Chief Development Officer

Description

To view the full Position Announcement click here!

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as the strategic leader responsible for all philanthropic and grant revenue, communications, and marketing activities of Catholic Charities of Northwest California. The CDO leads the organization's efforts to secure the financial resources necessary to advance its mission, strengthen programs and services, and ensure long-term sustainability through major gifts, annual giving, recurring giving, planned giving, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships, special events, campaigns, donor stewardship, and endowment development.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CDO works closely with the Board of Directors, organizational leadership, staff, volunteers, donors, foundations, corporations, faith communities, and other stakeholders to strengthen philanthropic investment, diversity revenue sources, and increase awareness of the organizations' impact. The CDO fosters a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and serves as an ambassador for Catholic Charities of Northwest California, advancing its mission, vision, and values.

Dimensions

• Staff: Supervision (5-20), Direct Reports (2-4). Volunteers (0-15)
• Agency-wide Committees: Executive Team, Leadership Team
• Signature Authority: Per Agency Financial Processing Approval Procedure/Authority Levels

Essential Functions

Philanthropic Strategy & Revenue Growth

1. Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.
2. Establish annual and multi-year revenue goals, performance metrics, and funding diversification strategies.
3. Identify, evaluate, and pursue new philanthropic opportunities and revenue streams.
4. Lead planning for major fundraising initiatives, including endowment, capital, and special campaigns.
5. Monitor fundraising performance, trends, and outcomes, making strategic adjustments as needed.
6. Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
7. Ensure fundraising activities align with organizational priorities, financial goals, and industry best practices.

Donor, Foundation, and Institutional Giving

1. Provide strategic leadership for all philanthropic revenue programs, including major gifts, annual giving, recurring giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and government funding.
2. Build, strengthen, and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and institutional funders.
3. Maintain a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects.
4. Lead strategies that increase donor acquisition, retention, engagement, and lifetime value.
5. Oversee donor stewardship and recognition efforts to strengthen long-term donor relationships.
6. Ensure effective prospect management, donor pipeline development, and moves-management practices.
7. Advance funding partnerships that support organizational growth and mission impact.

Executive, Board, and External Relations

1. Partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors to advance philanthropic priorities, strengthen fundraising capacity, enhance stakeholder engagement, and support effective governance.
2. Support Board recruitment, development, orientation, and fundraising participation.
3. Represent the organization with donors, foundations, corporations, faith communities, and other key stakeholders.
4. Develop and maintain strategic relationships that enhance philanthropic investment and organizational influence.
5. Serve as a visible ambassador and advocate for the organization's mission and impact.

Communications, Marketing, and Organizational Visibility

1. Provide strategic oversight of communications, marketing, and brand management activities.
2. Ensure communications and marketing strategies support fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational objectives.
3. Promote consistent, compelling, and mission-centered messaging across all communication channels.
4. Strengthen organizational visibility, reputation, and public awareness among key audiences.
5. Ensure communications reflect the mission, vision, values, and identity of the organization, and principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
6. Collaborate with organizational leadership to support strategic messaging and engagement initiatives.

Leadership, Performance, and Organizational Effectiveness

1. Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for development, communications, and related staff.
2. Build and sustain high-performing, collaborative, and donor-centered culture.
3. Establish goals, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities for team members.
4. Oversee fundraising systems, donor data management, analytics, reporting, and performance measurement.
5. Ensure effective stewardship of departmental resources and budget responsibilities.
6. Foster cross-functional collaboration to align fundraising, communications, financial, and programmatic priorities.
7. Promote continuous improvement, innovation, and compliance with applicable fundraising standards, regulations, policies, and best practices.

Note: Catholic Charities considers this position to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and elder abuse.

Other Responsibilities

1. Requires some travel throughout the Agency's service area which includes Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties
2. Requires flexible schedule including weekend and evening work as needed.
3. Work with the Diocese of Santa Rosa and local parishes as appropriate and requested.
4. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Agency CultureIt is essential that all employees of Catholic Charities of Northwest California aspire to the following:

• A commitment to the agency's mission, vision, and values.
• A commitment to excellence in everything we do.
• A commitment to performance and quality improvement.
• A commitment to outcomes and measured results.
• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required

1. Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising or development is required, including at least three years in a senior leadership role with responsibility for fundraising strategy, staff, and revenue results.
2. Demonstrated success developing and leading comprehensive fundraising strategies that generate significant philanthropic and grant revenue growth across major gifts, annual giving, recurring giving, planned giving, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships, campaigns, special events, and donor stewardship programs.
3. Proven success securing and influencing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and public funding sources.
4. Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors, foundations, and institutional funders while serving as a visible and effective ambassador for the organization. Comfortable representing the organization publicly and engaging diverse stakeholder groups. Must be comfortable being in the public eye.
5. Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor lifecycle management, stewardship strategies, fundraising analytics, and philanthropic trends. Membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is expected.
6. Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership for communications, marketing, public relations, media relations, external communications, social media, digital communications, and donor engagement initiatives that advance organizational priorities, strengthen visibility, and support fundraising goals.
7. Demonstrated ability to establish and achieve ambitious fundraising goals, lead strategic initiatives, and deliver measurable results in a fast-paced environment.
8. Experience using Virtuous, Raiser's Edge, or comparable fundraising platforms, and leveraging fundraising analytics and performance metrics to guide decision-making, while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of donor data.
9. Proficiency with Office 365 and familiarity with databases; willingness to learn and apply new software and platforms as necessary for the work.
10. Exceptional written and verbal communication, presentation, relationship-building, negotiation, fundraising, conflict resolution, problem-solving, analytical, and leadership skills. Demonstrated sound judgement, initiative, critical thinking, and discretion in handling confidential information.
11. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization and with diverse external stakeholders.
12. Passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Catholic Charities of Northwest California to care for the most vulnerable members of our community to transform their lives through dignity, hope, and love. Ability to confidently articulate the organizations mission, vision, and values, and commitment to speak the language of the Catholic faith and Catholic Social Teaching with donors, funders, Board members, community partners, volunteers, and staff.
13. Valid driver license and at least state required minimum of automobile insurance, clear DMV driving record and ability to provide own transportation. Must be willing and able to travel between agency sites.
14. Must pass DOJ background clearance (fingerprinting) in accordance with the Diocese of Santa Rosa's policies prior to start of employment.
15. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required.