Chief Development Officer

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a key member of the executive leadership team at the Facing Hunger Foodbank. The CDO is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy to ensure the Foodbank has the financial resources necessary to fulfill its mission of providing nutritious food to neighbors experiencing food insecurity throughout its 17-county service area, including Cabell, Boone, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, Wayne and Wyoming Counties in West Virginia; Boyd, Greenup, Lawrence and Martin Counties in Kentucky; and Lawrence County, Ohio. The CDO provides strategic leadership and oversight of all fund development activities, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants, donor stewardship, fundraising events, community engagement, and development operations. The CDO works closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Board of Directors, leadership team, staff, donors, volunteers, community partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen relationships and advance the Foodbank’s mission.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), develops and implements a comprehensive fundraising plan designed to meet the Foodbank’s financial goals, including annual fund, monthly giving, digital fundraising, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns when appropriate, and donor stewardship initiatives; Serves as an active member of the Foodbank’s leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, staff relations, and the fulfillment of the Foodbank’s mission, vision, and core values; Provides leadership, supervision, and direction to development staff, including the Donor Relations Officer, Community Relations Officer, and any future employees engaged in fund development, marketing/communications, and donor services; Develops and manages a comprehensive major gifts program, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual, corporate, community organization, and foundation donors; Maintains a personal portfolio of donors and prospects through direct engagement, face-to-face solicitation, relationship cultivation, and ongoing stewardship; In collaboration with the CEO, oversees the Foodbank’s grant program, including grant research, identification of opportunities, proposal development, submission deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance responsibilities; Develops and expands planned giving initiatives, including deferred gifts such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, and trusts; Represents the Foodbank in the community through public appearances, presentations, and speaking engagements in collaboration with the CEO; Works with Foodbank staff and leadership to plan and execute fundraising events and community engagement activities designed to increase awareness, generate financial support, and strengthen relationships with donors and partners; Oversees the development of fundraising materials and communication strategies that effectively share stories of impact and inspire support from donors, volunteers, Board members, and community partners; Develops and implements a formal donor stewardship plan to strengthen engagement, increase retention, and encourage long-term support of the Foodbank’s mission; Creates, implements, and maintains systems and processes related to gift entry, donor database management, relationship tracking, reconciliation, donor acknowledgements, and recognition; Maintains current knowledge and understanding of laws, regulations, and best practices impacting philanthropic giving and nonprofit fundraising; Works collaboratively with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Foodbank leadership to identify opportunities for increased community awareness, donor engagement, and organizational growth; Participates in meetings, committees, and community activities as requested by the Board of Directors and/or CEO; Complies with all Feeding America and Facing Hunger Foodbank policies and procedures, as well as applicable state and federal regulations and guidelines; Maintains a professional and courteous manner at all times; and, Performs other related duties, as requested or assigned.

REPORTS TO:

CEO of the Facing Hunger Foodbank

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Must embrace the Mission of the Foodbank; Must possess significant fundraising experience, including demonstrated success developing and executing comprehensive development plans, securing major gifts, managing donor relationships, and leading development activities; Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal, relationship-building, negotiation, and presentation skills; Must have the ability to interact effectively and professionally with the Board of Directors, CEO, Foodbank employees, donors, community leaders, media representatives, volunteers, funding resource representatives, and individuals from diverse backgrounds; Must possess strong knowledge of nonprofit fundraising principles, donor stewardship practices, grant development, and philanthropic trends; Must possess experience managing and developing staff while fostering a positive, accountable, and mission-driven work culture; Must have a high level of organizational skills and the ability to prioritize, manage multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment; Must possess strong strategic thinking skills, initiative, adaptability, and the ability to balance long‑term planning with daily operational activities; Must possess patience, professionalism, and the ability to maintain a calm demeanor during periods of increased activity and competing priorities; and, Must have working knowledge of donor database systems and prospect research resources.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in nonprofit management, communications, business administration, public administration, marketing, or other related fields. (Master’s degree preferred.) Minimum of five (5) years of progressive fundraising and development experience, including demonstrated success in major gifts, donor stewardship, grant development, and fundraising strategy. Experience supervising development professionals and managing fundraising operations preferred. Experience with donor database software, prospect research tools, financial systems, and Microsoft Office Suite or similar technology platforms.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen; Must have a valid driver’s license from the State in which employee resides; Must have and maintain a safe driving record; and, Must be willing and able to represent the Foodbank at community events, donor meetings, and public engagements.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Office equipment: telephone, calculator, computer, copy machine, scanner, fax machine, and other standard office equipment. Technology systems: donor database software, prospect research tools, fundraising software, financial software, Microsoft Office Suite, and other systems necessary to support development operations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Facing Hunger Foodbank reserves the right to determine reasonable accommodations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, manipulate, or operate objects; and, to reach forward, back, sideways, and up with both hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, bend, kneel, climb, walk, talk, and hear/listen. The employee, from time to time, may lift and/or move objects weighing up to 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Facing Hunger Foodbank reserves the right to determine reasonable accommodations. The work environment is indoor, generally, in an office setting, which may include shared space and stairs. Normally, within the office setting, there are no extremes in temperature, and the noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet. Lighting includes artificial and natural light. The employee in this position may be required to enter and assist in other areas of the physical plant, where noise may be loud, temperatures reach extremes, and dust/fumes from propane fueled equipment may be present. Travel outside the office/physical plant is required for conferences, trainings, or meetings, as the need arises. Benefits: 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Work Location: In person #J-18808-Ljbffr Facing Hunger Foodbank