Chief Development Officer

Job Type
Full-time
Description
This position is located in Evanston, Illinois.
About YWCA Evanston/North Shore
YWCA Evanston/North Shore launched in the 1930s and is one of 200+ associations that form the largest women's racial justice organization in the country, YWCA USA. The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism and empower women. We do this work by helping dismantle institutional barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, and power that advance women and girls' health, safety, and economic security.
YWCA Evanston/North Shore has an effective development program with a diverse and well-balanced portfolio of revenue sources. We completed our $20 million dollar capital campaign in June 2022 in good time due to extensive individual donor relationships cultivated over the last 20 years. Our development department oversees several high-profile fundraising events annually, including the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Annual Race Against Hate, one of the largest community races in the country, raising awareness about racism and equity.
The development program is poised for growth, resting on a solid foundation and a recently expanded team. The next Chief Development Officer will bring strategic leadership to the team as we grow into new technology, analytics, and strategies to expand beyond what we do well.
Benefits at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore
YWCA offers competitive pay, highly competitive benefits, a hybrid work policy, a flexible work environment, and 100% paid leave for qualifying medical conditions. New employees have up to 44 days off a year between personal and sick time off, holidays, and floating holidays. We provide competitive health, dental, and vision insurance along with other ancillary benefits and the YWCA Retirement Fund, one of the oldest and largest defined pension benefits programs in the country.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief Development Officer provides leadership, oversight, and management to develop and execute an integrated fundraising strategy aligned with the strategic plan and designed to grow philanthropic support. The Chief Development Officer directs and manages the development team to secure major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation grants, public grants, and special events. The position works with the CEO to lead and direct philanthropic support for operating, capital, endowment, and other targeted campaigns. The Chief Development Officer drives board, and donor engagement committees and other board committees as assigned. This position is a key member of the executive leadership team.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Planning and Leadership (20%)

• Develops and oversees the implementation of a comprehensive, results-oriented annual development plan that specifies targets and strategies and leads staff to execute the plan successfully.
• Works with the CEO to strategically set annual revenue goals that grow and diversify revenue streams and align with the strategic plan.
• Establishes performance measures, monitors, and reports results.
• Assists CEO in evaluating the effectiveness of fundraising strategies.
• Develops strategies and oversees the department's fundraising to expand support from private and public sources, including major gifts, individuals, corporations, foundations, government, United Way grants, special events, and targeted campaigns.
• Stays informed of developing trends and best practices in philanthropy and fund development and keeps the CEO and Board informed to enhance decision-making.
• Plans and implements ongoing donor recognition opportunities and events.
• Works with the CEO to create a development budget.

Fundraising and Implementation (50%)

• Leads development of strategies and directs execution of identifying and securing new donors and increased giving at all levels.
• Identifies and manages a portfolio of major donors and prospects to cultivate, solicit and steward.
• Develops and sustains relationships with donors, board, volunteers, corporate/foundation leaders, and other community stakeholders to promote philanthropic efforts.
• Leads CEO and Board in building and strengthening donor and prospect relationships.
• Develops strategies and oversees the implementation of annual fund growth (<$1000), including annual appeals.
• Develops and executes the strategic plan for major individual giving for the organization ($1,000 - $100,000+)
• Works in collaboration with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications to articulate and communicate vision and programs to donors and other key partners.
• Leads strategies for increased giving and movement along the development pipeline from volunteer to major donor.
• Provides leadership on grant funding to ensure growth in private and corporate grant support.
• Provides direction and leadership to the Board of Directors' Donor Engagement Committee.

Management (15%)

• Provides leadership, overall coordination, and management to the development team.
• Ensures the integrity of the donor management database ensuring accurate tracking of donor and prospect contacts, appropriate coding of philanthropic support, and timely, accurate reporting.
• Ensures compliance with IRS rules governing charitable giving, disclosures, and reporting.
• Creates and monitors development budget to ensure revenue and expenses are meeting projections and forecast adjustments.

Supervision (10%)

• Develops, motivates, and maintains a highly functioning team that demonstrates positive morale and adheres to high standards of service delivery.
• Hires a diverse staff in accordance with agency policies and procedures and submits timely, accurate, and completed hiring paperwork.
• Ensures new hires are onboarded in accordance with agency policies and procedures including, but not limited to, developing, reviewing, and submitting new-hire work plans for those working 20 hours or more per week and training on agency operations, policies, procedures, and job responsibilities.
• Develops staff capacity and morale by providing regular supervision, setting and regularly reviewing professional goals and expectations, and recognizing and recording staff accomplishments and disciplinary issues.
• Ensures that all staff regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week receive a timely annual appraisal.
• Oversees ongoing professional development and required certification of all staff, ensuring a commitment to high-quality, innovative service delivery.
• Stays current with agency technology and its proper usage including, but not limited to, taking the initiative to seek out personal training opportunities, training direct reports on proper usage, and ensuring staff maximize their efficiency with the use of available technology.
• Acts as primary liaison between leadership and direct reports and ensures timely, thorough, and effective organizational communication so staff feels informed and aware of organizational policies, practices, and procedures, and growth.
• Effectively advocates for staff by regularly soliciting staff input and representing staff needs and interests to agency leadership.
• Ensures all staff understand and adhere to all policies in the Employee Handbook.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES (5%)

• Attends staff training and participates in agency committees.
• Pursues professional development.
• Understands and adheres to all YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as the YWCA Employee Handbook.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education : Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, communications, business, and/or non-profit administration.
Experience and/or Training:

• Twelve or more years of development experience with progressive levels of management and director-level responsibility, including broad knowledge of all functional areas of fundraising (major, planned, and annual giving; corporate and foundation giving; annual giving/membership; stewardship), preferably within a major cultural institution, nonprofit organization, educational institution, or other similar environment.
• At least four years of supervisory experience with a proven ability to supervise, manage, lead, coach, and develop a diverse group of professionals.
• Demonstrated track record of success in expanding philanthropic support from a variety of sources.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors at all levels through the implementation of new and creative development strategies resulting in increased donor engagement.
• Experienced in the use of verbal and written skills for the purpose of professional communications and presentations to small and large groups of donors.

Licenses/Certificates: Current driver's license and auto insurance.
Technology/Equipment:

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced proficiency with Donor Perfect Online or comparable donor database.
• Reliable access to a personal auto to conduct business.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education : MBA or master's degree in communication or non-profit administration
Experience and/or Training:

• 15 or more years of development experience with progressive levels of management and director-level responsibility, including broad knowledge of all functional areas of fundraising (major, planned, and annual giving; corporate and foundation giving; annual giving/membership; stewardship) preferably within a major cultural institution, nonprofit organization, educational institution, or other similar environment.
• At least 6 years of supervisory experience as a manager and director-level direct reports.
• Experience developing, implementing, and monitoring comprehensive organizational development strategies.
• Experience leveraging new technology to advance development capacity in donor prospecting and analytics.
• Experience fundraising to advance race and gender equity with donors at different levels of knowledge and receptivity.
• Experience building and managing department budgets.

Licenses/Certificates : CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Professional) or progress toward certification.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS
Intermittent (less than 15%), Occasional (15-45%), Frequent (50-75%), and Continuous (over 75%).

• Frequent nights and/or weekends are required for events or meetings.
• Frequent local and intermittent statewide travel is required.
• Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer
• Occasionally required to push, pull, lift, and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the facility.
• Must be able to operate controls for computers and other equipment.

The mental and physical requirements described here represent those that an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Employee may be required to share office space.
• Employee may be required to work from home.
• Employee will frequently have meetings or work in other buildings.

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.
*Note: YWCA is committed to pay range transparency. Candidates are offered compensation based on how their qualifications meet those of the position.
PM22
Salary Description
$135,150 - $182,850 / Yearly