Chief Development Officer

Summary:

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a senior organizational leader responsible for building and executing the revenue strategy required to support the future growth and impact of Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford (BGCH).

The CDO will lead the evolution of Development into a more diversified, scalable, and sustainable revenue engine. This includes expanding individual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation support, and identifying new and non-traditional revenue opportunities while continuing to strengthen BGCH's institutional funding base.

The CDO will be expected to materially grow revenue and to build the relationships, systems, team, and organizational fundraising discipline necessary for sustainable long-term growth.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CDO will contribute to organizational strategy beyond Development and work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, Finance, Program Services, and other organizational leaders.

Key Job Responsibilities

Revenue Strategy & Growth

• Develop and execute a multi-year revenue strategy aligned with BGCH's growth, impact, and financial goals.
• Diversify BGCH's funding base and increase predictable, sustainable revenue.
• Strengthen individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation and institutional funding, and planned giving strategies.
• Identify and pursue regional, national, and other funding opportunities beyond BGCH's traditional networks.
• Explore non-traditional and emerging revenue opportunities aligned with BGCH's mission.
• Establish clear revenue goals, forecasts, performance measures, and strategies for managing funding concentration and risk.

Fundraising & External Relationships

• Build, cultivate, solicit, and steward significant relationships with individual donors, corporations, foundations, and other funding partners.
• Expand BGCH's donor and funder network locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Build and actively manage a strong pipeline of prospective funders and partners.
• Represent BGCH externally and develop relationships that create new opportunities for investment and partnership.
• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to strengthen participation in fundraising, cultivation, and relationship-building.

Development Leadership & Infrastructure

• Assess and shape the Development team and structure required to support future growth.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain strong Development talent while building bench strength and succession.
• Strengthen fundraising systems and practices, including CRM management, pipeline tracking, forecasting, stewardship, portfolio management, and performance reporting.
• Use data to evaluate results, identify opportunities, and improve fundraising effectiveness.
• Build processes and institutional knowledge that create continuity beyond any one individual.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the Executive team and contribute to organizational strategy and decision-making.
• Partner closely with Finance to connect fundraising plans and forecasts to organizational sustainability and growth.
• Work across departments to understand BGCH's programs, outcomes, priorities, and impact and translate them into a compelling case for investment.
• Partner with appropriate parties to ensure fundraising priorities and BGCH's external story are aligned.
• Provide the CEO and Board with clear insight into fundraising performance, opportunities, risks, and strategic priorities.

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Demonstrated success materially growing a significant fundraising or revenue portfolio, ideally at or above the $10M level.
• Experience developing and executing a multi-year revenue strategy across multiple fundraising channels.
• Strong knowledge of individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation and institutional funding; planned giving experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including forecasting, pipeline management, revenue diversification, and restricted and unrestricted funding.
• A track record of building significant donor and funder relationships, opening new doors, and confidently making meaningful asks.
• Experience building, strengthening, and leading a high-performing Development team.
• The ability to operate as an enterprise leader and strategic partner to the CEO, Board, Finance, and other organizational leaders.
• Experience entering new philanthropic markets, or significantly strengthening a Development function is particularly valuable.

Leadership Approach

The successful CDO will be:

• Growth-oriented and entrepreneurial: Sees possibilities, creates opportunities, and is energized by building.
• Strengths-based: Speaks about BGCH, Hartford, and young people from a position of potential, talent, and impact.
• Credible and engaging: Builds trust across donors, Board members, staff, and community leaders.
• Fearless and persistent: Willing to make significant asks, open new doors, and remain focused through setbacks and long cultivation cycles.
• Collaborative: Understands that sustainable fundraising is an organizational effort and works effectively across functions and levels.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Chief Development Officer leads the Development team and is responsible for assessing and building the structure and capabilities necessary to support BGCH's future growth.

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, exempt leadership position. The role requires flexibility, including participation in donor meetings, community events, organizational events, and occasional evening or weekend activities. Core hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Compensation: $155,000 - $185,000, based on experience and qualifications

Benefits & Employee Experience

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford, we want our employees to feel supported both at work and beyond. Full-time employees have access to a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, and voluntary life insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and wellness initiatives and resources designed to support employee well-being.
• Financial Security: Employer-paid life insurance equal to 2x annual salary, AD&D coverage, and a 401(k) retirement plan. BGCH matches 50% of employee contributions up to 8% of pay (for a maximum employer match of 4%) and provides an additional 4% Safe Harbor contribution, made quarterly for eligible employees.
• Time to Recharge: Generous paid time off and 16 paid holidays, including a week-long holiday break in December.
• Training & Development: Ongoing opportunities to build skills and grow professionally through organization-wide training, role-specific development, leadership development, coaching, and other learning opportunities. 
• Connection & Employee Voice: Organization-wide Town Halls keep employees connected to BGCH priorities and progress, while regular employee surveys provide opportunities to share feedback and help shape the employee experience.
• Community & Culture: Employee wellness activities, resources, and organization-wide events, including our annual holiday celebration.

Disclaimer:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

EOE Statement

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.