Chief Development Officer, Galvanize USA/Action

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) oversees all aspects of Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action fundraising activities, providing strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation, integration, and administration thereof. As the organization’s senior revenue leader, the CDO owns a multi-year revenue strategy across both entities, tied to a 2027 goal of $44.1 million and a campaign arc through 2030. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the CDO oversees a growing development team of five staff across leadership and operations, institutional giving, and individual giving. The CDO leads efforts to advance philanthropy and donor understanding of and engagement with the programs and priorities of Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action, working closely with the Executive Director and other members of the Senior Leadership Team, Director of Individual Giving, Director of Institutional Giving, and Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action Advisory Board. This individual leads by example, modeling and guiding the appropriate engagement and advancement of relationships with existing and prospective sources of financial support (from initial identification and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship) in order to achieve revenue goals. They will promote an ethos by which donors feel like partners in Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action’s work.


The CDO will be a central figure in ensuring Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action’s ongoing impact and longevity. They will foster a positive, abundance mindset for fundraising, build a culture of philanthropy across the organization, and champion continuous improvement, assessing and appropriately evolving development programs, systems, and processes.


The CDO will be a key strategic partner to the Executive Director and optimize their participation in the highest-potential development initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong capability in each of the following areas: strategic thinking; people and systems management; interpersonal skills; and presenting, including serving as the Executive Director’s proxy when appropriate.

Responsibilities and Tasks
Strategic Revenue Leadership

• Set and own a multi-year revenue strategy across Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action, tied to the $44.1 million 2027 goal and the campaign arc through 2030. In partnership with the Executive Director, other members of the Senior Leadership Team, Director of Individual Giving, Director of Institutional Giving, and Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action Advisory Board, create, implement, and maintain a fundraising plan to achieve strategic objectives. Collaborate with these colleagues, among others, to identify and refine giving priorities.
• Participate as a full member of the Senior Leadership Team and engage in short, medium, and long-term strategic assessments and planning.
• Support the Executive Director in maintaining a diverse and dedicated Advisory Board that is calibrated to achieve the vision and aspirations of the organization.

Principal and Major Gift Fundraising

• Personally cultivate, solicit, and close six-figure and larger gifts from major donors. Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors at the highest levels of giving capacity, including both individual and institutional sources, moving them through the stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Prepare the Executive Director with strategy for top donor meetings and manage that partnership with discipline to steward the Executive Director’s portfolio and prepare for outreach to new funders.
• In collaboration with the Director of Individual Giving and Director of Institutional Giving, oversee the involvement of the Executive Director, members of the Senior Leadership Team, Advisory Board, and other senior stakeholders in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of the highest-impact gifts to the organization. Manage connections between prospective and current donors and these leaders, including prioritizing the latter’s role and involvement in development activities, developing and refining strategic communications, briefings, talking points, reports, and other materials in support of this involvement, and ensuring additional staffing as necessary. Exercise sound judgment and efficiently communicate prospect strategies when involving administrative or volunteer leaders.
• Oversee production of impactful presentations and briefings for funders and donor events.
• Oversee development-focused special events as appropriate, including staff and volunteer participation, ensuring they are highly valued by attendees and appropriately relate to engagement, stewardship, and/or major gift strategies.
• Oversee efforts to equip Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action champions to be strong ambassadors of the Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action message and brand.

Institutional Partnerships

• Partner with the Director of Institutional Giving to identify and secure new institutional funders.
• Support the Director of Institution Giving to secure and grow large foundation and institutional commitments, including multi-year and nontraditional structures such as program related investments, pooled funds, recoverable grants, and social impact investing.
• Maintain current knowledge of important developments across regional and national funding environments as they relate to Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action and funding opportunities.

Full Pyramid Program Management

• Run an integrated program across principal, major, mid-tier, and annual fund giving, with clear moves management and upgrade paths between levels.
• Build and grow the mid-tier and annual fund programs.
• Model effective prospect strategy, approaches, and techniques, as well as transparency and collaboration, serving as a resource to colleagues on related matters.

Multi-Entity Fluency and Compliance

• Lead a fundraising team to raise 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) dollars with strong compliance judgment and guide donors through transitions between affiliated entities with the discipline that work requires.

Donor Insight and Program Strategy

• Read donor sentiment and bring it to the Executive Director to inform programming decisions.
• Translate the organization’s strategic vision and complex research and programming into effective and politically relevant donor-facing messages.
• Collaborate with the Chief Communications Officer, Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, and Chief Digital Media Officer to produce compelling donor-facing collateral and products that broaden and deepen support among funders and individual donors, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with stated Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action priorities. Strategically leverage a variety of communication channels and platforms to support fundraising goals.

Team Leadership and Talent Development

• Oversee the hiring, training, management, mentoring, evaluation, and professional development of a dynamic, innovative, cohesive, and diverse team of development professionals. Build and coach an emerging team and grow directors into senior leaders.
• Hire for emotional intelligence, stewardship discipline, and the ability to follow established systems.
• Guide and motivate team members in the ongoing evolution of all aspects of a best-practices development program, ensuring clear expectations and accountability. Set appropriate goals on a team and individual basis to maximize performance and monitor progress regularly. Provide consistent feedback and maintain equitable, inclusive, and transparent accountability structures.

Change Management and Culture of Philanthropy

• Lead the organization through growth and build shared ownership of fundraising across staff, leadership, and the Advisory Board.
• Promote donor stewardship as an organization-wide priority, coordinating with colleagues outside of the Development Team as needed.
• Proactively support and implement cross-departmental collaboration.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure the Development Team is equipped to use CRM data, portfolio systems, and existing manuals to run a consistent, measurable operation.
• Ensure that efficient processes and data-informed decision-making guide the work of the development team. Oversee preparation and administration of all development budgets, projections, management controls, policies, and procedures, ensuring sound fiscal management and efficient allocation of resources. Benchmark with peer institutions to ensure Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action is on track and employing best practices.
• Regularly prepare detailed and transparent reports, analyses, and visualizations on development activities for the Executive Director and Senior Leadership Team and prepare such additional reporting as appropriate for the broader community of stakeholders and potential funders. In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, establish and monitor fundraising benchmarks and forecasts.

Other Responsibilities

• All employees of Hopewell Fund are required to complete timesheets and perform other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications, Education, and Experience

• Ten or more years in nonprofit fundraising with increasingly responsible experience in the creation and execution of development strategy, programs, and systems as well as an established track record of increasing philanthropic revenue.
• Experience leading a fundraising program of $25 million or more.
• Experience personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing five- and six-figure gifts from major donors and six- and seven-figure commitments from large institutional funders.
• Experience building and growing mid-tier and annual fund programs.
• Fluency in 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising and the compliance discipline it requires, with working knowledge of political fundraising rules.
• Experience in at least one of the following: (a) alternative funding sources to support the work of a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization, such as program related investments, recoverable grants, and social impact investing; or (b) two or more years working in political fundraising.
• Five or more years of experience managing a team of development professionals, including developing emerging talent and growing directors into senior leaders. Ability to recruit, lead, evaluate, and develop staff and contribute to the ongoing fostering of a results-oriented, multiracial/multicultural workforce. Track record of maintaining best practices, clear goals, and shared accountability, as well as working cross-departmentally when necessary to achieve results. Experience managing budgets and revenue forecasts.
• Change management experience and a demonstrated ability to build a culture of philanthropy across an organization.
• Broad knowledge of all functional areas comprising a comprehensive development program (e.g., individual, institutional, major, and annual giving; digital fundraising; stewardship; operations) and fundamental adherence to the principles, ethics, and best practices of modern fundraising, including the integration of various giving programs to diversify the funding base and cultivate greater donor commitments.
• Demonstrated success in developing the case for support and strategic, innovative fundraising plans, and executing those plans to achieve goals. Experience collaborating with executives, senior staff, and board or other volunteer leaders on development-related activities, providing them with quality support and intelligence and increasing their comfort with and success in fundraising.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of how to build diversity, equity, and inclusion in the development function; culturally competent with respect to issues such as racial, cultural, religious, sexual, and gender identity. Skilled at delivering solutions in evolving, multicultural environments.
• A track record of utilizing new methods of constituent engagement and connectivity.
• Working knowledge of modern data management practices and innovations that can streamline development processes; integrate data into decision-making and strategy development; and contribute to the integration of related functions.
• Computer proficiency with Google Suite, MS Office, NGP VAN/EveryAction, Slack, and Asana or the ability to independently and quickly learn.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the US. We are not able to sponsor visas at this time.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to the mission of unlocking the power of women to advance progress for all. Passion for politics and current events; a strong grasp of the electoral and policy process and the current political landscape; and the ability to engage knowledgeable donors on these topics.
• Commitment to understanding how race, class, gender, and other equity issues operate to create systemic oppression as well as deep commitment to doing the work of unlearning these habits as part of Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action’s individual and collective work.
• Unimpeachable integrity and mature judgment in handling sensitive information. Committed to personal and professional development. Elevates institutional goals beyond personal gain, ensuring efforts are mission-focused and quality-driven.
• Fundamental approach to development as relational organizing, engaging supporters as partners in achieving mission.
• Emotionally intelligent with the interpersonal skills to develop and sustain impactful relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to interact effectively and sensitively with a wide variety of people of diverse backgrounds, prioritizing an ethos of servant leadership, respect, diplomacy, equity, inclusivity, and accountability. Adaptive leadership style and a penchant for leading by example.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter with a dedication to excellence and accountability. Superior skills in organization, planning, and attention to detail.
• Thrives in startup environments. Adjusts quickly to changing circumstances, takes calculated risks, and judges when and at what level to bring in the team and funders.
• Thrives in a remote environment where structure, documentation, and clear processes help the team move quickly.
• Positive and solutions focused. Brings energy and optimism to the work, meets setbacks with a plan, and keeps the team focused on what they can move today.
• Skilled at managing up. Keeps the Executive Director informed early and clearly, with recommendations ready. Flags risks with options attached, asks for what they need, and makes the Executive Director’s time with donors as effective as possible.
• Resilient under external pressure. Stays steady through shifting political conditions, donor fatigue, and missed asks. Treats a declined gift as information, adjusts the approach, and returns to the donor with a stronger case.
• Resilient under internal pressure. Handles competing priorities, evolving programming, and high expectations from leadership with composure. Absorbs pressure so the team can stay focused, and works through disagreement directly and respectfully.
• Growth mindset. Seeks feedback and acts on it. Treats every campaign, ask, and hard conversation as a chance to learn, and models that openness so the team feels safe to experiment and improve.
• Superb verbal and written communication skills as well as a good sense of humor, with the presence and command to serve as a compelling, public-facing ambassador of Galvanize USA/Galvanize Action.
• Ability to travel on a national scale as needed, including spending time in Seattle, Washington while closely working with the Executive Director (especially during early stages of the CDO’s tenure). Candidates based in Seattle preferred.

Compensation & Benefits
The starting salary range for this position is $215,000-$260,000. Level determination and placement within this range will be based on years of relevant experience, depth of experience in political fundraising or alternative funding generation, and relevant skills.

Galvanize USA also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in the 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

How to Apply
Submit a resume and respond to custom application questions. Priority will be given to applications received by January 3, 2027.

Please be advised that the emails we send through our automated system sometimes end up in spam—please keep an eye on your spam folder just in case. You may also pre-emptively approve emails from the domain @applytojob.com.

About Galvanize USA
Galvanize USA is a nonpartisan organization working to build an America that works for everyone. We focus on reaching and engaging women through culture, storytelling, and media. Women who engage with Galvanize USA programming gain confidence, knowledge, and skills to more fully and authentically engage in civic life. We believe in unlocking the power of every woman to advance progress for all.

The person holding this position will also work part-time for a coordinated project, Galvanize Action, in the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization, under a resource sharing agreement between the Hopewell Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund. The responsibilities under that position will be overseen by Sixteen Thirty Fund. Galvanize Action identifies, engages, and moves ideologically moderate women in rural, small town, and suburban America to reliably support progress. To learn more visit galvanizeaction.org.


Hiring Statement
Galvanize USA is a project of Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Hopewell Fund is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Hopewell Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.


E-Verify
Hopewell participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.