Position Title: Chief Development Officer

Reports to: The Board of Directors

Position: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Seattle, Washington

Salary: $165,000 – $180,000

About Mary’s Place

Mary’s Place is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington that provides shelter and services to homeless women, children, and families. The organization was founded in 1999 by a group of volunteers who saw a need for a safe and secure shelter for homeless women in the Seattle area.

Today, Mary’s Place has several locations throughout the city of Seattle, including emergency night shelters, day centers, and family centers. These locations offer a range of services to support homeless families, including shelter, meals, case management, counseling, and job training.

In addition to providing basic needs like shelter and food, Mary’s Place also works to help families find stable, long-term housing. The organization partners with local landlords to help families find affordable housing and provides ongoing support to help families maintain their housing and build a brighter future.

Transforming the homeless response system requires collaboration, efforts from various stakeholders, and community involvement. If you would like to be a part of making a difference for these families – we would love to hear from you!

The Opportunity

The Mary’s Place Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads the Development team to meet our current annual fundraising goal of $20 million in support of our $30 million annual operating budget. The CDO is a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and provides strategic oversight and direction to a comprehensive development and volunteer program. The CDO partners with the Fund Development Committee Chair to ensure alignment and support from the Board of Directors for our fundraising goals and plan. The person in this role will also take a leadership role in guiding our organization toward adopting and implementing more equitable fundraising practices including Community Centric Fundraising principles.

The CDO has a passion for our mission, proven success in meeting ambitious fundraising goals, and a history of building strategic relationships that deepen engagement with mission and organization support. Optimism, persistence, transparency, adaptability, and comfort working in a complex and evolving organization are essential qualities.  

The CDO actively engages in Mary’s Place racial equity work – striving for equitable outcomes and taking responsibility for creating, maintaining, and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants, refugees, trans and gender-non-conforming people, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppression.

The CDO reports to the CEO and manages the Development team, currently comprising 20 staff. The CDO directly supervises the Corporate Engagement Director, Grants Director, Individual & Major Gifts Director, Events & Campaigns Director, and Volunteer Engagement Director.

This is a full-time, exempt salaried executive position, with the flexibility to work extended hours to meet the demands of the position, including the ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed. The annual salary range is $165K – $180K DOE. 

If you have a passion for rewarding work and are deeply committed to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about this position. 

Impact Areas 

Fundraising Leadership and Strategy (35%) 

• Lead team to meet or exceed current annual organizational fundraising goal of $20 million, with anticipated growth each year. Collaborate with the CEO and CFO in setting the annual fundraising goal to meet the needs of the organization’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and budget. Track and report progress toward annual fundraising goals throughout the year. Lead team-wide efforts to address potential shortfalls with modified strategies and new opportunities.
• Provide guidance, leadership, and accountability to align development strategies with our mission of centering equity, with an emphasis on adopting Community Centric Fundraising principles. Support the team in expanding and diversifying the donor and volunteer base in line with our mission.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight of all lines of fundraising, including corporate, individual, foundation, and government grants, and strategic in-kind and pro bono contributions. Provide strategic oversight of major fundraising campaigns and events including No Child Sleeps Outside (fall) and Dream Big (spring). Provide strategic oversight of our Corporate Volunteer Engagement and Volunteer Services programs, which match members of the community with remote and in-person opportunities to volunteer their time and talent.
• Work with the CEO, COO, and the Board to develop long-term financial projections for the organization. Assess feasibility to meet future revenue goals with current resources, identifying where new investments and strategies are needed. Develop a multi-year fundraising strategy that aligns with the Mary’s Place Strategic Plan and meets the anticipated future needs of the organization and our community. 
• Understand organizational needs, especially in Programs and Operations, and assess fundraising feasibility. Participate in the process of setting annual organizational priorities for the Mary’s Place Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and Budget. 
• Provide leadership and accountability in the creation of the Development team’s AOP and expense budget. Ensure that approved organizational priorities are reflected in the Development AOP and individual fundraising plans.  
• Track and report progress on the Development AOP goals across all lines of fundraising. Monitor ongoing expenses and monthly financial reports to ensure the team is operating within budget.
• Provide accountability that our donor operational systems and procedures meet industry standards and best practices, including the Donor Bill of Rights.
• Work collaboratively with the Fund Development Chair to recruit and steward an active Committee that will provide guidance and support for fundraising goals and initiatives. Partner with the Chair to gain the Board of Directors alignment on the annual fundraising goals and plan. Report on Development activity and progress against goals to the CEO, ELT, Board of Directors, and Fund Development Committee. 
• Support the recruitment and stewardship of members of the Board, Fund Development Committee, and community volunteers who support fund development as event chairs, committee members, and/or solicitors of major gifts.

Fundraising (35%)

• Manage a portfolio of 25-40 strategic donors and prospects for significant engagement with the mission, work, and leadership of Mary’s Place. 
• Develop a personal annual fundraising plan with targeted solicitations to meet or exceed the annual fundraising goal for the CDO portfolio.
• Strategize with CEO, Board, Fund Development Committee members, and community volunteers to support their donor engagement and solicitation activities on behalf of Mary’s Place. 
• Network with individuals and groups to identify and cultivate new relationships to expand our portfolio of major and principal prospective donors.
• Effectively share the Mary’s Place story, mission, and case for support through presentations to donors and community groups, and at Mary’s Place and community events.
• Ensure these activities and next steps are documented according to Development team standards.

Development Team Leadership (20%)

• Motivate and inspire our 20-person Development team to work with persistence, accountability, collaboration, and integrity to strengthen Mary’s Place relationships within the community and enhance our profile as an accountable partner in impactful philanthropy. Encourage and model formal and informal cross-team collaboration and camaraderie. 
• Provide opportunities for staff to develop their professional skills and knowledge, learn and share best practices with peers in the community, and network on behalf of Mary’s Place. Provide opportunities to deepen understanding of Community Centric Fundraising principles and bring them into practice in day-to-day work.
• Supervise five members of the team as direct reports, providing direction and support for their goals, strategies, and progress throughout the year. Meet regularly with each direct report to review metrics, plans, and progress toward goals. Assist with decision-making and be a conduit to the CEO and ELT as needed.
• Effectively communicate priorities, updates, and organizational news from the ELT and Board to the Development team.

Cross-Functional Leadership (10%)

• Play a key role in driving new cross-functional processes forward that will improve the organization’s ability to steward and deliver on commitments to donors. 
• Partner with the Chief Communications Officer to ensure alignment and synergy of external communications, advocacy, and fundraising strategies and tactics.
• Partner with the Chief Operating Officer to establish systems, controls, and procedures for received income of all types (donations, grants, contracts, etc.), and ensure staff are trained in and compliant with them.
• Partner with Chief Programs Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Innovation Officer to collaborate on fundraising strategies to meet programmatic needs, including pilot projects and new initiatives. 
• Be a collaborative and supportive partner of peers on the Executive Leadership Team, along with members of their teams, to ensure mutual success in responding to the growing and evolving needs of supportive services for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness.

Performance Measurements

• Organizational annual fundraising revenue goal is met or exceeded
• Annual fundraising revenue goal for CDO portfolio is met or exceeded
• Individual goals and work plans are in place for each member of the Development team, and quarterly progress checks and annual performance reviews are completed
• Donor retention targets are met or exceeded
• Fundraising and data management policies and procedures are in place and reviewed annually

Knowledge, Skills, and Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 10 years of experience in a philanthropy or development role
• Proven success in implementing successful fundraising strategies and building productive, long-term relationships with organizational leaders, volunteers, and donors
• Success cultivating and securing five- and six-figure gifts for a $10+ million nonprofit organization
• At least 5 years of direct supervisory experience, with a strong preference for experience managing a team of fundraisers. Experience managing a team remotely and implementing new ways of working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is optimal
• Experience creating and managing budgets, using financial analysis and reporting to inform strategic decisions, and assessing and measuring results. Strong ability to partner with a finance team.
• Experience providing direction to writers, designers, and other staff who are responsible for developing fundraising letters, websites, and collateral. 
• Demonstrated ability to exude compassion, understanding, and empathy while working with diverse staff, guests, volunteers, and donors from all ethnic, social, economic, and sexual orientation backgrounds
• Proven success in building a collaborative and results-oriented team culture, and inspiring and motivating employees to meet ambitious goals
• Ability to manage multiple projects and assignments, meet tight deadlines, coordinate and communicate effectively, in a fast-paced and compassionate work environment
• Excellent written and oral communication and public speaking skills
• Excellent working knowledge of fundraising software applications, preferably Raiser’s Edge
• Proficiency with Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Ability to work non-standard hours, including evenings, weekends, and periods of high intensity to meet project demands
• Valid driver’s license, reliable access to a car, and proof of car insurance

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to converse with and listen to people in many different settings
• Ability to use a computer and telephone, as well as other standard office equipment
• Frequently required to stand, walk, use fingers, hands, and arms
• Ability to occasionally push, pull, lift, and/or carry supplies up to 25 pounds
• Work takes place in a social services environment where long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required
• Travel to program sites and meetings outside the site and around the county are necessary
• Ability to work in an environment where there may be animals present, including dogs

In compliance with the ADA Amendment Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. A qualified person with a disability may request a modification or adjustment to the job or work environment to meet the physical requirements of the position. Mary’s Place will attempt to satisfy requests if the accommodation needed is reasonable and no undue hardship to Mary’s Place would result.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance with the cost for core employee coverage paid at 100% by the company and competitive family rates 
• Basic Life insurance of $50,000 at no cost to the employee; option to buy additional coverage
• 403(b) plan with 50% employer match on the first 6% employee contribution. Eligible to participate upon hire; eligible for a match after the first year of employment
• Unlimited use of ORCA pass for a small deduction per pay period
• 15 days paid time off (PTO) each calendar year (front-loaded and pro-rated)
• 10 days of sick time each calendar year (front-loaded and pro-rated)
• 10 days of flexible floating holidays each calendar year (accrued 40 hours on Jan. 1 and July 1 and prorated during the first year)
• Employee Assistance Program  

Mary’s Place has retained the exclusive services of Charity Search Group to coordinate the search for this position. To discuss your suitability for the role, please contact Monika Whitfield at monika@charitysearchgroup.com or visit www.charitysearchgroup.com.

Mary’s Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.