Chief Development Officer

Application Deadline: August 15, 2023

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Remote

Type of Position: Fulltime (with a typical 4-day workweek), exempt employee.

Salary Range: $150,000-$200,000 annually, with full benefits; dependent on location, knowledge, skills, and experience.

 ABOUT WOMENSTRONG

WomenStrong International is a U.S. based, 501(C)3 non-profit private operating foundation,  that is building a global community of women-led organizations working to advance the rights and wellbeing of women and girls worldwide.

Our grantee partners receive unrestricted funding, access to a tailored program of technical and capacity support, and the opportunity to participate in a peer Learning Lab, where they can share with fellow partners their successes and challenges.

Since our founding, WomenStrong has invested more than $25 million in direct grants to women’s organizations and in supporting these organizations with technical assistance, opportunities to present their work, and other organizational strengthening and learning activities.

WomenStrong is a learning organization, built on respect and compassion that recognizes our common humanity and essential dignity. Our work is rooted in listening deeply to women and girls, responding to what they say they need, and learning from them what works. We challenge the top down approach to funding and respect the expertise of locally led organizations above all else. We have faith in the force of collaboration at all levels, and seek to take a non-proprietary, multidimensional, and holistic approach to our work. WomenStrong is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment, and we seek out team members who share that same value. WomenStrong staff value and appreciate each others’ experience and knowledge; trust their colleagues to do their jobs; strive to be open, direct, and timely, as we communicate with one another; and assume the best of each other. WomenStrong expects staff to listen, to be intentional and take initiative, and to appreciate different backgrounds, contexts, and approaches.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE

WomenStrong is looking for a highly experienced Chief Development Officer who will provide strategic guidance and technical expertise to support WomenStrong International in amplifying our fundraising efforts. Initially, this individual will lead a comprehensive $5 million multi-year campaign. In the longer term, the this individual will build relationships, establish and implement the infrastructure and resources needed to cultivate and solicit six and seven-figure gifts to support our $4 million annual budget in the longer term. It is expected that the incumbent will bring a significant network of funding prospects which they will be able to draw upon to build WomenStrong’s visibility and financial resources within a short period, building from a relatively small existing donor list. The Chief Development Officer will act as a critical thought partner, working closely with WomenStrong’s Executive Director, Director of Strategy and Organizational Strengthening, and Director of Learning and Partnerships to make strategic decisions affecting WomenStrong International. The successful candidate will  design and implement a comprehensive Fundraising Plan that develops a portfolio of future donors and leads WomenStrong’s cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation process. In addition, the successful candidate will work closely with WomenStrong’s Board of Directors as they take on a more active fundraising role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Vision

• Create and lead the strategy for donor prospects and grant opportunities to grow WomenStrong’s fundraising capacities.
• Develop and implement an annual and multi-year comprehensive Fundraising Plan in accordance with the Women Strong Strategic Plan, engaging institutional donors, high net worth individuals, one-time and monthly donors, and Board members.
• Identify opportunities to advance WomenStrong’s visibility through a wide variety of communication channels: events, conferences, panels, interviews and social media and work closely with the WomenStrong Communications Team to strategically pursue these options.
• Develop a Fundraising budget in collaboration with the Executive Director and manage its implementation.
• Lead on strategically pursuing grant opportunities, provide guidance and strategic counsel to WomenStrong colleagues and staff who network on behalf of the organization and develop collateral materials and proposals.

Resource Development

• Build and manage relationships with prospects and donors through in person or virtual meetings, correspondence, and regular communication. Collaborate with colleagues to identify new prospects and to design and execute donor engagement opportunities.
• Design and execute events (e.g., salons, gatherings, campaign-related gatherings) of varying tone and scale, for diverse audiences, in collaboration with WomenStrong’s Communications Team.
• Support the Executive Director and other leadership in identifying and engaging select high- worth individuals, including support for meeting preparation and follow-up. Propose and plan development travel for other key staff and volunteers (i.e., Board members).
• Manage and implement a robust Donor Stewardship Plan.
• Identify foundation and grant opportunities, draft compelling proposals, and oversee grants management (with staff support) and stewardship.
• Build a culture of CRM utilization to track and evaluate the key fund development metrics and use meaningful data to continually improve practices and inform fund development decision-making.
• Ensure timely creation and distribution of fundraising and stewardship materials, collateral and briefings, and highly personalized proposals;  provide timely reports to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff.

Team Leadership and Development: 

• Develop strong partnerships with select Board members, committees, WomenStrong staff, and other volunteers to provide support for their fundraising and “friendraising” efforts. Grow, manage, train, and provide resources to the WomenStrong Board of Directors, especially its Development and/or Campaign Committees (which the Chief Development Officer will Chair), as well as Professional Advisors Networks, Leadership Group Giving Circles, and Women Strong staff to further develop their fundraising skills and strategies and to advance a culture of philanthropy at WomenStrong.
• Represent WomenStrong in external settings (conferences and gatherings) to build relationships and to identify opportunities for grants as well as potential Board and donor prospects.
• Help expand the current Board of Directors and assist the Executive Director in supporting key Board committees.

KEY DELIVERABLES/OUTCOMES

• Help WomenStrong meet its $5 million campaign goal, building from a small donor base; the 2024 benchmark is $1M; 2025 is $2M; and 2026 is $2M.
• Expand prospect pipeline, stewardship, and engagement plans to support our $4 million annual budget over the longer term.
• Build a strong annual giving program.
• Build a portfolio of institutional prospects and prioritize the solicitation of foundation funding.
• Develop fundraising and stewardship materials, briefings, and highly personalized and compelling proposals.
• Develop and manage fundraising events.
• Propose, plan, and staff Executive Director meetings with key donors and funding prospects.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant experience in fundraising, including a minimum of 8-10 years in a leadership position with an organization focused on expanding girls’ and women’s rights across the globe, including in the areas of women’s health and economic security, girls’ education, and preventing violence against women and girls.
• A strong track record of identifying and boldly reaching out to major institutional and individual prospects and securing major gifts within a short timeframe, closing unrestricted and multiyear grants of at least $1 million +.
• Deep understanding of fundraising programs, high-level gift strategies, the philanthropic landscape, trends in support for international women’s and girls’ rights, and at least one of the areas in which WomenStrong grantee partners work: girls’ education, women’s health, violence prevention, and economic security and opportunity.  
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, with an ability to develop and maintain long-term, productive relationships internally and externally and to apply an intersectional lens to ensure WomenStrong’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
• Flexible and adaptable workstyle, ability to respond quickly to opportunities for fundraising and support staff and the Executive Director.
• Experience working remotely with cross-cultural and geographically scattered teams, and the ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• Competence in Google Suite, Microsoft Office suite, and donor management software.

Don’t check every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! WomenStrong is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging.  If this job description excites you and you have the relevant experience, but your own story doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed here, we encourage you to consider submitting an application!

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to Ms. Bianca Zhang, at info@womenstrong.org, by August 15. Review of applications and interviews will take place on a rolling basis through and beyond the deadline. 

A resume and cover letter are required for consideration. In your cover letter, please address the following:

• Why are you a good fit for this position? 
• Please tell us about a major campaign you have recently undertaken and led for a program or organization working to advance women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment internationally. What was your role, what were some of your lessons learned, and how might those lessons be applied to the campaign WomenStrong is preparing to undertake?
• Please share an example of an annual giving program you have managed, including the outcomes achieved and the stewardship strategy you helped develop.
• Please share an example of how you have helped develop and grow a Board of Directors that can fully support organizational resource development efforts.