Volunteer Fundraising & Development Director (Toxic Exposures in Military Families)

Help Expand Support for Military and Veteran Families Affected by Toxic Exposures

About VFEA

Veteran Families for Education and Awareness (VFEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about toxic exposures affecting military service members, veterans, and their families.

Two of our current major focuses are:

• Toxic exposures associated with the former Shinkampo Incinerator at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan
• Military aviation-related cancers affecting aircrew, maintainers, and other aviation personnel

VFEA is led by a working volunteer Board. We have built a foundation through research, public education, and support for affected military families. We are now seeking an experienced volunteer to help us build and carry out practical fundraising and development activities that support sustainable growth.

About the Role

We are seeking a volunteer Fundraising & Development Director who can provide strategic guidance while also helping carry out hands-on development work.

You will work closely with VFEA’s Board to set priorities, identify realistic funding opportunities, improve fundraising materials, and help implement manageable fundraising activities. This is a flexible role, and the initial work plan will be tailored to your experience, availability, and the organization’s immediate needs.

Responsibilities

Depending on your interests and experience, you may:

• Develop a realistic fundraising and development plan with near- and longer-term goals.
• Research and prioritize grants, foundations, corporate-giving programs, and other funding opportunities aligned with veterans, military families, public health, environmental health, education, or community-based work.
• Prepare, edit, or coordinate grant applications, letters of inquiry, and grant-ready materials with support from the Board.
• Help develop a clear case for support, project descriptions, impact statements, donor messaging, and fundraising templates.
• Identify and help implement appropriate individual-giving, recurring-donor, peer-to-peer, workplace-giving, or small fundraising-campaign opportunities.
• Help prepare donor outreach, thank-you messages, impact updates, and other stewardship communications.
• Recommend improvements to VFEA’s donation process, donor tracking, fundraising calendar, and development workflow.
• Help identify partnership or sponsorship opportunities that may support VFEA’s mission.
• Provide periodic progress updates and recommendations to the Board.

Who we are seeking

We welcome applicants with demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, grant writing, donor relations, foundation relations, campaign planning, or nonprofit growth.

Experience with veterans’ organizations, military families, environmental health, public health, research, or community-based nonprofits is helpful but not required.

We are especially interested in someone who:

• Can translate broad organizational goals into practical next steps.
• Is comfortable both advising and completing defined fundraising tasks.
• Can communicate clearly and collaborate with a small volunteer Board.
• Understands that early-stage nonprofit fundraising requires realistic goals, persistence, and relationship-building.

Working professionals, retired development professionals, grant writers, and experienced nonprofit volunteers are welcome.

Why volunteer with VFEA?

Your contribution can help VFEA build the resources needed to expand public education, improve outreach, support scientific research planning, and reach more military and veteran families affected by toxic exposures.

As a small volunteer-led organization, your work will have a direct and visible impact. You will have meaningful input into the organization’s development priorities while working with a committed Board and a mission that is both timely and underrecognized.