Chief Development Officer

Position Title: Chief Development Officer
Organization: Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
Location: Vancouver, WA
Application Deadline: February 7th at 9:00 am PST

About Us: The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington engages communities and mobilizes resources to create a southwest Washington where everyone can chart their own path toward prosperity and participate fully in shaping our region’s future.

Position Summary: Reporting to the President and serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will oversee all aspects of development, donor services, and communications. The CDO will craft and execute innovative strategies to support existing programs and initiatives, explore new revenue opportunities to meet the short- and long-term operating needs of the Community Foundation, and ensure all activities align with the organization's mission and strategic goals. In addition, the CDO plays an active role in building positive relationships with board members, fundholders, and prospective donors, securing major and legacy gifts, and supervising education and stewardship events, including the Community Foundation’s Annual Luncheon.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership:

• Provide leadership and oversight for all aspects of the development program, including new fund acquisition, donor stewardship, and legacy giving.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the Community Foundation's mission and strategic priorities.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the development team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Provide staff support and leadership for Community Foundation committees including the Professional Advisory Council and the Philanthropist of the Year Committee.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to evolve organizational structures, roles, and responsibilities to meet strategic goals.
• Support the creation and implementation of the organization’s marketing and communication plan and ensure alignment with strategic goals and priorities.
• Stay abreast of key issues, opportunities, and events and provide leadership in identifying opportunities to increase the Community Foundation’s visibility in the community with the goal of growing overall charitable assets.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the Community Foundation.

Development and Fundraising:

• Serve as point of contact for new fund and legacy gift inquiries, advise on gift options and draft and execute gift and fund agreements.
• Cultivate and steward a portfolio of current and prospective donors, with a strong emphasis on planned giving and legacy gifts.
• Build strategic partnerships with professional advisors (attorneys, wealth advisors, accountants, bank and trust officers, etc.) to serve as a resource for clients exploring current and deferred charitable giving.
• Work with donors and their advisors to structure gifts that meet philanthropic and financial goals.
• Identify opportunities with existing fundholders and develop engagement plans for high-potential donors.
• Represent the Community Foundation in the community to enhance visibility and grow charitable assets.
• Inspire and influence giving in alignment with strategic grantmaking priorities.

Donor Stewardship:

• Ensure an exceptional donor experience by implementing effective systems that support engagement, stewardship, and grantmaking.
• Lead complex donor engagements, partnering with clients and their financial advisors.
• Maintain consistent donor onboarding protocols and practices.
• Collaborate with program and development teams to create inspiring donor stewardship and education events.

Financial and Administrative:

• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to develop a departmental budget that ensures efficient operations.
• In partnership with CFO, assess the acceptability of complex gifts, including bequests, closely held stock, real estate, life insurance, and retirement plan accounts.
• Stay abreast of current tax laws and advanced charitable giving techniques, including the acceptance of complex assets and fund administration.
• Maintain accurate records of donor communications and information, utilizing CRM software to support fundraising and relationship goals.

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Demonstrated expertise in gift planning with a proven ability to engage high-net-worth donors, along with their professional advisors, and align their financial goals with meaningful and impactful philanthropic strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of individual and family wealth management, including estate planning, philanthropic strategies, tax-efficient giving, financial planning, and investment principles.
• Ability to set priorities and achieve goals individually and for teams.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring and developing high-performing, diverse teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to work independently.
• Discretion in handling confidential information.
• Commitment to improving the quality of life in Southwest Washington.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher. Advanced training or professional certification is a plus.
• Ten or more years of experience in nonprofit development, trust or financial service or a related field, with a strong understanding of estate and tax planning issues related to charitable giving.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting and closing major outright and deferred gifts.
• Demonstrated community service involvement at the committee or board level.
• Proficiency in customer relationship management (CRM) and project management platforms.

Candidate Location Preference: Preference will be given to candidates based in or with strong ties to Southwest Washington.

Compensation: The starting salary range for the Chief Development Officer position is $140,000 - $155,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

In addition to the competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance; 7% employer contribution to 403(b) Retirement Plan (no match required); short- and long-term disability; group life insurance; $1,000 per year match of personal charitable gifts to nonprofits serving Southwest Washington; Healthcare Flexible Spending Account; Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account; 36-hour Work Week (offices closes at 12pm on Fridays); 23 days of Paid Time Off (no accrual required); 16 paid holidays.

The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.