leader who proactively creates momentum rather than waits for it. The VP will bring urgency, initiative, creativity, and disciplined execution to the work—setting a high bar for what is possible and inspiring others to reach it. They will be equally comfortable setting strategy and rolling up their sleeves to craft and make the ask; analyzing the pipeline and building the relationship; and pursuing an ambitious opportunity and knowing when to change course. As a close partner to the President and CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and National and Regional Boards, the VP will help create an organization-wide culture in which fundraising is understood as essential to advancing Book Trust’s mission and expanding its impact.

How You Spend Your Time (generally)

~75% Fundraising and Strategic Leadership

~15% People Management

~10% Fundraising

Responsibilities

Fundraising

The Vice President personally carries a portfolio of principal donors while ensuring every member of the team meets their goals, owning both individual results and the success of the team as a whole.

• Front-line fundraising. Proactively identify, engage, and secure new donors and partners. Build authentic relationships by telling Book Trust's story in ways that connect our impact to what each supporter cares about most.
• Principal gifts portfolio. Personally manage a portfolio of top individual and institutional donors and prospects, guiding each one thoughtfully through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Grants and events. Oversee a disciplined grant-writing program and development events that deliver a measurable return.
• Testing new revenue models. Lead approved revenue pilots with clear goals and success measures, using early results to decide whether to refine, scale, or sunset each one.

Strategic Leadership

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Vice President helps shape Book Trust's direction and owns the strategy that funds it.

• Revenue strategy and accountability. Set ambitious but grounded annual goals, build forecasts the organization can confidently plan around, and monitor progress closely, adjusting strategy and resources as results require.
• A diversified fundraising portfolio. In partnership with the President and CEO, design and lead an integrated fundraising plan and budget spanning major and planned gifts, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships, and events.
• The Board as fundraising partners. Equip trustees to be active ambassadors for Book Trust by opening doors, cultivating relationships, and leading by example in their own giving.
• A compelling case for support. With the Vice President of Communications and the President and CEO, shape a clear, consistent story that carries across every channel and donor touchpoint.
• New revenue horizons. Identify and evaluate opportunities beyond traditional philanthropy, including strategic partnerships and earned revenue, and work across the organization to turn promising ideas into sustainable revenue streams.

People Management

The Vice President builds a high-performing, mission-connected team and holds it to clear outcomes.

• Team leadership. Manage, coach, and develop a team of five staff, contractors, and consultants toward ambitious annual outcomes. Ensure each person knows what is expected, has what they need, and has the opportunity to do their best work.
• A culture of candor and ownership. Give honest, timely feedback, cultivate staff growth at every level, and connect the team's daily work to Book Trust's mission and values.
• Cross-organizational influence. Rally colleagues across Book Trust around development goals through credibility and goodwill, and serve as a trusted resource on prospect strategy and donor engagement.

Fundraising Operations and Administration

The Vice President ensures Book Trust's fundraising runs on sound systems, clean data, and clear accountability, so growth rests on a stable foundation.

• Fiscal stewardship. Own the preparation and administration of the development budget, policies, and procedures, allocating resources with discipline and foresight.
• Data and systems. Champion and design the disciplined, consistent use of Salesforce to manage pipeline, track donor engagement, and inform forecasting and decisions. Build knowledge-management practices that preserve donor relationships and institutional memory, ensuring continuity and lasting stewardship.
• Transparent reporting and insight. Provide clear, accurate, and regular reporting that gives leadership, the Board, and colleagues a shared understanding of fundraising progress against established goals. Interpret trends and results to recommend timely, evidence-based shifts in strategy.

Organizational Leadership and Stewardship

The Vice President embodies Book Trust's mission and values within the organization and carries them into every room beyond it, extending its reputation, relationships, and influence nationally.

• Ambassadorship. Represent Book Trust locally and nationally at conferences, convenings, and panels, elevating our approach and expanding our credibility, reach, and network.
• Field awareness. Stay current on regional and national funding trends and translate them into opportunities for Book Trust.
• Values in action. Model Book Trust's core values and competencies in every interaction. Responsibly steward Book Trust’s financial and human resources.

Additional responsibilities as assigned. No description can anticipate every facet of a senior role in a growing organization. This description captures the core of the role, not its full extent. As Book Trust advances its Vision 2040 strategy, the Vice President's portfolio will adapt to meet new fundraising priorities and opportunities.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Education. Bachelor's degree.
• Fundraising leadership. At least 10 years of experience in mid- to senior-level fundraising roles, consistently managing and delivering against multi-million-dollar goals.
• Breadth of expertise. Significant success in foundation relations, corporate partnership development, and major gift solicitation from individuals.
• Team leadership. Proven success leading a lean, high-performing team.
• Systems and data. Experience using and optimizing a CRM, preferably Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, including improving data integrity, customizing workflows, and managing system or data transitions in support of fundraising strategy and operations.
• Entrepreneurial creativity. A track record of developing creative fundraising initiatives, partnerships, or new revenue opportunities that expanded an organization's reach and revenue.
• Network and relationship building. An established network and strong social capital within the philanthropic, corporate, and/or education sectors, paired with a genuine enthusiasm for building and activating relationships and creating new funding opportunities.
• Small-organization fluency. Experience with, or a strong understanding of, fundraising within a small nonprofit (budget under $10M).
• Location and travel. This is a remote position open to candidates who live and work in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Utah. Travel is required as needed.

In addition to the responsibilities and requirements/qualifications of the role detailed above, as a member of the Book Trust team, you will be expected to demonstrate our five core competencies.

The Logistics

Approximate Start Date. Early 2027

Location. Book Trust is a fully remote organization. All staff work from an agreed-upon home office in one of the states listed under Requirements and Qualifications. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.; Book Trust is unable to provide or assume visa sponsorship at this time.

Compensation and Benefits. Book Trust offers a comprehensive package designed to support the whole person, from health and financial security to genuine time to rest and recharge.

Salary

The starting salary for the Vice President of Fundraising is $130,000 - $140,000

Staff also receive cell phone, technology, and home office stipends.

Health & Financial Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance - 100% paid for by Book Trust for the employee
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match

Rest & Renewal Benefits

• 25 days of Paid Time Off
• 6 days paid sick leave/year
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Week-long year-end office closure
• Personal holiday on (or around) your birthday
• Flex (early closure) Fridays