Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
San Jose, California

About Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley uses innovative legal advocacy as a tool for social change. We work tirelessly to ensure that every person in our thriving region is granted the same rights and legal access. Every day, our attorneys, social workers, and advocates craft inventive solutions to the life-changing legal issues facing low-income people in Silicon Valley.

Our mission is to advance the rights of under-represented individuals and families in our diverse community through legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach.

Established more than 40 years ago, today, our team of 90 attorneys, social workers, and staff, together with pro bono volunteers, find stable homes for abused and neglected children, help people living with chronic illnesses access the benefits they need to remain healthy and self-sufficient, provide low-income people access to safe and affordable housing, and address a number of other critical issues including domestic violence, discrimination, human trafficking, mental health, and more.

We serve over 10,000 individuals and families each year through our:
• Housing Program
• Children & Youth Program
• Health/Mental Health Program

For more information on the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, please visit www.lawfoundation.org.

The Opportunity

Working tirelessly to eradicate racial disparities and the systems that perpetuate them since 1974, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley ("LF") is seeking a strategic, mission-driven fundraising leader to be its Chief Development Officer ("CDO"). This is a unique opportunity for a development leader who is passionate about social justice and the civil rights space to develop and implement a fundraising strategy that ensures the sustainability of LF's impactful programming.

The CDO will have oversight of all aspects of the Development function, including fundraising, donor/foundation relations, events, and crossover responsibility with marketing/communications. Reporting to the CEO, as a key member of the executive leadership team, and working closely with a highly effective fundraising board, the CDO will have the opportunity to build on a strong foundation of donor support with a lot of untapped potential.

The CDO will work in partnership with an engaged leadership staff eager to act as ambassadors in support of fundraising efforts.

As LFSV looks to deepen and expand its impact, this is a chance for an innovative development leader to diversify and expand revenue to enable the organization to reach the next level of its trajectory. This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly regarded legal aid organization, and a vibrant and growing community of individuals dedicated to social justice.

Position Summary

Reporting to the CEO, working closely with the Board, and supervising the development department, the CDO will lead LF's Development function, including fundraising, donor/foundation relations, events, and play a key strategic role as part of the executive leadership team. This individual will collaborate with executive leadership to draft, implement, and manage LF's annual revenue plan.

The CDO will design the strategy for and oversee direct fundraising efforts, including cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, as well as plan and execute a range of successful fundraising events. Committed to DEI principles, this leader will design a framework for grounding all fundraising and communications practices in equity, anti-racism, and racial and economic justice.

Candidate Profile

The Chief Development Officer ("CDO") will be a bold, fearless, and experienced fundraising leader with a measurable track record of success in institutional, individual, and corporate giving. Bringing a social justice grounding and mindset to the role, the successful candidate will bring a DEI lens to their work as well as experience advancing racial justice as a development leader.

In addition, the CDO will possess the following attributes and competencies:

Fundraising Leadership Expertise
The CDO will be an innovative and outside-the-box thinker to find new funding opportunities to diversify revenue streams and secure flexible funding to meet changing community needs as well as ensure long-term organizational sustainability. The CDO will be a confident and self-motivated thought partner, who will work with the CEO, Board, and staff in identifying, devising, and implementing a fundraising strategy for LF. A big picture thinker, the CDO will also be eager to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
The CDO will excel at developing and stewarding relationships with donors, the Board, and other funding partners. A strong writer, the CDO will utilize their considerable persuasive writing and grant writing experience to cultivate potential supporters. A charismatic fundraiser, the CDO will bring a demonstrated track record of inspiring a wide array of donors and funders with evidence of closing major gifts in previous roles. The CDO will also ensure that LF's racial equity work is reflected in how donors and funders are engaged with the organization.

Passion for Mission and Racial Equity Commitment
The CDO will have a passion for the mission of LF, a clear understanding of its work, and an abiding respect for the communities it serves. Bringing a demonstrated commitment to racial equity, the CDO will be an active participant in DEI work at LF and incorporate racial equity principles into all development operations. The CDO will utilize sound judgment and discretion in all activities and will display the highest degree of integrity in the role.

Relationship Building
An excellent interpersonal communicator, the CDO will foster a strong relationship with the CEO and a highly effective fundraising Board comprised of community leaders and experts in the legal field. This individual will have the confidence and expertise needed to make recommendations to the CEO and Board regarding fundraising strategies. Highly collaborative, inclusive, and open-minded, the CDO will work closely with program leadership and equip them to act as ambassadors for LF's fundraising endeavors. The CDO will be natural relationship-builder with the ability to nurture and support LF's broad network of committed partners.

Communications Knowledge
The CDO will have oversight of LF's communications functions, including the creation of annual reports, newsletters, event materials, website content, and media campaigns, to raise awareness and funds for LF as well as to move policy efforts forward. The CDO will be able to effectively communicate the work of LF to a diverse group of stakeholders, including funders, policy makers, community leaders, and peer organizations. Comfortable using social justice language, the CDO will work with programs staff to authentically tell the stories of LF's clients in ways that are compelling, uplifting, empowering, and inclusive.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual base salary for this role will be based on a range, starting at $175,000 and commensurate with the successful candidate's skills and experience. The compensation also includes a competitive benefits package.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Michelle Bonoan and Jennifer Smith of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role, please submit your materials here (https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/18571) or email Michelle and Jennifer directly at mbonoan@koyapartners.com and jsmith@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Law Foundation of Silicon Valley United strongly encourages people of color, people of diverse gender identities, women, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experiences of homelessness to apply.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.


jeid-2538c19a7abbd1469dc197e955dd078e