Data & Society Research Institute is pleased to work with DRG to conduct this search.

Read the full position description HERE.

The Position

We are seeking a highly strategic, visionary, dynamic, and creative Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and grow our development work — building on our successful foundation grants portfolio, federal government grants, robust events program, significant newsletter following, and early-stage major gifts program. This is a new position for Data & Society, intended to scale our already robust development and fundraising efforts. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CDO will play a pivotal role in shaping our organization’s future by spearheading our fundraising and development strategy.

You’ll design and execute the continued build out of a diversified development capacity that leverages Data & Society’s unique strengths at this crucial moment of interest in and need for the organization’s expertise and role in society.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the CDO leads a team of three including an Associate Director of Development, Grants Writer and Editor, and Special Events Associate. The CDO also works closely with the organization’s Board of Directors, Communications team (five staff); Strategy and Engagement team (six staff); and Finance team (three staff).

We are looking for a senior-level strategic thinker with significant experience methodically growing a development program and team, building relationships with major donors and funders, partnering with an executive director and other staff on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and funders. We welcome but don’t require fundraising experience in, or adjacent to, technology issues, research/think tanks, and technology-related advocacy.

The successful candidate will have a track record of developing and implementing fundraising strategy, have excellent people and relationship management skills, and will have existing knowledge of the funding landscape and/or relationships with foundations, government funders, foundations, and major donors. They will also have up-to-date experience with growing an email list and digitally-integrated, multi-channel marketing and fundraising.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Strategic and Operational Leadership

Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director and Board, contributing to the overall organizational strategy by aligning fundraising efforts with long-term growth and sustainability goals, while proactively identifying new revenue streams and strategic opportunities;
Develop a new fundraising plan that aligns with, and drives, the organization’s mission and advances strategic objectives;
Raise annual operating revenue from all philanthropic sources (foundations, government sources, major donors, small-donor appeals, etc.);
Develop long-range strategies to significantly increase philanthropic giving and serve as the key strategist for specific asks;
Assign and manage prospect portfolios and moves management system for the executive director, board, and other key staff;
Craft compelling cases for support for funding that maximize relationships with current donors and cultivate and convert new donors;
Serve as a front-line cultivator and solicitor. Cultivate and steward donors and funders; make significant requests for support from major donors, board members, foundations, and others;
Ensure comprehensive, timely, and innovative stewardship of all gifts;
Provide strategic partnership to the communications and events teams to integrate messaging and achieve growth of multiple forms of engagement and support;
Effectively manage and organize the team’s day-to-day operations and budgets; streamline processes and procedures;
Champion and apply Data & Society’s Gift Acceptance Policy; and
Leverage technology and data analytics to assess progress against plans, monitor expenses, and ensure the security of all donor records.

Team and Organizational Leadership

Develop and support a diverse and highly skilled staff that is well-prepared to meet the ongoing challenges of a first-rate mission-driven institution;
Collaboratively establish goals within the team and across the organization to ensure that team members have responsibility and ownership for the successful outcomes;
Design and implement a professional development plan for the development team, offering opportunities for skill development, leadership training, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure staff are continuously growing and positioned for future leadership roles;
Cultivate a high-performance environment by setting ambitious yet achievable goals, holding regular performance reviews, and offering individualized support to foster a motivated, engaged, and high-impact team;
Lead a workplace characterized by mutual respect and open discussion in which all strive for excellence and innovation;
Foster an environment of cohesiveness, caring, and collaboration with colleagues across all Data & Society teams;
Facilitate clear, transparent communication within the team and throughout the institution; and
Serve as a collegial and participatory member of the organization’s senior leadership team.

Additional Qualifications

A deep appreciation and passion for the mission and aspirations of Data & Society;
At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in development/fundraising, with sound experience and proven results with major gifts and philanthropy in related substantive areas;
At least 10 years of leading all aspects of Development including capital campaigns, major and planned giving, foundation and corporate fundraising, event planning, prospect research, and stewardship; experience designing and completing a successful capital campaign is preferred;
Experience growing an individual giving campaign, raising at least $10 Million annually;
A demonstrated track record of working effectively with trustees, building strong relationships, inspiring them to action on behalf of the organization, and engaging them as fundraisers and donors on behalf of the organization;
Proven ability to build cohesive, high-performing staff and project teams and to develop the skills and nurture growth of staff members;
Ability to work effectively with the Executive Director, senior team members, trustees, staff, and donors, and provide motivation at all levels of the organization;
Experience managing the life cycle of complex development budgets and grants;
Experience working with a CRM development platform and understanding how to use analytics and metrics to drive development tasks. Experience working with Salesforce is a plus.

Core Competencies

A collaborative, engaging, and curious leader with highly developed relationship skills; adept as an influencer and a strong service mentality. Uses the power of collaboration to make sound decisions and achieve results;
Someone who is intellectually curious and engaging;
An unquestioned reputation for integrity and ethics; a strong character that will quickly gain the trust of others;
Have strong public speaking and written communication skills;
An effective communicator, with diplomacy. Open, visible, and approachable in communications with everyone;
High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results orientation;
Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model;
High energy, entrepreneurial drive, creativity, flexibility, and mission-orientation;
An agile learner—able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and to respond effectively to new circumstances.

WHO WE ARE

Work Environment

This is a full-time, remote position in the Development Department. Data & Society is based in New York City, and will for the foreseeable future operate as a Remote-First organization. While this role will start as completely virtual, it will likely involve onsite components in the future. Up to 20% travel is expected in the role to meet with donors and attend events. You must be living and authorized to work in the United States; we are unable to sponsor visas.

Data & Society has committed to safety requirements to protect our staff from the COVID-19 pandemic. We require that prospective employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before joining our organization. Please note that any reasonable accommodation request is not guaranteed to be approved, and we will comply with ADA-related requirements to evaluate the accommodation against business needs.

Organizational Values and Participation

In addition to the above responsibilities, we expect our Chief Development Officer to also demonstrate the following:

Commitment to advancing organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Actively participate in programs and professional development opportunities that work to ensure we continue our commitment to being an anti-racist and anti-discrimination organization.
To attend, where able, whole-organization activities such as staff meetings, retreats, town halls, listening sessions, workshops, training and social events.
To participate, where able and appropriate, in contributing to the culture of D&S by participating in working groups and/or committees (eg. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary: $175,000-$190,000

Where a prospective employee or employee is compensated within this salary range is dependent upon, among other factors, actual compensation for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure, and standing with the organization (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s overall qualifications: knowledge, skills, pertinent experience, and abilities.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
Secondary Insurance
401k Management
Paid Time Off
Paid Federal Holidays

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Chief Development Officer - Data & Society Research Institute