Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as a key senior leadership team member and is responsible for fostering a culture of philanthropy within the organization. The CDO designs, leads, and executes all fundraising and development strategies and activities, with a principal emphasis on major gifts, for Human Options. The CDO manages the agency’s communication efforts, including community engagement, media, social media, print collaterals, and e-newsletters. This position oversees the enhancing and building of the Agency’s volunteer program. The CDO maintains accountability and compliance standards for all donors and funding sources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Fund Development Strategic Planning

• Create and implement strategies to seek non-donor prospects from other donors, volunteers, and board members.

• Develop and execute strategic major gifts plan, focusing on creative, thoughtful, and meaningful donor engagement.

• The strategic development and maintenance of the community’s ongoing support to Human Options’ long-term and short-term revenue goals.

• Work collaboratively with the CEO, the Board, and volunteers in identifying and advancing major gift donors, soliciting, and closing a range of five plus-figure gifts while growing and sustaining advanced giving circles.

• Assist Board members in their fund development responsibilities and major fundraising activities, providing support, skill building, and personal assistance.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the integrated fund development system to increase the community’s financial support of the organization.

• Accurately track and record fundraising activities and meaningfully recognizing gifts and contributing to the overall expansion of the major gifts and development program, while meeting or exceeding established budgets and revenue goals.

Fundraising Campaigns

• Plan, organize, manage, and execute all fundraising programs to address the funding priorities/needs set forth by Human Option’s Executive Leadership team.

• Research funding sources and trends, with foresight, to help position Human Options ahead of major funding changes and/or trends.

Donor, Corporate, and Foundation Stewardship

• Manage and cultivate relationships with existing major gift prospects, as well as identifying new prospects.

• Maintain the capital and program goals through personal solicitation, corporate solicitation, special events, support group activities, deferred giving, direct mail, and grant requests.

• Lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of an existing portfolio of principal gifts and prospects.

• Plan and execute cultivation and solicitation calls on individual and corporate prospects.

• Expand, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects by developing new relationships and cultivating existing relationships.

• Monitor all donor information; provide and present statistical analysis to the Board and executive leadership.

Marketing and Communications

• In partnership with the CEO, the CDO will execute the agency’s communication strategies that encompasses the messaging framework, earned and donated media, web/e-newsletter content, and print collaterals.

• Develop, oversee, and manage the effective integration of all agency marketing, communication materials, and branding strategies with appropriate committees into Fund Development activities.

• Oversee the production of all communication pieces designed for media release in the community, including advertising, radio, television, press releases, mailings, and brochures.

Special Events

• Oversee the implementation of Human Options’ annual Serious Fun Gala and annual Fall Luncheon.

• Work closely with the Development Manager to develop the budget in accordance with the annual revenue target and secure major corporate sponsorship partners.

• Work closely with the Development Manager to develop and execute additional special events to meet fundraising goals.

• Overseeing the grant application pipeline for securing grants.

Grant Management

• Oversee the grant application pipeline for corporations, foundations, and government agencies that provide funding in line with our Agency’s mission and strategic plan.

• Oversee and provide strategic guidance and planning for grant submission and requests, including letters, proposals, budgets, and presentations.

• Establish and maintain personal contact and relationships with government, foundation and corporate contacts and program officers.

• Oversee the grant process to assure grant program outcomes are being monitored and met according to grant standards.

• Review and monitor grant reports, budgets, and ensure timely and accurate preparation and submission of grant reports and invoices.

Community Engagement

• Increase the organization’s presence in the community by participating in community related events and activities.

• Drive the award and recognition opportunities for the agency to appropriately nominate volunteers, donors, and/corporate sponsors.

• Establish long-term, highly visible partnerships with companies and other organizations that add value to Human Options.

• Lead the development of volunteers and staff to contact individuals and corporate executives to obtain support for Human Options.

• Develop and maintain favorable working relationships with the media, civic groups, volunteers, etc.

• Oversee the Agency’s volunteer engagement program.

• Oversee the Agency’s Planned Giving and Endowment program.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, related field, or commensurate work experience.

• At least eight years’ experience in fund development.

• Non-profit background experience preferred.

• Significant project management, fundraising, marketing/branding, and resource management experience.

• Demonstrate ability to set clear priorities, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Demonstrate strong strategic and tactical fundraising skills: success in constructing, articulating, and implementing annual strategic development plans and long-term fundraising campaigns through multiple revenue streams, including but not limited to, major gifts, principal gifts, and grants.

• Demonstrate success in working with nonprofit boards and/or community volunteers.

• Excellent coalition building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; a persuasive negotiator able to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.

• Demonstrate ability to develop operational and strategic plans and successful implementation through effective change management techniques.

• Outstanding research, writing, and oral communication skills, along with being entrepreneurial and self-motivated.

• The experience and proclivity to be an outgoing spokesperson, relationship builder, and fundraiser.

• A strong leader with high emotional intelligence to maximize the performance of the Fund Development staff member by creating and executing a development plan.

• Excellent in organizational management with the ability to coach and motivate professional staff and team of volunteers.

• A professional and resourceful style; the ability to work independently and as a team player, take initiative, and manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.

• Computer skills including MS Office Suite, grant management software, and donor database experience.

Mission:

• We ignite social change by educating Orange County to recognize relationship violence as an issue that threatens everyone, advocating for those affected abuse, extending a safe placed or victims and empowering survivors on their journey of healing.

Vision:

• We are committed to a future in which every person and family in Orange County experiences safe, healthy relationships and lives free from fear.

ADA Job Characteristics:

The work environment is primarily in an office setting and includes travel to see clients or to different sites. Lift and carry up to 25 pounds up to waist length, extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist, stoop, squat, crawl, bend the back to open lower-level filing drawers, or to retrieve stored items, climb on stools, steps and/or ladders. Sit and/or stand frequently. Use fine manipulation (hands and wrist) to operate a keyboard, take notes, complete and file reports, file and copy documents. Corrected vision to normal range. Speak in normal vocal tone and range and communicate clearly and concisely to and with others. Apply normal reasoning and detail as required in the accomplishment of job duties.