Vice President, Non-Profit & Social Impact

About Us

Civic Bridgers strengthens American democracy by preparing emerging leaders to bridge divides. We call these leaders Civic Bridgers—people who consistently engage in the public sphere and model humanity, humility, and accountability. They recognize the limits of "winner-takes-all" leadership. They don't wield power over people. Instead, they leverage collective power and viewpoint diversity to solve some of our nation's greatest challenges.

We're not just building programs. We're catalyzing a movement. We envision a revival of pluralism led by Civic Bridgers who transform conflict into connection.

We are at a pivotal moment. Serving over 300 leaders annually in 2026, we are poised to scale this movement and deepen our impact in Minnesota and across the country.

American democracy is at a crossroads, and philanthropy is waking up to an essential truth: democracy isn t just a political issue — it s infrastructure. The next decade will determine whether we revive pluralism or fracture further. This is a once-in-a-generation moment to shape how our society approaches bridging divides.

We are seeking a passionate, entrepreneurial founding Vice President of Advancement to build our fundraising program from the ground up and help scale a movement. This is not a role for someone looking to manage an established donor portfolio. This is for someone who wants to be part of something historic, someone energized by the challenge of making the case that bridging divides is not optional, it s essential.

You will be the architect of our development strategy, the relationship-builder who translates our mission into compelling cases for support, and a key thought partner to our Executive Director and Board. You ll have the autonomy to design systems, test approaches, and build a sustainable funding base that will fuel this movement for decades to come.

This role reports to the Executive Director and is a key member of our leadership team.

• Build the Foundation
  • Design and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that positions Civic Bridgers as a leader in the rapidly growing democracy and bridging field
  • Refine and expand a donor prospect pipeline, identifying individuals and institutions who understand that bridging divides is the work of our generation
  • Create compelling cases for support, grant proposals, and donor communications that make bridge-building impossible to ignore
  • Set and achieve ambitious revenue goals, with a target of raising $750,000+ within 2-3 years as the field matures
• Cultivate Relationships
  • Build meaningful relationships with individual donors, foundation program officers with diverse giving priorities
  • Partner with the Executive Director and Board members to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects who want to be part of something historic
  • Represent Civic Bridgers at conferences, funder convenings, and community events—positioning us as thought leaders in the bridging movement
  • Educate prospective donors about why bridge-building isn t soft skills training—it s the hard infrastructure work of democratic renewal
• Lead with Strategic Vision
  • Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and the roadmap for growth
  • Track fundraising metrics and provide regular reports to the Executive Director and Board
  • Stay at the forefront of trends in democracy funding, bridging philanthropy, and the broader movement for democratic renewal
  • Adapt strategies based on what s working, learning quickly in a field that s evolving in real-time
• Execute on Fundraising Tasks
  • Find, write and submit grant proposals
  • Maintain accurate CRM records on all donors and prospects
  • Effectively leverage CRM and other fundraising tools for pipeline management and reporting
  • Identify, cultivate, and steward prospects
  • Acknowledge all contributions in a timely manner
  • Collaborate with communications teammates to foster a positive brand among donors and prospects

Essential Qualifications

• Significant fundraising experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from multiple types of…