Chief Development Officer

About the role

For more than 150 years, Girls Inc. has inspired all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Through a national network of local affiliates across the United States and Canada, Girls Inc. gives girls research-based programming, mentoring relationships, and safe, girls-only spaces where they build the skills and confidence to navigate life's challenges and pursue their dreams. Girls Inc. also advocates for policies and practices that expand opportunities for girls everywhere.

Girls Inc. is seeking a visionary and accomplished Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead the organization's fundraising strategy at a pivotal moment of growth. Reporting to the President and CEO and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will design and lead a comprehensive, organization-wide fundraising strategy. The CDO will build and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and board members, and will lead a high-performing development team to significantly grow and diversify revenue. The CDO will be a strategic thought partner to the CEO and board, a visible ambassador for Girls Inc., and a collaborative leader who works across the organization and the affiliate network to strengthen fundraising capacity at every level.

This is a chance to lead fundraising for one of the nation's most respected youth-serving organizations, with a powerful brand, a proven model, and a clear vision for the future. The next Chief Development Officer will play a defining role in expanding Girls Inc.'s reach and impact for generations of girls to come.

Location: New York, NY (hybrid); based at the Girls Inc. National Headquarters, with 2 days per week in the office.

Key areas of impact

• Revenue growth and strategy: develop and execute an ambitious, multi-year fundraising plan that expands and diversifies revenue across individual, institutional, corporate, and planned giving.
• Major and transformational gifts: personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level donors and partners, and position Girls Inc. for transformational investments.
• Board and executive partnership: equip and engage the CEO and board members as effective fundraisers and champions of the mission.
• Team leadership: build, mentor, and inspire a talented development team, creating a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Network impact: partner with the affiliate network to share best practices, strengthen fundraising capacity, and coordinate national and local efforts.
• Data and infrastructure: use data, systems, and analytics to guide strategy, measure results, and continuously improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the President/CEO and Board leadership to set high standards of philanthropy within Girls Inc.
• Monitor philanthropic trends and develop short- and long-term fundraising strategies aimed at maximizing contributed income from individuals, foundations, and corporations as appropriate.
• Solicit gifts and increase annual giving levels to reach approximately $20 million.
• Formulate, coordinate, and monitor all fund development programs within Girls Inc., including:
  • Major Gifts & Planned Giving
  • Annual Fund (direct mail and affinity group strategies, e.g., Director's Circle)
  • Special Events (Celebration Luncheons and other events)
  • Cause Related Marketing
  • Institutional Giving/Grants
  • Capital and asset building campaigns
• Work closely with the President/CEO, COO, CFO, and department heads to assess fundraising needs as determined by business plan goals, operating needs, and annual plan priorities.
• Prepare, with the President/CEO, COO, and CFO, the annual income plan for unrestricted and temporarily restricted funds.
• Work with all development directors to develop annual fundraising budgets, and to prepare and monitor income projections, progress reports, and long-range/business plan forecasts.
• Provide staff leadership to the Philanthropic Development Committee; serve as a staff advisor regarding income forecasts to the Fiscal Oversight Committee; and serve on other board and staff task groups as appropriate.
• Maintain and develop new contacts with funders, both individuals and organizations, and build the involvement of the President/CEO and Board members in the solicitation and donor stewardship processes.
• Direct, coordinate, and support ancillary activities of the fundraising plan including prospect research, development of proposals and appeals, reports to funders, and donor acknowledgements.
• Oversee the implementation of data management systems and fundraising records for all Girls Inc. fundraising activities.
• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications Department to develop and publish fundraising related materials (annual report, newsletters, brochures, website content) and activities including special events, honorees and spokespersons, cultivation and marketing opportunities.
• Provide support to the President/CEO in developing, with appropriate staff and volunteers, an overall approach to fundraising as relates to Girls Inc. affiliates.
• Participate as a member of the Girls Inc. Leadership Team, communicating the fund development goals and objectives, and seeking opportunities for synergy with other organizational strategies to advance the Girls Inc. vision and mission.

Supervisory responsibilities

• Director of Corporate Partnerships
• Director of Institutional Giving
• Director of Major Gifts
• Other development staff as appropriate

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of experience in diversified fundraising; demonstrated experience in strategic philanthropy, marketing, major and capital gifts solicitation, donor stewardship, and long-range fund development planning, proposal development and presentation; or equivalent experience.
• Advanced degree in organizational development, non-profit or public administration, marketing or business, or equivalent experience.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills;