Chief Development Officer

About the Organization:

The Job Plugs is proud to partner with Literacy Partners to search for their inaugural Chief Development Officer (CDO). Literacy Partners strengthens families through a two-generation approach to education. With our free classes, community-based workshops, and educational media, low-income parents develop the literacy and language skills they need to succeed in today’s world. Our research-based curriculum also incorporates child development and parenting support to help parents boost their children’s early reading, school readiness, and social-emotional growth. 

About the Position:

Primarily an external-facing leader, the CDO is an exceptional catalyst, creating innovative resource and partnership opportunities for Literacy Partners. A seasoned executive-level professional, the CDO is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the implementation of activities that increase, diversify, and sustain philanthropic support from major donors and corporations. The CDO will also grow our network of influential friends and allies. Leading a department of 6-7 staff and several consultants, this individual will develop and drive overall strategies in fundraising, marketing, and communications.

The CDO reports to the Chief Executive Officer and works closely with the Board of Directors. This position is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and will join our diverse, social justice-oriented team of 28 staff and more than 100 interns and volunteers. This position is 100% remote, with a preference for candidates living near New York City.

Position Responsibilities:

Strategy Development

• Develop and lead the overall strategy for Literacy Partners to achieve revenue and brand goals
• Design and lead new strategies for major gifts to drive a significant increase in year over year giving and for planned giving to create future revenue streams

Relationship Building

• Expand our base of financial support and grow our network of influential friends and allies
• Cultivate Board giving and active engagement in fundraising efforts
• Develop organization-wide culture and process for relationship building, cultivation, and brand building

 Team Leadership

• Lead a team of seven development professionals, which include the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Senior Director of Institutional Advancement, and Director of Special Events and Annual Giving
• Facilitate communication and coordination between the Board of Directors and the fundraising staff
• Optimize internal systems and processes to support continuous quality improvement and regular reporting to internal and external stakeholders

External Leadership

• Become one of the critical voices of Literacy Partners in pitch meetings, social gatherings, our annual gala dinner, and external events of all kinds
• Engage in thought leadership and leverage available platforms to advance the Literacy Partners brand

Required Experience:

• At least five (5) years in an executive-level external affairs position which includes fundraising responsibilities and board cultivation
• Proven fundraising experience and success with major gift solicitation from individuals and organizations, and with developing cultivation and stewardship processes for donor relationships; a record of successfully diversifying funding sources
• Demonstrated experience excelling at data-driven strategizing and implementation to achieve measurable results in revenue growth
• Experience overseeing the production of effective fundraising, marketing, communications materials
• Has existing relationships with executive-level personnel at potential funding agencies for Literacy Partners
• Excellent communications skills (written and oral), is dynamic, can pitch without inhibition, and is comfortable asking for big money
• Responsible for the recruitment, training, supervision, and coaching of Development and Marketing staff and for successfully achieving organizational goals and objectives
• Has a sense of humor

Mission-driven, family-friendly work environment. We focus on results and support our team with flexibility in hours and other work arrangements to get there.