Pillar Search & HR Consulting is proud to partner with Sandy Hook Promise in the search for their new Chief Development Officer (CDO). The Chief Development Officer will set strategy for and execute fundraising strategies across giving channels including individual major giving, corporate, foundations, events and government funding, driving efforts to grow all giving channels nationally and develop strategies to expand into new giving channels (planned giving, DAFs, etc.)  while maintaining and strengthening relationships with all existing supporters. A member of the executive leadership team, they will have a vital role in driving Sandy Hook Promise’s mission and ensure support for the organization’s strategic growth to expand program reach and effectiveness.

ABOUT SANDY HOOK PROMISE:

Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers a range of evidence-informed programs and initiatives designed to empower youth, educators, and community members to recognize the signs preceding violence and to take steps to prevent it. Their programs include educational resources for schools, youth leadership programs, and community-based campaigns to raise awareness of the impacts of gun violence.

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) that champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise here.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Sandy Hook Promise seeks an innovative, mission-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and expand our national fundraising efforts. This visionary leader will develop and execute a long-term strategy to significantly enhance our gift contributions and drive the organization’s growth. The CDO will lead and manage a development team, cultivate transformational, high-level gifts, and strengthen constituent relationships by increasing awareness and building constituent support for the organization’s 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) work. The CDO will also identify, cultivate, and actively manage a donor portfolio through prospecting, qualifying, and cultivating high-level donors and collaborate with leadership to achieve fundraising goals and organization vision.

This role requires a strategic, visionary leader with a track record of success in major gift development and experience leading fundraising for national nonprofit organizations that, like Sandy Hook Promise, have been in significant growth mode across multiple revenue channels. They will possess the ability to effectively operationalize and implement such strategies into actionable plans and tangible results, collaborating with other departments and senior leaders across the organization. The CDO will be a player-coach responsible for motivating and developing a cohesive team while building and maintaining strong relationships with donors and focusing their energies toward radically increasing giving across all channels, including individual major giving, foundations, events, corporations, and government funding.

The ideal CDO will be a visionary and strategic leader with a proven track record of ensuring support for a best-in-class national nonprofit organization, both building on the current strong foundation of philanthropic support through the stewardship of existing supporters and the identification of new funding sources across the country to ensure continuous growth of support for the mission and vision of Sandy Hook Promise across both the C3 and C4.

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

This position will report to the Co-Founder and Co-CEO and will manage 5 direct reports and a total team of 8 fundraising professionals and additional fundraising consultants.

RESPONSIBILITY OVERVIEW:

• Thoughtfully navigate the philanthropic landscape to identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance and expand our fundraising efforts.
• Develop and implement a bold, comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the organization’s strategic growth plan and budgetary goals for the C3 and C4
• Oversee and manage the organization’s fundraising programs, including major gifts, annual giving, foundation relations, corporate giving, government funding, and special events.
• Serve as the leader of the development team, fostering a collaborative and goal-oriented culture amongst staff. Enhance the team’s effectiveness and productivity by providing coaching and mentorship, motivating team members with energy, passion, and clear expectations.
• Position Sandy Hook Promise for long-term success by doubling major gifts revenue over the next 3-5 years, while expanding corporate and government contributions to surpass the $10 million threshold.
• A forward-thinking innovator who will creatively expand the donor base nationwide, leveraging all giving channels to maximize impact and expanding into new channels (planned giving, DAFs, etc.). Work closely with the Marketing Department to leverage and upgrade SHP’s grassroots base through the donor cultivation cycle.
• Personally manage a portfolio of high net worth, strategic key supporters, including the cultivation of six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Leverage and deepen the relationships between the Development department and the Programs, Policy, Marketing, Finance, and Operations Departments to drive fundraising strategies that will support overall organizational goals and growth initiatives.
• Oversees the development of a suite of donor communications materials, including strong cases for support and pitch materials to attract and engage a broader donor audience, customizing messaging and case for support for both our program and policy work. Additionally, ensure best-in-class donor gratitude, recognition, and stewardship of SHP donors.
• Foster and leverage relationships of SHP’s leadership, including the Board of Directors, CEOs, advisory boards, senior leadership team, partners, and current donors to meet fundraising goals and grow our prospects and strategic connections.
• Collaborate with executive and senior leadership to align the development team’s goals to support the organization’s strategic plan, building a long-term vision, with clear plans on how to operationalize the work, that fosters a creative vision that supports both C3 and C4 initiatives. Proactively identify and create new funding opportunities by deeply understanding organizational needs. Leverage data and technology to enhance systems, processes, and structures within the development department, while still maintaining a personal touch and donor-centric mindset.
• Champion the SHP’s commitment to fostering REDI (Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) within the organization and with its partners.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in an executive leadership fundraising role with a national nonprofit (c-suite preferred)
• Proven track record expanding the donor base for national nonprofits that do not have a built-in donor base
• Direct experience and expertise with individual and major giving including a track record of securing 7-figure gifts. Ideally, the CDO candidate will have a generalist background with additional experience with foundation, corporate, government, and annual/sustaining, as well as experience securing funding for both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) giving.
• The ideal CDO candidate will have, at minimum, fifteen years or more of progressive experience in nonprofit development, including ten years at the senior level of the organization and leading a team of experienced development professionals.
• Track record of growing a nonprofit at the national level. The CDO will have a forward-thinking vision for fundraising that expands all fundraising channels across the country.
• Demonstrated experience creating a compelling and ambitious vision and strategy and delivering a plan against that vision.
• Recent experience directly managing, cultivating, and stewarding a pool of high-level donors is essential in this role.
• A proven results-driven approach to scaling and achieving fundraising goals over the near- and long-term and a comprehensive understanding of various fundraising channels, including individual major gifts, corporate giving, foundations, government grants, planned giving, donor-advised funds (DAFs), special events, grassroots support, matching campaigns, and capital campaigns.
• A balanced approach to leadership, with the ability to operate strategically and tactically, partnering with executive leadership and the board while managing both team members and a pool of donors.
• Strong analytical and data-driven skills with a proven ability to drive development decisions and achieve strategic objectives using metrics while combining this with a donor-first mentality.
• Skilled in comprehending, synthesizing, and articulating complex information into a compelling case for support that motivates prospective donors to contribute.
• Possesses exceptional communication skills and the ability to collaborate with highly talented team members, donors, and other stakeholders to achieve fundraising efforts.
• An inspiring leader with experience managing a high-performing team with a mix of experienced development professionals and new developing talent and has built synergy and a unified vision.  The CDO of Development will have a servant leadership mentality, focus on the continuous learning and growth of team members, be open and receptive to thought partnership, new ideas, and feedback.
• The ideal candidate will be resourceful, adaptable, and has achieved results in past roles through persistence and a “hustle” mentality.
• Stands as an agent for change with a deep understanding of and passion for gun violence prevention and related social justice movements.
• Exemplifies the values and mission of SHP, inspiring and motivating others, including staff and supporters, building on SHP’s mission and vision for the future, and think entrepreneurially to inject new ideas and energy.
• In addition to experience with 501(c)(3) organizations, experience with 501(c)(4) organizations strongly preferred.
• Strong technical skills, including with donor management systems. Sandy Hook Promise currently uses Salesforce.

LOCATION:

Remote withing the U.S. with travel for in-person meetings/trainings as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $195,000 – $205,000 annually.

SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Unlimited PTO
• Paid holidays
• 10 days sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability
• 401k match
• Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program.

Sandy Hook Promise operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. They provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, monthly Wi-Fi reimbursement up to $40, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They strive to be an employer of choice where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. They are focused on promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and believe deeply in having a workforce comprised of people of all beliefs and backgrounds who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Members of all under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY: 

To apply or nominate a candidate, please contact Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting at cindy@pillarsearch.com. Those applying are asked to submit both a resume and cover letter.

Please note that, due to the high volume of resumes received for this role, Pillar is unable to have informational calls about the role. Only those candidates selected to move forward will be scheduled for introductory calls as part of our recruiting process.

Phone calls are not accepted.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. Pillar’s Founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.