Chief Development Officer

SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION  

LA Family Housing is a leading homeless service provider and affordable housing developer in Los Angeles. We believe that housing is a human right, and we are invested in driving forward the innovative solutions we know are effective in ending homelessness. With nearly 40 years of experience, we know what works: an individualized approach that combines a continuum of housing options enriched with supportive services. In 2021, we connected nearly 12,000 people with housing resources and supportive services every year. We also own or co-own 30 interim, affordable, and supportive housing properties and have over 700 additional units of permanent supportive housing in our pipeline.

Our community-based approach allows us to influence how homelessness is addressed in Los Angeles and nationwide. We take tremendous pride in positioning our staff as national leaders in innovation, best practices, and policy within housing production and homeless services. From presenting at national conferences to facilitating service collaboration among providers in other regions, we equip our industry to effectively respond to homelessness and ultimately move more people home. Join this incredible team of changemakers and start making a difference in people’s lives today at LA Family Housing!

THE OPPORTUNITY 

LA Family Housing (LAFH) is seeking a creative, strategic, and collaborative Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead public funding, institutional and individual giving to support LA Family Housing’s $80 million annual operating budget. In addition, the CDO leads the agencies community engagement activities to bring in-kind support and volunteer enrichment to enhance program services and agency operations. The CDO will have the unique opportunity to serve the greater Los Angeles community and help realize the mission of LA Family Housing. 

The CDO will join the Executive Leadership team of LA Family Housing and reports directly to the President and CEO. This role will be responsible for cultivation of new donor prospects to support the agency’s annual campaign and any future campaigns, increasing grant revenue from government, corporate, and private foundations, and promotion of LA Family Housing to the community at large to engage donors and volunteers to support LAFH through contributions of financial and human resources with the goal to ameliorate the current homelessness crisis while also addressing the root causes of homelessness.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; Master’s degree is preferred. LA Family Housing is also seeking a minimum of 10 years’ of demonstrated high-level leadership success developing and implementing comprehensive development or external relations programs for a comparable size or larger organization; Executive Team management experience is required. 

The strongest candidates will have experience in all areas of fundraising including annual giving, major gifts, grants, and events, as well as an understanding of volunteer-supported organizations, and a fluency in databases that support fundraising in the non-profit sector. Additionally, candidates should possess the following expertise, knowledge, and skills:

Management & Leadership 

• Strategic, highly motivated, hands-on professional with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• In partnership with the Executive Leadership team, strategize the organization’s overall vision, growth, and operations
• Staffs and manages the Development Committee of the Board of Directors
• Develops and executes fund development strategies, community engagement strategies, and work plans for the team, monitoring progress and refining/adjusting to optimize results and increase revenues
• Ensures appropriate systems are in place, including with respect to the constituent relations management system (Salesforce), for gift processing/acknowledgement

Fund Development 

• Highly collaborative, resourceful, and results-oriented with the ability to think creatively, generate new ideas, prioritize, and follow through with execution of plans
• In partnership with the CEO, oversee fund development for LAFH, developing and executing strategies to increase revenues, including through annual, major, foundation, corporate giving, and special events (annual campaign of $8 million with specific campaigns close to $20 million)
• Maintains a portfolio of donors and prospects, and engage in donor cultivation and gift solicitation, including in-kind gifts
• Oversees grant funding, managing, and strategizing with the Director of Grants to grow revenues from private and public grants (public grants of approximately 60 million)
• In partnership with the Director of Special Events, manages special events, including the high-profile LAFH Awards celebration, which raises nearly $2 million annually.  Strategizes with the Director of Special Events to grow revenue from events, and leverage them for donor cultivation and other constituent engagement
• Manages relationships with Event Chairs, Host Committees, and Board Members relative to all event planning and execution

Community Engagement 

• Compelling, charismatic leader with the ability to move a team forward by inspiring and motivating people 
• In partnership with the Director of Community Engagement, develops strategies around cultivating and stewarding relationships to build LAFH’s visibility, impact, and financial resources, including the operation of the Volunteer and In-Kind Donations Program
• Manages a portfolio of corporate and community partners

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation for this opportunity will begin at approximately $184,789/annually. Additional benefits information to be shared further along in the process.

TOTAL REWARDS COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

LA Family Housing provides a Total Rewards Compensation Philosophy that includes Comprehensive benefits, Industry leading cash compensation opportunities, Recognition of employee performance, Staff development resources, and Commitment to employee wellness. The salary listed on this job description is reflective of our compensation structure and is a firm amount. Future increases are performance-based. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

LAFH is committed and proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a veteran. 

FAIR CHANCE ACT

LA Family Housing will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if LA Family Housing is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s Fair Chance Act webpage.

COVID-19 

Effective November 1, 2021, LA Family Housing will require proof of vaccination for all employees. This requirement is in response to the public health emergency and is intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among LA Family Housing employees, our stakeholders and those we serve – it will remain in effect for the duration of the public health emergency.  Employees may apply for an exemption if they cannot be vaccinated due to complicating medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs. If the exemption is approved, then the employees will be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing.