Chief Development Officer

Job Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Chief Development Officer

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a bold, mission-driven executive who transforms generosity into lasting impact. As the architect of Community Shelter Board’s philanthropic strategy, the CDO leads with vision, influence, and heart, mobilizing the resources, relationships, and culture that power our mission. This high-profile leader cultivates powerful partnerships, inspires a thriving culture of giving, and steers a dynamic development team to exceed ambitious goals. With a sharp focus on campaign leadership, donor engagement, and strategic visibility, the CDO ensures CSB remains a trusted force among funders, civic leaders, and changemakers—mobilizing support for real, systemic change.

Community Shelter Board leads a coordinated, community response to homelessness and housing instability. As a crisis response system, our work is dynamic and urgent. This is a highly visible leadership position that requires a consistent in-office presence to support staff and executive functions, along with active participation in donor visits, strategic partnerships, and public-facing events. While much of the work occurs during standard business hours, this role requires flexibility and a readiness to work outside those hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends, to represent CSB and advance high-impact initiatives in collaboration with elected officials, civic leaders, and community stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.

Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in fundraising leadership, with a strong track record of securing major gifts and managing development teams.

Experience in campaign strategy, event fundraising, and donor communications.

Polished and confident communicator, able to represent CSB to high-level executives, public officials, and civic leaders.

Demonstrated experience in board engagement and coaching trustees in philanthropy.

Familiarity with donor CRM systems and analytics (e.g., Salesforce, Donor Perfect, Raiser’s Edge).

Deep alignment with CSB’s mission and commitment to advancing community solutions to homelessness.

Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for reporting, presentation, and donor communication purposes.

WHY JOIN US?

Community Shelter Board is at a pivotal moment in its evolution; moving from managing crisis toward building a housing readiness system rooted in justice, dignity, and innovation. As the Chief Development Officer, you won’t just be raising funds. You’ll be shaping the future of how our community responds to homelessness and housing instability.

You’ll join a high-performing, mission-driven team that values bold thinking, shared leadership, and results that matter. In this role, you will have the opportunity to build powerful partnerships, steward transformational investments, and craft a philanthropic strategy that fuels long-term impact.

We offer a dynamic, fast-paced environment where your work will be visible, meaningful, and deeply connected to systemic change. You’ll be supported with competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a culture that prizes courage, collaboration, and integrity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

Lead the design and execution of a long-range, integrated development strategy aligned with CSB’s mission and priorities.

Drive the achievement of annual fundraising goals across major gifts, campaigns, events, grants, and community partnerships.

Serve as the relationship manager for CSB’s top donors and prospects in partnership with the President + CEO.

Proactively pursue regional and national foundation funding, securing new foundation prospects annually.

Serve as a visible representative of CSB in high-stakes donor conversations, philanthropic networks, and public events, including as a spokesperson when appropriate.

Conduct regular in-person donor visits and VIP tours to deepen relationships and advance key philanthropic partnerships.

Campaign Management

Oversee strategy and execution of individual giving campaigns.

Build compelling donor journeys and segmentation strategies that engage, retain, and upgrade supporters.

Event Planning and Engagement

Lead the planning and revenue generation for CSB’s signature fundraising event, ensuring delivery of a memorable, mission-centered experience and achievement of financial goals.

Oversee development and execution of high-touch gatherings and other cultivation events.

Partner with the Chief Communications + Government Affairs Officer to ensure all donor events reflect CSB’s brand and voice.

Serve as a public spokesperson and technical advisor as needed, representing CSB with clarity and confidence at events and engagements.

Team Leadership and Development Operations

Contribute actively to a respectful, inclusive, and mission-aligned organizational culture.

Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continual learning within the development team.

Directly supervise the Development Director and Grants Manager.

Support the Development Director and Grants Manager in leading their respective teams to achieve fundraising and operational goals.

Champion innovation in donor communications, systems optimization, and stewardship strategy.

Oversee high-quality donor data integrity, analysis, and reporting.

Board of Trustee Engagement

Serve as the executive liaison to the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee.

Plan and manage the Trustee engagement process, including board giving, coaching for donor outreach, and development updates.

Collaborate with the President + CEO to inspire and mobilize trustees as philanthropic ambassadors.

Donor Stewardship and Communications

Model a high-touch, high-gratitude approach to donor communications, ensuring outreach is timely, personalized, and aligned with CSB’s voice and mission.

Create strategic correspondence, proposals, reports, and collateral that articulate impact and inspire generosity.

KEY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Vision and Strategic Thinking: Develops and communicates a bold, forward-looking vision for development strategy that inspires across the organization. Aligns donor priorities with mission-driven objectives and proactively identifies long-term funding opportunities and trends.

Executive Presence: Represents CSB with confidence, clarity, and composure across high-stakes donor, partner, and board engagements. Inspires trust through authenticity, credibility, and strategic influence.

Executive Communication: Delivers clear, consistent, and compelling messages tailored for internal teams, funders, community leaders, and the Board. Reinforces organizational vision and priorities through every interaction.

Results Orientation: Demonstrates urgency and accountability in driving fundraising outcomes. Follows through with excellence and uses metrics to measure and communicate impact.

People Leadership and Accountability: Builds a high-performing team and fosters a culture of accountability and learning. Coaches others toward success and addresses performance with clarity and care.

Culture and Change Leadership: Champions CSB’s cultural values, models inclusivity, and leads change with resilience and transparency. Brings others along during times of transition and transformation.

Systems Thinking and Integration: Understands how development intersects with all organizational functions. Aligns systems, processes, and people to achieve shared goals and mission sustainability.

Team 1 Alignment: Operates first as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, advancing enterprise priorities and reinforcing shared decisions while supporting department success.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

Proven track record in securing major gifts, managing campaigns, and engaging boards in fundraising.

Strong understanding of development operations, donor stewardship, and CRM/data analytics.

Deep expertise in relationship management strategies with high-net-worth donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication, including high-stakes presentations.

Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and leading teams toward measurable success.

Confident public speaker and credible representative to external audiences, including elected officials and civic leaders.

Deep knowledge of fundraising compliance, nonprofit governance, and ethical solicitation practices.

Strategic problem solver with systems orientation and ability to manage complexity.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

High energy level and ability to perform in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Comfortable managing multiple complex priorities with frequent interruptions and shifting deadlines.

Ability to maintain focus, resilience, and professionalism under pressure.

Willingness to work outside standard hours—including evenings or weekends—for events and stakeholder meetings.

Strong emotional intelligence, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity when engaging diverse stakeholders.

Capacity to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.

Ability to travel locally for donor engagement and community-facing responsibilities.

Full-time