Chief Development Officer

About Dog Tag

Dog Tag is a nonprofit social enterprise that combines our one-of-a-kind Fellowship program, which serves veterans with service-connected disabilities, military spouses, and caregivers nationwide, with a high-quality bakery. At the bakery, our community can express support for our mission through a cup of coffee and a variety of baked products, sandwiches, and beverages. Based in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighborhood, Dog Tag provides an innovative, hands-on business education program that equips Fellows with the skills to launch their own businesses, transition to meaningful careers in the civilian workforce, or continue their educational priorities.

The bakery is where delicious treats and meaningful service meet. Every item we create reflects our dedication to supporting those who have served our country, and every sale enables us to serve more Fellows and alumni. The ability to engage with us in our cafe, as well as through local catering and gift boxes shipped nationwide, extends the reach of our mission to every service member family seeking renewed purpose, identity, and commitment.

Why Dog Tag?

Our values of service, entrepreneurship, empowerment, and respect guide everything we do - from how we interact with our team to how we engage with our customers. As part of our growing team, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a high-impact mission that extends beyond a storefront. You'll help empower our Fellows and alumni and make an impact every day.

Working at Dog Tag is more than a job; everyone on staff takes part in the Fellowship Program, plays a role in telling the story of Dog Tag's impact to customers, partners, donors, and neighbors, and becomes an advocate for the mission.


Dog Tag is a workplace for those who want to invest in themselves and others. We value dedication and high-quality outcomes for all staff members because every individual contributes to the success of our entire community.


Role Description

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is an integral member of the Dog Tag leadership team and is responsible for inspiring the development team to deliver our fundraising goals. This leader works collaboratively with the marketing, programs, bakery, and operations teams to communicate Dog Tag's unique values that align with donors' priorities and missions.


The CDO manages direct reports including a Gifts Officer and a Development Coordinator. Working as a unified team, these high-impact thought partners are responsible for securing philanthropic gifts from mission-aligned organizations and individuals to fuel Dog Tag's mission. The CDO will partner with the CEO and leadership team colleagues to ensure our systems, communications, and reporting cadences align with donors' and program participants' expectations. As Dog Tag's key fundraising steward, the CDO will think proactively and act creatively to anticipate the unknown to champion the organization's expansion-focused strategies.

Importantly, the CDO will also embody the One Dog Tag Culture through all actions, communications, and leadership engagements. This leader will ensure that all members of the Dog Tag team, both employees and stakeholders, are treated with dignity and respect, building a brand and a unified spirit to serve program participants and inspire partners to drive impact that exceeds expectations.


Working at Dog Tag is more than a job; everyone on staff takes part in the Fellowship Program, plays a role in telling the story of Dog Tag's impact to customers, partners, donors, and neighbors, and becomes an advocate for the mission. Dog Tag is a workplace for those who want to invest in themselves and others. We value dedication and high-quality outcomes for all staff members because every individual contributes to the success of our entire community.


Responsibilities & Duties

Leadership and Development Strategy:

• Develop, manage, and execute Dog Tag's development and stewardship plans to achieve annual revenue goals.
• Update existing development and stewardship plans annually with new ideas, industry best practices, and data-driven analysis.
• Ensure Dog Tag's development plan aligns with and is in service of the evolving organizational goals.
• In partnership with the CEO and COO, set and exceed annual revenue goals.
• Ensure a robust gift pipeline big enough to hit annual revenue goals by actively managing prospective and current corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
• Project manage the CEO's fundraising work, directing where and how best to spend time and efforts on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
• Cultivate relationships with all members of the board of directors to support their strategic development efforts, provide training, and facilitate the process to develop potential funder parameters.
• Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the development plan, providing actionable analysis for the CEO and board of directors.
• Identify suspected revenue gaps and develop tactics to generate new leads.
• Contribute positively to Dog Tag's organizational culture and lead with Dog Tag's values.

Corporate and Foundation Fundraising

• Collaborate with CEO and Dog Tag's board of directors to codify and implement a corporate partnership model that aligns with the organization's values.
• Build personal relationships with foundations and corporate funders. Research, design, and lead moves management plans.
• Ensure Dog Tag has a robust pipeline of local, regional, and national grant opportunities to pursue.
• Working with the part-time grant writer, Gifts Officer, and Development Coordinator, create and manage a grant calendar to track all upcoming applications and reports.
• Clearly and effectively draft dynamic, reader-friendly, and high-quality writing that is free of typos, jargon, and lackluster prose.
• Collaborate across teams to gather materials and requirements for grant applications and reports.

Individual Giving

• Research, design, and lead the moves management plans for major individual donors. Manage a portfolio of major donors.
• Oversee the management and development of existing initiatives, appeals, and campaigns focused on targeting new and stewarding existing individual donors.

Development Communications

• Help develop creative and mission-focused fundraising messaging that effectively articulates the special role and impact of Dog Tag in the community.
• Partner with program team to effectively share their expertise, vision, and impact with donors. Inspire the creation of new programs that expand the impact of Dog Tag's mission and align with corporate, foundation, and individual priorities.
• Collaborate with the communications staff to update the communications plan/calendar to support development goals, and work together to ensure opportunities for both programs and development are elevated.

Development Operations and Revenue Tracking

• Establish and monitor annual and long-term revenue goals and budgets.
• Design and update a regular progress-to-goal reports and development dashboard for the CEO and the board.
• Spearhead development-focused data input and ensure accuracy in all records and development reports in Dog Tag's CRM system (Salesforce).
• Work closely with COO to ensure data integrity.
• Work closely with the Finance team to support management of restricted funds and donor-required reporting.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of nonprofit development experience.
• A minimum of 3 years of nonprofit leadership experience.
• Demonstrable experience with building successful corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and individual major gift relationships.
• In-depth experience working in close partnership with senior management and board members on major philanthropic initiatives and campaigns.
• Enthusiasm to propose fresh ideas without prompting by leadership, openness to feedback on those ideas, and a persistence to bring those ideas to life.
• An excellent working knowledge of CRM systems for donor and revenue management.
• Experience with and knowledge of the Washington, DC funder community is preferred.

Work Hours, Compensation & Benefits

• This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Washington, DC.
• Starting salary: $150,000 annually (based on experience) and a competitive performance-based incentive plan.
• Paid leave, including vacation and sick leave and holidays.
• Paid end-of-year closing: in celebration of the incredible work done across all departments during the year, Dog Tag closes between Christmas and New Year.
• Medical (health, dental, and vision) insurance, life & accident insurance, and Employee Assistance Program.
• Voluntary benefits include flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care, transportation), short-term and long-term disability insurance, and retirement plans.
• Free shift drinks and food discounts.
• Opportunities for training and career growth.