Chief Development Officer

The Position

As an instrumental member of our Executive Leadership team, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), helping the team to shape the trajectory of our organization's growth. We are in search of an exceptional leader who can guide and inspire our development operation and staff, setting the stage for a transformative journey.

In this dynamic role, the CDO will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, spearheading the conception, evolution, and execution of an all-encompassing fundraising strategy and program. Collaboration will be key as the CDO and CEO join forces in board engagement, crafting a united vision that propels our mission forward. The CDO will skillfully navigate a portfolio of influential six and seven-figure prospects, while concurrently championing the oversight of our Development department. But this is more than just a leadership role – it's an opportunity to redefine the very fabric of our fundraising framework. With your distinct expertise, you will have the privilege to evolve an existing fundraising foundation into a robust and thriving development department, solidifying your legacy as a driving force of transformation.

The CDO will be pivotal in expanding our philanthropic funding base. By engaging and cultivating our invaluable donors, you will be an architect of progress, guiding our mission to new pinnacles of achievement. Central to this endeavor is ensuring that the donor journey remains a seamless, meaningful, and enriching experience for each and every supporter. A true catalyst for relationships and impact, the CDO will embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of our rapidly evolving organization. In partnership with a growing development team, you will set the strategic compass for all fundraising endeavors. Collaborative synergies will be your forte, as you collaborate closely with esteemed colleagues, particularly within Marketing, for initiatives like Giving Tuesday, donor events, and the execution of our annual report. In tandem with Marketing, your prowess in revenue generation through diverse channels such as direct marketing, social media, email campaigns, and websites will be pivotal.

Your track record in successfully driving comprehensive fund development programs will shine through, as you prepare and execute an annual development work plan. This critical leadership role calls for an agile strategic thinker, adept in business acumen and gifted with exceptional communication skills. Your journey with us promises to be both rewarding and transformative, as you solidify your legacy as a steward of donor engagement and a catalyst for monumental change.

Role & Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Working with the Executive Team, create and implement an annual national and international strategic fundraising plan that supports the organization’s vision and budget for mission that includes individual giving, annual fundraising, major gifts, foundation and corporate, government support, and legacy giving.
• Serve as major gifts lead, with an annual goal of $15M+ in direct and indirect resources.
• Take the lead in building a process and system to maintain a portfolio of donors through the donor cycle of identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors - inclusive of individual, corporate, and institutional donors.
• Collaborate with the CEO to refine donor strategies and ensure key donor relationships are properly managed.
• Inspire donors, partners, and the community to action through impassioned and eloquent storytelling and serving as one of the key spokespersons for the organization.
• Collaborate with grant writers to create ambitious foundation relations, strategy, and implementation.
• Oversee gift processing through policies, systems, and procedures built on ethical standards for soliciting and reporting.
• Utilize data to drive decision-making, create donor segmentation and, in collaboration with the CFO, enhance predictive financial modeling for the organization.
• Collaborate with staff members to carry out donor meetings, cultivation activities, and special donor events nationally and internationally.
• Partner with Marketing to develop and implement a donor journey strategy to ensure a meaningful experience for all supporters.
• Partner with Marketing to regularly communicate with prospective and existing donors.
• Identify and implement opportunities for donor recognition, stewardship, and appreciation.
• Develop and execute a donor retention plan and establish goals, objectives, and metrics to increase the rate of retention across categories and cultivate long-term support.

Leadership

• Establish and model the mindset and behaviors indicative of a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing organization that builds a culture of belonging and philanthropy amongst staff and board.
• Establish credibility throughout the organization and with the CEO as an effective developer of solutions to business challenges.
• Develop, lead, attract, inspire, retain, and manage a diverse, talented, and high-performing team to ensure that the mission and core values of O.U.R. are put into practice by holding everyone accountable for quantifiable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Partner with staff and board to set and achieve fundraising goals, make connections, and cultivate relationships.
• Collaborate with the CFO to develop and implement financial strategy through the creation, approval, and implementation of ambitious yet reasonable budgets.
• Monitor progress against the organization’s annual and strategic plans, providing regular updates and analysis on unrestricted and restricted revenue sources.
• Provide fundraising leadership to the Board of Directors, including attending board meetings, facilitating board trainings, creating a development committee, preparing, and giving reports, managing board giving, and identifying opportunities for volunteer leadership to participate in networking and fundraising activities.

Additional Skillset and Attributes:

• Ten+ years of leadership experience managing development teams and partnering with the CEO to achieve impact.
• Familiarity with email, web and social media platforms for revenue generation.
• Proven record of closing gifts above $100,000 and managing a portfolio of donors.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing relationships with donors, board members, corporate supporters, and community members.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to articulate and align mission, vision, and values to donors and donor prospects.
• Excellent problem-solving skills designed to meet the challenges of the organization.
• Ability to use data and CRM systems to set fundraising strategy and priorities, conduct research, measure outcomes, and drive superior performance.
• The maturity, integrity, professionalism, and experience to earn the trust and confidence of your team, other staff, donors, board leadership, and community partners.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and experience working with, or on, boards.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to develop and manage budgets.
• A strategic thinker who sees the big picture and can also operate in the details.
• Proven skills to support a team, set an example, and mentor others.
• Strong project management skills with ability to delegate, meet deadlines, and follow through.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.