Chief Development Officer

 

Description:

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area (BBBSGSA), our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We envision a community where every young person can realize their full potential.

 

BBBSGSA seeks a dynamic, mission-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead all fundraising, marketing, and communications efforts. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CDO will build and execute a comprehensive development strategy to support annual operations ($1M–$1.5M), deepen donor engagement, and expand philanthropic partnerships to sustain and grow mentoring programs for youth.

 

This is a hands-on leadership role suited for a collaborative professional who excels in relationship-building, strategic planning, and revenue generation within a small-to-mid-sized nonprofit setting.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership:

• Develop and implement a diversified fundraising strategy that includes individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, events, and planned giving.

• Partner w/ the CEO & BOD to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors and strategic partners.

• Oversee donor stewardship & recognition programs to ensure long-term engagement/retention.

• Work cross departmentally with programs, finance and operations to grow our mission and revenue.

• Serve as the development staff liaison to the Board of Directors.

• Support BOD & committees in fundraising and ambassador roles through coaching, collateral and tools.

• Represent BBBSGSA at community events, donor meetings, and with media partners.

 

Major Gifts:

• Manage a portfolio of $500,000+ in major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Personally secure major gifts of $10,000+ through strategic engagement and personalized outreach.

• Cultivate at least $300,000+ in new revenue and/or partnerships annually to support strategic growth.

• Conduct 3–5 donor meetings per week, attend local networking and industry events to grow donor base, and increase the current portfolio by 3%+ annually.

• Collaborate with the CEO and Board on high-impact donor strategies and ensure timely, relationship-centered stewardship.

 

Development Operations:

• Oversee all aspects of the donor pipeline and CRM/database (e.g., DonorPerfect), ensuring accurate records, timely acknowledgment, and performance reporting.

• Direct the creation of compelling fundraising collateral, proposals, annual appeals, and impact reports.

• Prepare and manage a development team, budget and revenue forecasts in alignment with organizational goals and a 5-Year Strategic Plan for growth.

 

Events & Campaigns:

• Oversight of signature fundraising events (e.g., Bowl for Kids’ Sake, annual gala, golf tournament, online giving campaigns).

• Oversight of event committees and development staff to grow fundraising event revenue for both internal and external events.

• Leverage peer-to-peer fundraising tools and ambassador networks/alumni to expand reach and participation.

 

Marketing & Communications:

• Oversee the agency’s marketing and communication strategy to enhance visibility and support fundraising goals.

• Supervise creation of newsletters, press releases, social media campaigns, and branding materials in coordination with staff or consultants.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Passion for youth development and the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

• 7+ years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or strategic development role.

• Proven success managing donor pipelines and closing major gifts ($10,000+).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience in donor storytelling and proposal writing.

• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.

• Experience managing or supervising a small development or communications team.

• Experience with CRM and other fundraising software Qgiv, DonorPerfect or similar platforms preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or advanced degree a plus.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Salary range: $125,000+ DOE

• Benefits: Health, dental, vision insurance; retirement plan with employer match; paid holidays and PTO; flexible/hybrid work schedule.