Chief Development Officer (Remote, Anywhere in the US)
Overview
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is envisioned as a catalyst for transformative change, blending innovative fundraising, sophisticated digital marketing strategies, and a deep commitment to philanthropic culture enhancement. This pivotal role demands a leader who is strategic, innovative, and results-oriented, with a laser focus on meeting and exceeding ambitious fundraising targets. The ideal candidate must embody exceptional leadership and analytical skills, underscored by a rigorous approach to strategic thinking, planning, and execution aimed at achieving a significant increase in fundraising revenue.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and implement strategies that strengthen fundraising effectiveness, deepen Board engagement, and foster organization-wide support for philanthropy and donor stewardship.
Partner closely with the CEO to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects.
Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Mercy For Animals’ highest-capacity donors, foundations, and strategic funding partners, securing transformational gifts that advance organizational priorities.
Lead and mentor the fundraising team, fostering professional development and aligning efforts with the organization's mission and goals.
Manage and optimize CRM systems, notably Salesforce, to enhance fundraising efficiency and effectiveness.
Employ advanced digital fundraising and marketing strategies, including leveraging social media, email marketing, online platforms, and innovative approaches and emerging technologies.
Build strong, collaborative relationships across departments, particularly between public engagement and fundraising and programmatic teams and fundraising, to create integrated campaigns that amplify organizational reach and impact.
Utilize data, forecasting, pipeline management, and performance analytics to drive donor acquisition, retention, revenue growth, and fundraising effectiveness.
Serve as a credible, inspiring leader and spokesperson for the organization, capable of engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, from board members to the broader community.
Lead the continued evolution of Mercy For Animals' fundraising program, strengthening revenue diversification, organizational capacity, and long-term financial sustainability.
Candidate Profile
Strategist: Lead the development of comprehensive, strategic fundraising plans that align with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.
Results-Oriented: Demonstrated success achieving ambitious revenue goals through a combination of strategic fundraising leadership, donor engagement, team development, and disciplined execution.
Leadership and Innovation: Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, lead organizational change, strengthen fundraising infrastructure, and implement innovative approaches that accelerate revenue growth.
Educator and Mentor: Capacity to serve as a mentor, educating the organization and its stakeholders on the importance of philanthropy and best practices in fundraising.
Strategic Relationships: Mastery in cultivating strategic partnerships and fostering interdepartmental collaborations to drive fundraising success.
Expertise in Fundraising and Marketing: Deep knowledge of fundraising mechanisms across a variety of channels, including major gifts, estate giving, corporate partnerships, digital platforms, and direct mail, with a proven record of integrating marketing strategies to amplify results.
Analytical and Detail-Oriented: Advanced analytical capabilities, focusing on strategic planning to achieve short-term wins and long-term growth.
Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to inspire, engage, and articulate clear visions and strategies to diverse audiences.
Professional Development: A commitment to continuous learning and development, both personally and for the team, staying abreast of industry trends and innovations.
Mission Alignment & Humility: Demonstrates a deep commitment to Mercy For Animals' mission and values, coupled with the humility, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness necessary to lead through influence, build trust across diverse stakeholders, and foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
Strategic Thinking and Planning: Goal-Oriented Framework Development: Developing strategic frameworks that support ambitious revenue growth, revenue diversification, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Results-Driven Leadership: Exhibiting a results-driven approach in all aspects of fundraising strategy and execution, prioritizing initiatives with the highest impact on revenue growth.
Analytical Rigor and Goal Measurement: Employing rigorous data analysis to inform strategy and measure progress against ambitious fundraising targets, ensuring accountability and adaptability in tactics.
Scenario Planning for Growth: Engaging in detailed scenario planning to navigate towards the annual revenue goal, identifying growth levers and mitigating potential risks.
Cross-Departmental Synergy: Leading cross-departmental efforts to ensure fundraising strategies are seamlessly integrated with the organization’s broader objectives, maximizing impact and efficiency.
Results-Oriented Strategy: Ambitious Fundraising Goals: Directing the organization’s fundraising efforts towards achieving a $20+M annual fundraising target in 2026-2027 and setting a strategic path to significantly expand fundraising revenue by 2032.
Performance Metrics: Implementing robust performance metrics to track progress towards goals, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the fundraising team, including reporting data and analytics up to the Board.
Innovative Revenue Generation: Identifying and capitalizing on innovative revenue generation opportunities, aligning efforts with evolving market trends and donor preferences.
Strategic Investment in Growth Areas: Allocating resources strategically to areas with the highest growth potential, ensuring that investments are data-driven and aligned with overarching fundraising objectives.
Executive Presence & Donor Leadership: Significant experience securing and stewarding six-, seven-, and eight-figure philanthropic investments. Comfort serving as a visible ambassador for the organization with donors, foundations, board members, and external stakeholders. Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to inspire confidence among supporters, volunteers, and organizational leaders.
Experience Partnering with CEOs and Boards: Demonstrated expertise in partnering closely with CEOs and Boards to advance fundraising objectives and organizational priorities.
Demonstrated Expertise: Building and leading a high-performing fundraising organization: Proven ability to create systems, processes, accountability, and cross-functional engagement that drive sustainable and diversified revenue growth.
Major and Principal Gifts: Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding transformational gifts from high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and institutional funders.
Revenue Diversification: Proven ability to diversify revenue streams across major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, planned giving, digital fundraising, and emerging philanthropic opportunities.
Board fundraising leadership: Experienced in guiding the Board in their fundraising roles and responsibilities.
Analytics and Data Interpretation: Skilled in analyzing and interpreting data to drive strategic decisions and assess the effectiveness of fundraising efforts.
Deep Knowledge of Key Metrics and Reports: Understanding of the most important metrics and reports that measure the success of fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
Strong Budgeting, Forecasting, and Reconciliation Skills: Proficient in managing budgets, forecasting future financial needs, and reconciling financial statements.
Demonstrated Expertise and Deep Experience/Understanding: Comprehensive knowledge of fundraising techniques, strategies, and trends, e.g., major, principal & estate gifts; grants administration; estate administration; foundations & corporate donor stewardship; high-net worth individual giving & prospect research.
Donor Engagement & Retention: Adept at managing the relationship with donors from initial contact to long-term retention.
Digital Fundraising: Proficient in leveraging digital platforms for fundraising, including social media, email marketing, and online fundraising platforms.
Direct Mail Fundraising: Experienced in using direct mail to raise funds.
Campaigns & Annual Giving: Knowledgeable in managing annual giving campaigns to secure regular contributions.
Galas & Other Donor Events: Experienced in organizing and executing fundraising events.
Ease with Donor Communication: Proficient in communicating with donors using various methods, including mail, email, phone, and social media.
Experience and Skill in Using Artificial Intelligence: Proficient in using artificial intelligence to enhance fundraising efforts is a plus.