Director of Development, Children’s Health

About the role

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.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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