Chief Development Officer

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Chief Development Officer.

Points of Light - Chief Development Officer

Location: Remote (Eastern or Central Time Zone preferred) | Washington, DC area preferred

Salary Range: $225,000-$250,000

About Points of Light

For more than three decades, Points of Light has inspired, equipped, and mobilized people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement. Founded to carry forward President George H.W. Bush's vision of a "thousand points of light," the organization has grown into the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.

Today, Points of Light engages nearly 2.5 million volunteers annually across 32 countries, collaborates with more than 100 corporate partners, and supports a global network of affiliates and community organizations that strengthen civic participation worldwide.

At a time when communities face increasing polarization, isolation, and declining trust in institutions, Points of Light believes volunteering remains one of the most powerful ways to connect people, strengthen communities, and create lasting social impact. Through innovative programs, research, corporate engagement initiatives, and global partnerships, the organization is working toward an ambitious goal: doubling volunteering by 2035 .

This is an exciting moment to join a respected, mission-driven organization with a strong national reputation, a growing global presence, and significant opportunities to expand philanthropic investment and impact.

The Opportunity

Points of Light seeks an accomplished, visionary, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as its next Chief Development Officer (CDO).

Reporting directly to the President & CEO and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CDO will lead the organization's fundraising strategy and help shape the next phase of growth for one of the most recognized brands in civic engagement and volunteerism.

The successful candidate will inherit an organization with strong momentum, a compelling mission, influential corporate and nonprofit partnerships, and a philanthropic portfolio of approximately $10 million. At the same time, the role represents a significant opportunity to build.

The next CDO will be expected to elevate and modernize fundraising strategy, deepen relationships with existing partners, expand national philanthropic visibility, identify new sources of support, and secure transformational investments that advance organizational priorities.

The role will require an executive who can think strategically while remaining highly engaged externally. This leader must be equally comfortable developing long-range revenue strategies, cultivating major donors, presenting to foundations, partnering with corporate executives, engaging board members, and helping articulate a compelling vision for investment.

The CDO will play a central role in translating Points of Light's mission, programs, and long-term aspirations into inspiring philanthropic opportunities that attract support from corporations, foundations, family philanthropies, and major individual donors.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Create multi-year revenue growth plans that diversify and expand philanthropic support.
• Identify emerging opportunities across corporate philanthropy, foundation giving, major gifts, family philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and other revenue streams.
• Position Points of Light as a leading philanthropic investment opportunity within the civic engagement and social impact sectors.
• Monitor trends in philanthropy and adapt fundraising strategies to evolving donor interests and market conditions.

Major Gifts and Institutional Giving

• Personally manage and cultivate a portfolio of high-capacity donors, foundation leaders, and corporate partners.
• Develop and execute strategies to secure significant multi-year commitments and transformational gifts.
• Build meaningful relationships that deepen engagement and long-term investment in the mission.
• Partner with funders to align philanthropic priorities with organizational initiatives and impact goals.
• Lead proposal development, solicitation strategies, and stewardship efforts for major funders.

CEO and Board Partnership

• Serve as the CEO's primary strategic partner in fundraising activities.
• Collaborate closely with the President & CEO on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key donors and partners.
• Support and engage Board members as ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraisers.
• Facilitate fundraising engagement and accountability across the Board.
• Staff and provide leadership support to Board committees focused on resource development and growth.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team.
• Help shape organizational priorities and enterprise-wide strategy.
• Collaborate across programs, marketing, communications, business development, operations, and affiliate network teams.
• Ensure fundraising strategy is aligned with organizational goals, community impact priorities, and strategic initiatives.
• Represent Points of Light externally with credibility, passion, and professionalism.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing fundraising team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and performance expectations.
• Strengthen fundraising operations, infrastructure, systems, and processes.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to drive decision-making and resource allocation.

Signature Events and National Visibility

• Provide strategic fundraising leadership for major organizational events and convenings, including:
• Points of Light Conference
• Global Affiliate Network Gathering
• George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards
• Leverage these platforms to increase visibility, strengthen partnerships, and generate philanthropic support.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a relationship-centered fundraiser, strategic thinker, team builder, and inspiring leader with a demonstrated ability to grow revenue, secure transformational gifts, and lead organizations through periods of growth and change.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of fundraising sophistication, executive leadership experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to mission-driven work.

Qualifications

Candidates should bring many of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 12 years of progressively responsible fundraising, advancement, development, or related leadership experience.
• Minimum of five years leading development teams and organizational fundraising strategy.
• Demonstrated success securing seven- and eight-figure philanthropic investments.
• Experience managing and growing complex fundraising portfolios across multiple revenue streams.
• Proven success working in partnership with CEOs, presidents, executive directors, or organizational leaders.
• Experience working with engaged boards and supporting board-led fundraising efforts.
• Strong financial, operational, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Experience implementing fundraising systems, metrics, and performance management practices.
• Proficiency with Salesforce and other fundraising technologies.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% domestically and internationally.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate:

Strategic and Visionary Leadership

Ability to think broadly, anticipate opportunities, and translate ambitious organizational goals into executable fundraising strategies.

Relationship Building and Influence

Exceptional ability to cultivate trust, build authentic partnerships, and inspire confidence among donors, volunteers, executives, board members, and community leaders.

Executive Presence

Confidence, credibility, and communication skills necessary to engage senior leaders, philanthropists, corporate executives, foundation officers, and other influential stakeholders.

A proven track record of securing significant philanthropic investments and building fundraising programs capable of sustaining long‑term growth.

Team Development

Commitment to mentoring, coaching, and developing talent while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.

Innovation and Adaptability

Curiosity, resilience, creativity, and comfort navigating ambiguity in a rapidly evolving external environment.

Commitment to Mission

Passion for volunteerism, civic engagement, community impact, and the power of people coming together to create positive change.

Why Join Points of Light?

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of one of the most respected organizations in the civic engagement and volunteerism sector.

The next Chief Development Officer will join an organization with a powerful mission, a globally recognized brand, strong leadership, and an ambitious vision for expanding impact. The role offers the opportunity to build, innovate, and help mobilize the resources necessary to strengthen communities and inspire millions of people to take action for the greater good.

Points of Light offers a competitive compensation package, including:

• Salary range of $225,000-$250,000
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Generous paid time off
• Ten paid holidays
• Organization-wide closure between December 25 and January 1