Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Title: Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Employment Status:  Exempt

Salary: $190,000 - $225,000, bonuses available

Supervisor Title: SVP, External Affairs

Date Revised:  June 2025

Summary of Position:

Meridian International Center seeks a dynamic and strategic Vice President of Institutional Advancement to lead a bold and integrated fundraising strategy that drives organizational growth, increases philanthropic and foundation giving, and ensures long-term sustainability. This executive role will serve as the architect of a $20 million capital and growth campaign, while also spearheading efforts to expand Meridian’s national philanthropic network.

The Vice President will oversee major donor cultivation, institutional giving, and foundation relations—including corporate, private, and family foundations. This leader will partner with program teams across Meridian to align funding strategies with institutional priorities and ensure programmatic initiatives are supported through strategic philanthropic partnerships.

The Vice President will manage the Institutional Advancement team and serve as the chief coordinator of donor engagement, campaign strategy, and fundraising events—overseeing portfolios, financial performance, and moves management across all major revenue streams, including the Meridian Council, National Council (to be launched), Board Giving, flagship events, and program-specific fundraising.

This position is located in Washington D.C. and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position may work partially remotely until further notice.

Position Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

  • Lead a $20M multi-year capital and growth campaign in alignment with Meridian’s strategic plan.
  • Develop and execute strategies to increase major gifts ($25K+) from individual donors and institutional funders.
  • Oversee a multi-tiered fundraising portfolio that includes: Capital Campaign, Meridian Council and National Council ($1.5K–$50K+ donors), Board of Trustees giving, Flagship fundraising events (Meridian Ball, Culturefix, Diplomacy Forum, Summit), Program-specific funding from individuals, foundations, and corporate funders (six-figure+ gifts)
  • Work across program teams to identify funding priorities and develop compelling philanthropic and foundation proposals.
  • Create and lead a comprehensive institutional funding strategy to grow support from corporate and private foundations.
  • Cultivate a national portfolio of high-level donors ($50K+), oversee major solicitations, and steward long-term donor relationships.

Foundation and Institutional Giving

  • Build and execute an organizational strategy to grow foundation and institutional support for Meridian programs.
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities with corporate, private, and family foundations aligned with Meridian’s mission.
  • Collaborate with program staff to develop grant proposals, case statements, and funder reports.
  • Support cross-departmental capacity building around grant-seeking and donor engagement best practices.

Board and Council Engagement

  • Manage and grow the Meridian Council and develop a National Council to engage high-level supporters beyond Washington, D.C.
  • Partner with the Board Development Committee to support trustee engagement in fundraising strategy and execution.

Donor Engagement & Communications

  • Oversee cultivation events, stewardship plans, and engagement strategies to deepen donor relationships.
  • Direct the creation of high-impact donor communications—appeals, proposals, collateral, and digital outreach.
  • Leverage Meridian’s convening power to design donor experiences that drive philanthropic investment.

Team & Organizational Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing advancement team (approx. 4–5 staff).
  • Align donor outreach, communications, and stewardship efforts across departments.
  • Collaborate with the Corporate Diplomacy team on shared revenue opportunities and sponsorships.
  • Serve as budget liaison to the Finance team and lead fundraising reporting and revenue forecasting.
  • Serve as development liaison to the Board’s Development Committee.
  • Contribute to institutional planning and strategy as a key member of Meridian’s senior leadership team.
  • Responsible for completing all organizational administrative responsibilities in a timely manner and meeting all organizational administrative deadlines
  • Other duties as assigned

Education/Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree or advance degree
  • 10–15 years of senior-level experience in fundraising, institutional advancement, or external relations.
  • Strong experience engaging high-level boards, councils, and philanthropic partners.
  • Extensive experience in grant writing, donor communications, and proposal development.
  • Familiarity with philanthropic trends and foundation funding models.
  • Or any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Proven track record leading multi-year capital campaigns and securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
  • Demonstrated success in growing philanthropic and foundation funding in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
  • Strategic thinker with entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative leadership style.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Background in international affairs, public-private partnerships, or civic/global leadership preferred.
  • Strong inter-cultural communication skills; maturity, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from around the world

Technical Requirements:

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams is necessary for this role
  • Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
  • Familiarity with compliance and stewardship requirements for major gifts and grants.
  • Experience with Canva is helpful

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values, and respect. Connecting people has been our foundation for over 65 years. If you share our values and enthusiasm to promote non-partisan collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian promotes equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, family responsibilities, marital, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be offered and maintained to all persons at every stage and condition of employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Meridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including a full medical plan with no deductible, dental (including orthodontics), a retirement plan with a substantial employer contribution from day one, fully paid life, long- and short-term disability, a variety of voluntary benefits, and generous paid leave and holidays.

How to Apply 

Qualified candidates should apply here. Only candidates being considered for this position will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS in reference to this position will be accepted.