Chief Development Officer

Job Summary

Community Food Share, the Feeding America food bank serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties, is seeking a charismatic, collaborative fundraiser to lead our development efforts. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as a senior leadership team member responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies to support our mission and long-term objectives. The CDO oversees both the fundraising and marketing teams and works closely with the CEO and key stakeholders to build sustainable relationships with funders and the public.

Shared Leadership Philosophy

Leadership at Community Food Share is rooted in collaboration, trust, and shared accountability. Leaders work across departments to align strategy, elevate expertise, and ensure decisions are informed by data, lived experience, and community voice. We value clear communication, mutual respect, curiosity, and adaptability—recognizing that strong relationships are essential to advancing our mission.

About Community Food Share

We provide more than 30,000 nutritious meals every day through onsite and mobile pantries and a network of 40+ local partners, serving 60,000+ neighbors annually. Our 40+ staff and 2,300+ volunteers work collaboratively at the center of a community-wide effort rooted in the belief that strong communities take care of one another.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive philanthropy strategy aligned with our mission and strategic plan.
• Provide executive oversight for communications and marketing strategy, led by the Director of Communications and Public Relations.
• Oversee annual fundraising and marketing plans, department goals, and special initiatives.
• Advise the CEO and Board on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and philanthropic trends.
• Lead crisis-responsive fundraising efforts as needed.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Oversee fundraising strategies across individuals, major donors, planned giving, foundations, corporations, government funders, sponsorships, and cause marketing.
• Direct donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement strategies.
• Manage a personal portfolio of principal gifts, engaging leadership and volunteers as appropriate.
• Support the CEO, Board, and key volunteers in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Oversee planning and execution of special campaigns and fundraising initiatives.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Ensure full integration of fundraising and communications strategies across all channels.
• Collaborate with program, volunteer, and operations teams to align fundraising with organizational impact.
• Serve as a visible ambassador at events and in public representation of Community Food Share.
• Accountable for contributed revenue goals and ensuring communications support donor acquisition, retention, and engagement.

Analysis, Reporting & Systems

• Provide regular reporting on fundraising performance to the CEO and Board.
• Monitor progress toward goals and advise on trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Maintain donor relationship tracking and ensure data accuracy and reporting integrity.
• Use insights to refine strategy and guide decision-making.

People, Budget & Resource Management

• Create and manage the Philanthropy department budget.
• Supervise philanthropy staff through hiring, coaching, goal-setting, and performance management.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Director of Communications and Public Relations.
• Manage consultants and contract staff; foster a collaborative, accountable, mission-centered culture.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Minimum 7 years' fundraising experience with a track record of meeting or exceeding targets.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting individuals, foundations, corporations, and/or government funders.
• Experience creating strategic fundraising plans and managing major donor relationships.
• Success working with boards of directors or key volunteer committees.
• Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge NXT experience preferred; Classy and Asana a plus.
• Experience managing external fundraising contractors preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Enthusiastic, emotionally intelligent, and collaborative leader with superior management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse people and respond with grace under pressure.
• Compelling public speaker; thorough, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Strong independent problem-solving and decision-making ability.

Knowledge & Behaviors

• Business and financial acumen, including ability to interpret financial statements and manage restricted gifts.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and CRM/donor database systems.
• Maintains confidentiality; strong ethical character and good judgment.
• Highly collaborative, results-driven, and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Self-aware, continuously learning, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Genuine interest in Community Food Share's mission is critical; food bank funding knowledge a plus.

Additional Information

• Travel: Local travel required; occasional overnight travel for events and conferences.
• Remote Work: Hybrid schedule eligible (Team Orange Hybrid); must be able to report to facility within 48 hours of notice. Stable internet connection required.
• Work Environment: Working warehouse; exposure to varying conditions including cold storage and moderate to loud noise.
• Physical Demands: Primarily office/administrative; occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of this position.