Chief Development Officer

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

Develop a proactive structure for identifying fundable initiatives that reflect CFC’s evolving program priorities and emerging opportunities across member districts.
Strengthen alignment between the strategic plan, member needs, and philanthropy by defining clear programmatic opportunities for funder engagement.
Partner with the CEO to deepen Board engagement in fundraising strategy and ensure alignment around organizational priorities.
Collaborate with program, strategy, communications, and network leaders to prepare high-quality materials that communicate systems-work priorities and aligned funding opportunities.
Provide strategic counsel on how the Board can best support fundraising, visibility, and partnership goals while respecting members’ primary leadership responsibilities.
Design and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy that reflects CFC’s mission and long-term sustainability goals.
Lead revenue diversification through major gifts, institutional partnerships, corporate engagement, and sponsorship opportunities.
Partner with the CEO on high-level donor cultivation and solicitation.
Establish annual fundraising goals, performance metrics, and reporting systems that strengthen forecasting and decision-making.
Ensure fundraising narratives accurately communicate CFC’s impact, systems-change opportunities, and member-district priorities.
Donor Relations & Stewardship
Build and sustain strong relationships with major donors and philanthropic partners through consistent, strategic engagement.
Lead development of tailored stewardship plans that demonstrate impact and support long-term funder commitment.
Develop clear, compelling proposals, concept papers, and impact reports that communicate CFC’s work and outcomes.
Coordinate donor briefings, updates, and events that highlight progress and partnership opportunities.
Represent CFC at funder convenings and philanthropic gatherings as a credible ambassador for the organization.
Grants & Institutional Partnerships
Oversee the full grants lifecycle—from prospecting to submission, implementation monitoring, and reporting.
Partner with program leads, contractors, and the Leadership Team to ensure deliverables and funder expectations are met.
Align proposals with organizational capacity, staffing, and strategic focus areas.
Collaborate with the Chief Network Officer to leverage member relationships for philanthropic partnerships and joint initiatives.
Ensure compliance with all grant and donor requirements.
Conduct sophisticated funder research to identify new multi-year opportunities, using both warm-network pathways and strategic outreach.
Demonstrate the ability to secure multi-year investments ranging from mid-level grants to major, transformational commitments.
Ensure all proposals support long-term sustainability.
Development Infrastructure & Operations
Lead modernization and consistent use of development systems, processes, and data management (CRM, donor tracking, reporting).
Oversee and mentor the Development & Impact Manager, ensuring strong coordination between fundraising operations, reporting, and communications.
Manage the development budget and align resources with fundraising goals.
Collaborate with Operations and Finance teams to integrate fundraising forecasts, grant projections, and revenue scenarios into multi-year planning.
Create and monitor performance metrics that support data-driven decision-making.
Strategic Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Lead strategy for fundraising, sustainability, and donor engagement, ensuring integration across organizational priorities.
Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer to align fundraising strategy with broader initiatives and strategic planning.
Partner with the Chief Communications Officer on sponsorship strategy and storytelling alignment.
Partner with the Chief Network Officer to identify and fund leadership development and systems-support programming.
Partner with the Chief Financial Officer on grant strategy, budgeting, and financial alignment.
Partner with the Chief Policy Officer to identify fundable advocacy and systems-change initiatives.
Provide regular updates to the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board on fundraising performance and emerging opportunities.
Ensure fundraising, member engagement, and strategic storytelling are integrated across the organization.
Leadership and Team Management

Serve as both a hands-on development leader and strategic mentor to staff and cross-functional partners.
Influence internal teams and external partners to meet organizational goals.
Contribute to organizational decision-making and serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Leadership Team.
Collaborate across departments to ensure alignment of strategic priorities.
Model inclusive leadership and high professional standards.
Cultivate a collaborative, mission-driven culture centered around shared goals and accountability.
Requirements
Your Expertise and Impact

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field required.
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred.
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred.
Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, or philanthropy, with strong experience within the K-12 ecosystem, preferred.
At least 5 years of senior-level leadership experience, overseeing development in a nonprofit, education, or philanthropic organization.
Proven track record of leading multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, securing six- and seven-figure gifts and grants, and managing budgets, forecasting, and financial planning.
Demonstrated success working with boards and senior leadership.
Demonstrated success in identifying emerging philanthropic trends and aligning organizational strategies to funder priorities.
Proven ability to expand funding pipelines through both relationship-driven outreach and strategic prospecting.
Technical Skills:

Proficient with fundraising platforms, donor databases, and the grant application process.
Strong experience in donor cultivation, strategic partnerships, fundraising operations and grant management.
Strong experience with financial systems, ERP platforms, and donor management tools such as Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
Knowledge of relevant compliance and regulatory requirements in the nonprofit sector.
Leadership and Communication:

Exceptional ability to lead teams, resolve conflicts, and build collaborative working environments.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial and fundraising concepts to a non-financial audience.
Ability to foster strong relationships with external stakeholders, including donors, board members, and corporate partners.
Strategic Thinking and Agility:

Ability to navigate a dynamic environment and help shape organizational pathways as CFC continues refining its systems-work priorities and funder alignment.
Strong strategic planning skills, with a demonstrated ability to align development strategies with the organization’s overall mission and goals.
Resilience and agility in navigating changing environments, particularly in response to organizational shifts or economic challenges.
Proven experience leading organizational change, particularly in aligning resources during periods of growth or restructuring.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify new opportunities to expand CFC’s impact and sustainability