Chief Development Officer

Summary

Join Playworks as their Chief Development Officer (CDO), a key leadership role reporting to the CEO. You will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy, managing the development team, and cultivating relationships with donors. This position requires extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, strong leadership skills, and a passion for Playworks' mission. The CDO will work collaboratively with the CEO, board members, and other senior leaders to achieve Playworks' strategic goals. The role offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of children. This is a remote, full-time position.

Requirements

• 15+ years of executive-level fundraising experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in a revenue-raising function (managing and forging relationships with donors across all revenue streams)
• Experience with distributed models of development staffing and diverse regional contexts
• High energy and passion for Playworks and its mission
• An understanding of education and youth development in the United States and the role Playworks plays in supporting children’s healthy development and learning
• Tangible experience of having expanded and cultivated existing donor relationships over time
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships
• Strong organizational, leadership and mentoring skills
• The ability to manage and lead through significant change
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising and earned revenue programs
• Ability to work both independently without close oversight, and also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside of the development function
• Knowledge of donor database management – preferably a detailed knowledge of Salesforce Customer Relationship Management software
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Ability to construct, articulate, and implement both an annual strategic revenue plan and a multi-year revenue-raising strategy
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Customer focus; donor centric vision
• A professional and resourceful style; takes initiative, and listens well to leaders at all levels of an organization

Responsibilities

• Develop a multi-year fundraising strategy with clear measures of success, alignment to Playworks’ strategic plan, and effective engagement of all regional fundraisers to scale and sustain all fundraising initiatives
• Consistently collaborate with fundraising teams to implement and support strategies, manage portfolios and engage regional Executive Directors in achieving their fundraising goals
• Develop strategies to recruit leading philanthropists and corporations with standard pricing models, donor experiences, and clearly articulated returns on philanthropic investments
• Develop and implement a stewardship program aimed at cultivating deeper ties with donors and institutions
• Actively work with the CEO, development staff, and senior staff to develop and implement a diversified revenue strategy to include support from individuals, families, corporations, and foundations
• Support and partner with the CEO and Board members on all major fundraising and programs
• Collaborate with the CEO, CFO, President, and Board Development Committee on budget formation and management
• Manage HQ Development Department fundraising and a portfolio of significant supporters across all fundraising streams
• Recruit major philanthropic support from youth- and education-focused philanthropists, corporations, and institutional foundations
• Oversee and research funding sources and trends, with foresight, to help position Playworks ahead of major funding changes or trends
• Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the development program
• Train, develop, lead, coach, and mentor the development team
• Establish a professional development program for all fundraising staff
• Create a culture of philanthropy across all functional areas of Playworks, whereby all staff understand their role in the fundraising strategy

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Experience with earned revenue raising from educational institutions

Benefits

• Remote, full-time exempt position
• Starting salary of $200,000
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) with employer match, life insurance, employee funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts
• Generous flexible time off with sick and holiday leave