About Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Inc. (VETS)

Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Inc. (VETS) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the veteran suicide epidemic by expanding access to innovative mental health treatments for U.S. military veterans. Founded by veterans and advocates committed to addressing the invisible wounds of war, VETS works at the intersection of resources, research, and advocacy to support veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other mental health conditions.

Through strategic partnerships, education, policy advocacy, and support programs, VETS seeks to accelerate access to psychedelic-assisted therapies and other emerging treatment options that show promise for healing veterans and improving long-term mental health outcomes. The organization has experienced rapid growth in recent years, fueled by national awareness, major philanthropic support, and the release of a widely viewed documentary that expanded the organization’s reach and donor base.

Today, VETS operates with a small but highly committed team working across the country and engages a broad network of advisors, contractors, and ambassadors. The organization has experienced significant growth in recent years, raising more than $6 million in the past year, its highest fundraising total to date, and expanding its national presence through research initiatives, advocacy, and direct programming.

VETS operates with an entrepreneurial spirit and mission-driven culture, where staff members are deeply connected to the cause and committed to driving meaningful change for veterans and their families.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Philanthropy serves as the senior leader responsible for designing, building, and executing VETS’ comprehensive fundraising strategy. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this individual will play a pivotal role in strengthening the organization’s philanthropic infrastructure while significantly expanding its revenue generation capacity.

VETS has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, raising more than $6.7 million annually while operating with a relatively small development team. As the organization continues to scale its national presence and programmatic impact, the Senior Director of Philanthropy will lead the effort to professionalize and expand the fundraising function, developing systems, strategies, and team structures that support sustainable growth.

This role is both strategic and operational in nature. The Senior Director will build the foundational infrastructure of the development program—including major gifts strategy, donor segmentation, moves management, campaigns, and development operations—while also actively cultivating and stewarding high-level donor relationships.

The successful candidate will bring experience leading complex fundraising programs while also demonstrating the entrepreneurial mindset necessary to build and scale development systems in a fast-growing organization. VETS operates in a high-energy, mission-driven environment where leaders must be comfortable navigating rapid growth, ambiguity, and evolving priorities while maintaining focus on long-term strategy and donor engagement.

VETS is headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with office space located in Southlake. There is a strong preference for the Senior Director to be based in the DFW area, but hybrid or remote arrangements may be considered for the candidate of choice.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• The Senior Director of Philanthropy will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the organization’s growth goals and mission priorities. This includes creating a multi-year philanthropic roadmap that integrates major gifts, foundation partnerships, corporate giving, planned giving, community-based fundraising initiatives, and Signature Events. 
• Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, this individual will identify opportunities to expand philanthropic support while ensuring that fundraising initiatives support the broader strategic direction of the organization. The Senior Director will also serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors regarding fundraising priorities, donor engagement strategies, and revenue diversification.
• The role will be instrumental in establishing a scalable fundraising framework that allows VETS to significantly expand its philanthropic reach while maintaining strong stewardship and relationship management practices.
• The Senior Director of Philanthropy will lead efforts to grow annual philanthropic revenue beyond its current $6.7 million baseline while building the systems necessary to support long-term national expansion.

Major Gifts and Donor Engagement

• A central responsibility of the Senior Director of Philanthropy will be building and managing a robust major gifts program. VETS currently benefits from a strong network of early supporters and mission-aligned donors, and the next phase of growth will require thoughtful cultivation, stewardship, and expansion of this donor base.
• The Senior Director will develop strategies for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors, including individuals, family offices, and institutional philanthropic partners. They will oversee the development of donor portfolios and moves management strategies while ensuring consistent stewardship and engagement across all levels of giving.
• This leader will also work closely with the CEO and other senior leaders to coordinate high-level donor relationships, ensuring that key supporters remain engaged in the organization’s work and impact.

Development Infrastructure and Systems

• VETS has experienced rapid philanthropic growth but now requires a more structured and scalable fundraising infrastructure. The Senior Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for strengthening the systems and processes that support development operations, including donor segmentation, CRM strategy, reporting, and campaign management.
• Working with the existing development staff and operations team, this individual will refine the organization’s use of its CRM platform and establish clear fundraising metrics, performance indicators, and reporting structures. This work will ensure that donor engagement and revenue strategies are supported by strong operational processes and data-driven decision making.
• The Senior Director will also play a key role in developing strategies for donor pipeline growth and ensuring that philanthropic opportunities generated through increased public awareness are effectively captured and stewarded.

Team Leadership and Department Growth

• The Senior Director of Philanthropy will lead and grow the organization’s development team, establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations that support a high-functioning fundraising operation.
• Currently, the development department operates with a lean structure that includes a small number of staff responsible for database management, grant support, and donor stewardship. The Senior Director will evaluate current staffing and help design an expanded team structure that enables the organization to pursue its ambitious fundraising goals, including filling Major Giving and Community Fundraising roles.
• This leader will recruit, mentor, and support development professionals while building a collaborative team culture grounded in accountability, creativity, and mission alignment.



Partnerships and External Engagement

• The Senior Director of Philanthropy will also oversee the strategy for donor engagement, campaigns, and other opportunities that support fundraising growth.
• This individual will represent VETS in meetings with donors, partners, and philanthropic stakeholders and will serve as a key ambassador for the organization’s mission and impact.

Candidate Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strategic fundraising leadership, operational discipline, and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to build and scale a high-performing development program.

Key qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred
• At least 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including leadership of major gifts and development teams
• Demonstrated success designing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that drive revenue growth
• Proven experience cultivating and stewarding high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and institutional donors
• Experience building or scaling development infrastructure within a growing nonprofit organization
• Strong leadership and team development experience, including hiring and mentoring development professionals
• Familiarity with fundraising CRM platforms and donor management systems
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial nonprofit environment with rapidly evolving priorities
• Passion for the mission of improving veteran mental health and addressing the national veteran suicide crisis
• Experience working with veteran communities, mental health initiatives, healthcare innovation, or policy advocacy is valued but not required.

POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITING

The Batten Group and Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions are equal opportunity employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable law.

The Batten Group is committed to recruiting, selecting, and placing candidates based on qualifications, merit, and alignment with the mission and values of the organizations we serve.