Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer

Graham Windham

https://www.graham-windham.org/

 

Reporting to: President and CEO

Department: Development

Location: Hybrid - based out of headquarters in Brooklyn, NY

 

In full partnership with families and communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference with children, youth and families who are overcoming some of life’s most difficult challenges and obstacles, by helping to build a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive both in school and in the world.

Graham Windham has pioneered programs for New York City’s children, families, and communities since 1806. With an annual operating budget of $63 million and a staff of 550, Graham Windham serves over 4,500 youth and their families at 12 community-based sites in Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Graham Windham is recognized for its innovative approach to program development and its organizational vision. Their programs include:

 

• Graham SLAM (Support, Lead, Achieve, and Model) is an innovative strategy we developed to provide young people in the foster care system, as well as those at risk for entering foster care, with long-term, consistent, and comprehensive support from high school, through college or vocational school, and all the way to a living-wage career. We have committed to supporting young people until age 26, even after they are no longer in the child welfare system. Graham SLAM provides a continuum of intensive, structured supports, centered around a coaching model. Learn more here.  

 

• Beacon and Cornerstone Programs are school and community-based initiatives serving over 1000 elementary and middle-school children with tutoring in English/language arts, science, and math; other activities include art, drama, youth councils, a reading club, journalism, computer classes, fitness, sports, and competitive teams, as well as school admissions support and summer jobs.  

 

• Graham Windham Mental Health provides quality mental health services to children and youth, and their caregivers. Our services address a range of mental-health-related issues, including behaviors that interfere with school success (inattention, hyperactivity, aggression, etc.) as well as child and adolescent depression, anxiety, and ADHD. The program also helps children, youth, and families address and heal the trauma associated with child and youth maltreatment, including physical and sexual abuse.

 

• The Graham School, an intensive elementary, middle, and high school (K-12) serving approximately 300 day-students referred by local school districts across the New York Metropolitan area. Learn more here.

 

Graham Windham is at the forefront of its field and reaches more children and families than ever. Under the exceptional leadership of President and CEO, Kimberly Hardy Watson, and with a growing donor base following the success of a recent capital campaign, the organization is poised for growth. Headquartered in Brooklyn (near Borough Hall) and with multiple program locations in the NYC area, the organization is supported by a strong Board of Directors, major foundations, and government grants.

Learn more about Graham Windham’s approach, recent news, and President and CEO Kimberly Watson.

 

The Role:

Graham Windham seeks a strategic, motivated, and entrepreneurial individual to join the leadership team as Chief Development Officer (CDO). This position sits on the Executive Council and is responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the organization’s fundraising strategy, as well as heading a development team of 5, and overseeing donor relationships, fundraising systems, policies, and procedures.

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief Development Officer will be responsible for building a comprehensive development strategy to diversify and build Graham Windham’s nearly $6 million base of philanthropic support. The CDO will work in close collaboration with the Board of Directors Development Committee and the organization’s dynamic President and CEO. The CDO will be a strategic leader in the planning and implementation of Graham Windham’s key fundraising initiatives while working collaboratively and cross-functionally to ensure that fundraising goals are met. They will be capable of working at both the strategic and tactical level, with a thoughtful systems orientation.

The CDO will be a motivating leader of people capable of developing the team and is someone committed to leading with Graham Windham’s organizational pillars (Respect, Grow, Thrive and Lead) to secure the necessary investment of resources to achieve the organization’s strategic vision. 

 

Scope and Responsibilities:

The CDO will design, deliver, and evaluate an overarching fundraising strategy to diversify and enhance its support from foundations, corporations, major donors and other individuals, digital supporters, and legacy giving. Together with the President and CEO and the Board of Directors, the CDO will grow partnerships, build and lead the Development team, and develop strong working relationships with colleagues across all departments to ensure thoughtful and effective cross-departmental collaboration and an equitable, inclusive work environment.

 

Specific Responsibilities:

Collaborate with the President and CEO and Board to set annual fundraising goals; develop a strategic, multi-faceted development strategy that supports and builds Graham Windham’s short and long-term growth plans. Provide strategic direction for, and leadership of, Development efforts, (including events, individual giving, major gifts, digital fundraising, planned giving, institutional giving) working across the team to build skills, establish shared priorities, and a clear vision for execution. Develop and lead innovative strategies to grow the organization’s donor base, such as planning events, cultivating major donors, strengthening digital fundraising, and developing other innovative methods to promote awareness of Graham Windham. Collaborate with branch and department heads (i.e., Chief Performance Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Program Vice Presidents) as a member of the senior leadership team. Manage the devoted development team of 5 (plus 2 consultants) in New York. Build the department, identifying needs and providing mentorship, guidance, and motivation to achieve success; provide opportunities for team building and individual growth; evaluate performance. Continue to seek new major donors to support programs. Serve as a passionate and compelling ambassador on behalf of Graham Windham’s mission in philanthropic communities. Provide thoughtful and consistent reporting on fundraising to the President and CEO and Board Development Committee; create funding benchmarks, evaluate progress, and report on activities. Build a calendar of volunteer cultivation events to advance donor relationships and recruit host committees. Oversee planning of donor cultivation and fundraising events. Oversee team in preparation of event reports, timelines, financial reports, and budgets, ensuring success of all fundraising events. Improve infrastructure of fundraising systems, policies, and outreach. Actively cultivate and solicit donors of all levels. Work with leadership to identify, cultivate, secure, and onboard new Board Members. Understand philanthropic trends to help position Graham Windham ahead of major funding changes or trends; keep abreast of important developments within the local, regional, and national funding landscape.  

 

Key Selection Criteria:

The successful candidate will be an accomplished fundraising professional with exceptional management and people leadership skills; a collaborative leader who will inspire support for Graham Windham’s development efforts.

 

Specifically, the successful candidate will possess:

A minimum 7 years of experience (with at least 3 years in a leadership position) running a development team, soliciting gifts, and managing high-performing teams with a track record of hitting revenue goals; experience leading development efforts for organizations of comparable size and complexity. Demonstrated experience in both the design and execution of revenue generation strategies and activities, and a track record of developing new and diversified revenue. Experience cultivating and soliciting major donations from individuals and their related entities. Experience working closely with an organization’s leadership and Board of Directors. Experience building and thoughtfully supervising a development department. Fundraising campaign experience. Experience with a range of revenue types, including major and planned gifts, corporate giving, events, and grants. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, donor databases, web-based applications, and use of the internet required. Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends. Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred.  

 

Personal / Professional Attributes:

Passion for the work of Graham Windham combined with the communication skills and interpersonal style that inspires enthusiasm and understanding for the need to support Graham Windham’s mission. Collaborative and results-oriented approach to setting and meeting funding goals, advancing a brand, and enhancing donor involvement, cultivation, and stewardship. Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills: the ability to work effectively with Graham Windham leadership, volunteers, and staff; superior judgment and diplomatic skills. Strong writing skills. Demonstrated ability to build a culture of philanthropy within an organization. Enthusiasm, commitment to excellence, self-motivation. Ease in working with leaders of business and philanthropy. Attention to detail as well as a high level of organization; an ability to handle multiple tasks with accuracy. High emotional intelligence, a sense of accountability, and a sense of humor. Strong management, budgeting, and reporting experience. Creative, strategic, and analytic thinking skills. Experience working with donor databases, including Salesforce. A deep commitment to the Graham Windham’s mission and an ability to quickly build knowledge of its work.

 

Compensation:

Graham Windham offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental & vision coverage, paid time off, holiday pay, retirement savings plans (defined contribution pension and 403 (b) thrift), and much more. We expect compensation for this role to be in the range of $190,000-$240,000.

 

 

Contact Information

Sara Garlick Lundberg

Managing Partner, Nonprofit Practice – North America

New York, NY

T: +1 646-200-6423

E: slundberg@dhrglobal.com

 

Morgan Phillips

Executive Assistant

Chicago, IL

T: +1 570-872-3221

E: mphillips@dhrglobal.com

 

Brian Shallcross

Sr. Associate, Nonprofit Practice

M:  +1 630-730-4980

E:  bshallcross@dhrglobal.com