Chief Development Officer

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 7-10 years of demonstrated success leading fundraising efforts in nonprofits with budgets of $30 million or more
• Demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and lead high-performing development teams
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to articulate mission and impact in a compelling way to diverse audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, and community stakeholders
• Experience engaging and leveraging boards and volunteer leadership with a demonstrated ability to inspire, support, and partner with board members and volunteers to enhance fundraising outcomes
• Proven ability to develop and execute multi-year development strategies aligned with organizational priorities
• Demonstrated ability to convert prospects to donors and successfully secure transformational gifts
• Strong experience with Raiser's Edge database management and optimization preferred, with the ability to bring order to complex donor databases and utilize technology for maximum impact
• Established history of successful event leadership
• Experience working with hub/multi-location organizational structures and complex, diverse program portfolios
• Track record of building fundraising infrastructure, including moves management systems, donor databases, and development processes

• Strong emotional intelligence and adaptability - ability to connect with people from all walks of life and adapt to different personalities and situations
• Personable and approachable - genuine and authentic personality with high energy and an engaging presence
• Self-starter and collaborative team player - can work independently while building strong partnerships
• Mission commitment - passionate about the YMCA's mission and dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that serves our diverse communities
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy - experience cultivating donors across diverse communities and integrating inclusive practices into fundraising
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills - skilled in articulating mission and impact in a compelling way to diverse audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, and community stakeholders

• Assess the current development department structure and make strategic staffing decisions to create a lean, high-functioning operation, including adding or eliminating positions as necessary
• Lead and develop the optimized team, providing coaching, training, and professional development to maximize individual and team performance
• Build team capacity through mentoring and skills development while maintaining efficient operations
• Establish department objectives, benchmarks, and KPIs at both organizational and individual levels, creating metrics management systems to track progress and ensure accountability across all fundraising activities
• Foster collaboration across all levels of the organization, from field staff to senior leadership

• Be a skilled relationship-builder and someone who knows how to move prospects through the pipeline and successfully close major gifts
• Work as a collaborative partner with the new CEO in fundraising activities, including developing strategies and tactics for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts
• Personally manage a substantial portfolio of major gift and planned gift prospects and cultivate transformational donor relationships
• Create and oversee all fundraising-related special events to ensure that financial goals and objectives are met
• Bring knowledge to leverage digital platforms and emerging technologies to expand donor reach and engagement
• Develop donor stewardship programs that go beyond events to create lasting engagement

• Develop grant strategies that support both programmatic needs and general operations funding
• Oversee strategic grant portfolio management with focus on grants that provide positive ROI and align with organizational priorities
• Build and maintain corporate partnership relationships, identifying alignment opportunities between corporate goals and YMCA mission

• Transform board culture to create a highly engaged, productive fundraising board
• Serve as liaison to five distinct board structures: Development and External Relations Committee (fundraising committee), Nominations and Governance Committee, Board of Managers, Board of Trustees, and Associate Board
• Provide ongoing board support to ensure members have the tools and knowledge needed for effective fundraising participation
• Mine board relationships for prospect identification and warm introductions, leveraging board networks for organizational growth

• Develop a compelling case for support that articulates the YMCA's unique value proposition across our diverse program portfolio
• Position the YMCA effectively in Chicago's market, emphasizing our community service focus in underserved areas while addressing our unique position as a mission-driven organization
• Create strategic messaging that resonates with Chicago's philanthropic community and differentiates us from other youth-serving organizations

• Develop systematic processes for identifying and cultivating community prospects, ensuring consistent

• Build and maintain strong relationships across all levels of the organization and throughout Chicago's fundraising community
• Actively engage in field operations and community activities, understanding local needs and building grassroots support
• Navigate Chicago's unique market dynamics with expertise in both urban and suburban philanthropic communities
• Support and coach Executive Directors by taking primary responsibility for fundraising strategy and execution
• Maintain active field presence through your visibility in the communities we serve, understanding local needs and building grassroots relationships

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred

YMCA