Chief Development & Communications Officer

ABOUT MARTHA’S TABLE 

At Martha’s Table, we believe that every Washingtonian deserves the opportunity to thrive. For over forty years, we have worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities by increasing access to quality education, health and wellness, and family resources. 

Together, we are “One MT.” This means we work across all three of our locations to support our shared mission. In all that we do, we exemplify our four core values of respect, compassion, teamwork, and accountability. These values -- and our commitment to “white glove service” -- guide how we engage with the communities we stand alongside and how we work together as a team. When you come to Martha’s Table -- as a guest or as a team member -- you are valued and you deserve our very best. 

In order to be the best version of MT, we are deeply committed to equitable practices. We apply the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in providing programming and services; in creating our Board; in partnerships and procurement; and in hiring, training, and advancing our team members. 

We invest in our team members’ personal and professional goals through our “STEP” program, which includes tuition for continuing education, certifications, and professional development; funding to unlock financially held transcripts; and flexible leave options. 

Martha’s Table’s FY2023 projected revenue is approximately $12.3 million, derived from foundation grants, DC government grants, federal Head Start funding, corporate sponsorships and partnerships, and contributions from individual donors. 

To learn more about Martha’s Table, please visit https://marthastable.org/about/ 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

Martha’s Table is seeking a Chief Development and Communications Officer (CDCO) to lead our fundraising strategy and oversee operations of its development and communications functions. The CDCO will serve as an integral member of the executive leadership team, helping to guide organizational direction, and will manage a development and communications team of 11. 

Working closely with the CEO and senior development and communication team leaders, the CDCO will serve as a key ambassador for the organization; design and implement a strategic development and communications plan that will grow revenue from existing and new sources; deepen engagement with donors; develop strategies to incorporate AI and other technology tools to enhance fundraising and communication; and build broader awareness of the organization’s branding and messaging. 

The CDCO will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Program Officer, the Board of Directors, and other organizational leaders. A commitment to organizational mission, equity, our core values, and community is paramount. 

POSITION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leadership and Strategy 

• Partners with the Chief Executive Officer and other executive leaders to establish organizational priorities, including short and long-term vision. 
• Provides mentoring, guidance, supervision, and professional development to the development and communications team members. 
• Oversee the continued development and execution of best practices in development and communication infrastructure, including programs, policies, and procedures to ensure effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability. 
• Fosters an inclusive work environment by developing and building on others' strengths and skills.
• Prepares and administers budget for development and communications departments. 
  

Fundraising 

• Collaborate with the CEO and senior development and communications team leaders to create and implement a comprehensive strategy for development that will build on Martha’s Tables’ fundraising strengths and leverage opportunities for revenue growth in the following areas: 
  • Major donor/HNWI cultivation and engagement, including building a planned giving program 
  • Annual Fund, including segmentation and strategies to increase performance metrics such as donor retention and building community-centric giving opportunities 
  • Corporate partnerships and sponsorships, including leveraging events and volunteer engagement 
  • Foundations, including a strategy to build support from national foundations
  • Government, including a strategy to diversify government funding 
• Serve as a liaison to the CEO and the Board for all fundraising activity. 
• Build the development team by identifying, hiring, and managing top-notch professionals with complementary skills who will work together effectively to execute fundraising success. 
• Manage a portfolio of HNWI donors. 
• Report regular progress against strategic and operational goals, including donor engagement and revenue targets. 
• Engage leadership in key donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities. 
• Support the engagement and stewardship activities of the Board of Directors. 
• Implement best-in-class fundraising strategies, including the use of technology to reach new audiences

Communications and Brand Development 

• Develop and execute strategic communications plans
• Design systems, such as those that support enterprise-wide branding and social media strategies.
• Build external messaging and communications that raise Martha’s Table's profile, support brand development and awareness, drive community engagement, and inform fundraising narratives. 
• Raise organizational profile as an advocate for the communities served by Martha’s Table. 
• Build stakeholder relationships (donors, media, public)
• Oversee media relations, issues/crisis management, organization reputation, plus handling organization communications. 
• Provide leadership on reputation, values, and culture across the organization. 
• Create opportunities for leadership visibility (speaking, op-eds, etc.)
• Drive and support internal communications to increase the effectiveness of partnerships with program teams and align messaging across all platforms. 
• Build the communications team by identifying, hiring, and managing top-notch professionals with complementary skills who will work together effectively to execute communications/branding success. 

Staff Development and Building Organizational Culture 

• Serve as an ambassador for Martha’s Table and be an exemplar of organizational values and culture. 
• Develop a culture of philanthropy through ongoing engagement and training with the team and Board.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS 

• 8 - 10 years of development experience with progressively increasing responsibility, including at least 3 years of leadership and management experience. 

• Experience in effectively recruiting, inspiring, and developing staff. 

• Success supporting and managing organizational leadership (staff and Board) in donor cultivation, solicitation, and retention. 

• Ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in ways that are compelling to prospects, donors, Board members, and other stakeholders. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 

• Demonstrated commitment to work with diverse communities across racial, class, ethnic, political, and geographic boundaries. 

• Demonstrated understanding of the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy.

• An ability to develop long-term, big-picture strategy while understanding and supporting the day-to-day operations of the development and communications teams. 

• Highly proficient in MS Office, CRM systems, and donation-management tools. 

Compensation 

We offer our employees a competitive compensation package that reflects our organizational values, culture, and mission. The annual salary range for this position is $185,000 - $200,000. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Limited physical activity. Requires limited movement. Work environment predominantly in an office setting. 

COVID-19

Martha's Table requires all team members to have:

Martha's Table will consider waiving the vaccination requirement for:

Marha's Table is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants who are unable to be vaccinated for religious or medical reasons should contact Human Resources (hr@marthastable.org) as soon as possible to engage in the interactive process and explore what, if any, reasonable accommodations Martha's Table is able to offer. 

This position requires the completion of a satisfactory background check. Martha's table is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. Martha's table is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for the employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion or belief, age, sex (including pregnancy), national, social or ethnic origin, disability status, HIV status, family medical history or genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, family or parental status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Martha's table will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 202-328-6608 or via e-mail at hr@marthastaple.org.