Chief Development Officer

Description

Victory Programs, a Boston-based nonprofit, has supported individuals and families in crisis for 50 years. Our long history is a testament to our commitment and stability. Thousands turn to us yearly for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support. Our impact is significant. We have provided shelter to [number] homeless individuals, helped [number] people recover from substance use, and supported [number] individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Our team of over 350 staff across nearly 30 programs works with people to develop and execute creative, safe solutions to their genuine challenges. 

Victory Programs' next Chief Development Officer (CDO) will have the opportunity to join an established and respected organization built on the passion and commitment to provide safety, security, and stability to community members in need in Boston and throughout Eastern Massachusetts. The CDO works closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to build a comprehensive development program that helps ensure the organization's long-term sustainability.

The Chief Development Officer is a key Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member. Together, that Team provides leadership, strategic direction, management, and coordination for all efforts at Victory Programs. 

The mission of this specific role is to create an annual strategy to promote and increase the organization's support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources. The CDO oversees all internal development and communications functions and is a point of contact for all external engagement opportunities, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to our mission.

The CDO works closely with the Annual Fund Manager, and other staff and key volunteers to achieve the organization's fundraising goals including identifying and cultivating donors.

The Development and Communication team currently includes the CDO and Annual Fund Manager, Government and Foundations Grant Manager, Marketing and Communications Manager, Corporate and Community Engagement Coordinator, and Development Associate. The entire department works in a hybrid model, spending some time in our Jamaica Plain or Brookline-based office, in programs throughout the City, and some at home. Victory Programs has a current budget of approximately $38 million. 

Essential Functions:

Strategy:

• Develop, implement, refine, and maintain an organization-wide development strategy, including external communications and marketing.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to and member of the Senior Leadership Team around critical organization or management issues.

Donor & Partner Relationships:

• Working closely with the Development Team, strategize, create, and ensure execution of yearly plans to grow the Annual Fund and the Major Gifts programs.
• Cultivate and steward donor relationships, engaging essential leadership where appropriate. The CDO manages a personal portfolio of current and prospective major donors. The CDO assigns portfolios and strategizes each donor's "moves management" plans.
• Expand and diversify VPI's funding base by leveraging existing resources to identify and tap into new networks of stakeholders and supporters.
• Strategically identifies and pursues private and corporate foundation and public grants.
• Oversee corporate and institutional relationships to ensure new and continued engagement and support.

Communications: 

• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to elevate Victory Programs' brand identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase the organization's visibility with key stakeholders.
• Supervise all staff print and electronic communications, including the website, and ensure timely communication with donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Working closely with the Marketing and Communications Manager, the CDO will also play a significant role in strategizing public relations, including outreach, creating and disseminating talking points, and managing crisis communications.

Events:

• Lead the development team to leverage existing and future fundraising events, including major donor cultivation events. Introduce new events, as needed, to engage individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Recruit and engage leadership volunteers to support fundraising events and initiatives.

Management:

• Develop expense and revenue budgets for all department activities.
• Evaluate all development activities to determine viability and return on investment.
• Manage a staff of 5 to 6, including regular supervision, goal setting, performance evaluations, and performance management as needed.  
• Staff Board committees, including PR, Event, and/or Ad Hoc as relevant. As necessary, involvement in other board committees (e.g., member recruitment).
• Ensure timely and accurate maintenance of all gift, solicitation, and donor information in the Charity Proud donor base, tracking and fulfilling pledges, donor recognition activities, and timely acknowledgments. 

Qualifications: 

We seek a solutions-focused and collaborative problem-solver with a strong "can-do" attitude and excellent project management skills. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader with a solid technical background in development and agility within a resource-constrained environment. 

• The Chief Development Officer will demonstrate leadership and the ability to successfully manage multi-functional or diverse areas. They will uphold the values of equity and inclusion in all organizational systems and policies.
• They will have demonstrated success in a fast-paced, collaborative, and learning-oriented environment. Ideal candidates will be able to display sensitivity, tact, and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Critical to success in this role, the Chief Development Officer will be skilled at building and sustaining excellent relationships and demonstrate an ability to connect, build bridges, and work collaboratively. This person will model a passion for the mission, respect for people, and a commitment to moving the organization forward. They will bring a background in cultivating and growing a network of individuals, corporate, and foundation donors, including a track record of securing significant gifts in the 5 and 6-figure range.
• The CDO will be creative, task-oriented, and diligent in overseeing and managing projects, as well as the staff and external consultants supporting the execution of those projects. They will employ substantial cost and risk management skills, demonstrate diplomacy, be comfortable making difficult decisions under pressure, seek the right solutions to the correct problems, delegate when necessary, and adjust schedules, tactics, and targets as needed. The ideal candidate will be able to multi-task in a fast-paced, often deadline-driven environment with excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, and interpersonal.

Education and Experience:

• A BS/BA degree from an accredited college/university is preferred.
• At least 5 to 8 years of nonprofit development and communications experience.
• Familiarity with Charity Proud or other donor database systems. 
• Working knowledge of Google-based products

Compensation & Benefits 

Victory Programs is committed to paying competitive wages. To increase equity, because we know that salary negotiations tend to have an unfair bias, we do not participate in a salary negotiation process for any exempt candidate. We will make our best offer, and it will be the same regardless of the candidate. The annual starting salary for the Chief Development Officer is $160,000. This position meets the exemption requirements as defined by state and federal law. Exempt employees are paid on a salaried basis, and their salary is intended to constitute their entire regular compensation, regardless of the number of hours they work; therefore, exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay.

Victory Programs' comprehensive benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement savings, generous vacation, STD/LTD/Life Insurance, and paid professional development. 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Salary : $160,000