Job Details
THE POSITION IS HYBRID, BUT MAY BE REMOTE FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. MUST COME TO THE OFFICE AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER YEAR.
Working closely with the CEO, Chief Mission Officer and Director of Communications, the top priority for the Chief Development Officer is building a sustaining development program that cultivates, solicits and stewards foundations, organizations, corporations and individual donors at all levels. In addition to the growth of participant driven fundraising, pillars of the Foundation s growth strategy include charity partnerships, major and planned gifts, greater retention of donors and volunteers through appreciation and recognition, increased development of participant fundraising skills, and finding new roles for volunteers when needed.
The CDO will oversee the cultivation, fundraising, gift acknowledgement, and stewardship programs of a national fundraising organization. The primary goals are to increase revenues from special events, other volunteer-driven fundraising, and major, planned and annual gifts and partnerships with other childhood cancer charities. This is within the context of a participant-driven fundraising organization that is evolving from an almost purely events-oriented model (head-shaving events) to a well-rounded foundation with many opportunities for involvement and support. Direct solicitation (not only through fundraising participants) is a growing program for the organization. Equally important is to nurture a cultivation and stewardship mindset among staff, the board of directors and fundraising volunteers.
The Foundation uses a volunteer- and donor-centered approach, with staff playing a strategic and supporting role for a vast army of constituents. The CDO will be relied upon to uphold and foster a together we save kids mentality vs. a help us help kids with cancer mentality among staff and volunteers.
The teams this position will direct are:
- Special Events: Supervise the Director of Special Events who leads a team that coaches and partners with volunteers to organize signature head-shaving and other fundraising events, primarily in the U.S., with some in other countries as well. In 2023, more than 577 events were held, with more than 21,500 volunteers shaving their heads to raise funds. This is currently the Foundation s primary fundraising activity but is in rebuild mode from our peak of 1,200 events/57,000 volunteers annually prior to the pandemic. The Special Events team is also responsible for fundraising options for volunteers who are looking for opportunities to get involved outside of head-shaving.
- Constituent Information Department: Supervise the Fundraising and Donor Strategist, who manages a team to process donations (approximate volume 200,000 donations a year, including participant-raised funds, matching gifts, tribute and memorial gifts and more), manage donor data and reports, and handle customer support for donors and volunteers (including management of a call center for incoming calls), and more.
- Hero Funds and Memorials
- Major (Distinguished) Giving
Responsibilities
Essential Responsibilities:
- as a member of the Foundation s leadership team, working closely together to accomplish the Foundation s goals, consistently modeling the Foundation s core values.
- excellent management of all teams above, modeling strong relationship-building, development and cultivation principles and skills for other staff and volunteers involved in all of the above efforts, while directing every effort to increase donations. Offer training for staff as needed on development topics.
- the addition of new (non-headshaving) participant-driven fundraising activities and tributes/memorials.
- and maintain relationships with a portfolio of special donors and volunteers; work with board members and senior staff to cultivate key relationships as appropriate, increasing personal cultivation and stewardship activities substantially.
- the Foundation in direct solicitations or major and planned gifts, in such a way as to maximize support while not undermining the fundraising efforts of participants.
- the development and use of stewardship materials for donors and volunteers.
- the annual giving program including recurring gifts. Add new programs as appropriate.
- that donors at all levels are appropriately thanked in a timely manner, that they are told how the funds are being used, and that they see the impact of their giving.
- the help of colleagues, constantly monitor constituent activity (volunteers, donors, families, advocates and researchers), as well as other non-profit organizations to generate ideas and connections for the advancement of the mission.
Other responsibilities:
- employees to conduct thorough and timely evaluations of ROI for each project, campaign or initiative, to continually improve and refine strategy.
- the creation and evolution of a volunteer training program to enable volunteers to be more effective proponents for the organization in their communities, throughout their networks and social channels.
- cost-effective donor and volunteer appreciation as and recognition programs to encourage loyalty/retention, increased giving and fundraising, including timely and proper tracking and acknowledgment of donations.
- with Chief Mission Officer to integrate Ambassadors, Honored Families and Researchers into development initiatives as appropriate.
- workplace giving results (Combined Federal Campaign and more).
- donor and prospect research, to include searching for potential new board members and corporate partners.
- the Constituent Information team s handling of donations, data and reports.
- that donor and volunteer needs are served via website development. Approve communications and web content in support of fundraising initiatives.
- that the broader development team s needs are met in the administrative section of the website.
- a team in fundraising principles to build confidence, skills and trust.
- duties as assigned by supervisor.
Minimum Position Requirements
- Degree required; advanced degree desirable or the equivalent combination of education and development experience
- 15 years experience in nonprofit development work.
- 15 years experience managing other development staff.
- in Word, Excel and Outlook required.
- management and staff development skills.
- of internet-based fundraising.
- with participant-driven fundraising.
- of and strong orientation toward donor-centered fundraising principles.
- in major gifts and personal donor cultivation.
- understanding of database applications and functions in a fundraising environment.
- to work effectively as a member of a team.
- interpersonal and listening skills.
- communications skills, both verbal and written.
- and self-motivated, good creative thinking and problem solving skills.
- demeanor, sensitivity, good judgment, and flexibility required.
- to represent the Foundation professionally at events, in meetings with high-level volunteers, donors and prospects, and in the office.
- to work seasonal overtime as required.
- to travel at least 3-4 times a year for up to a week at a time.