Chief Development Officer

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as a mission-driven leader responsible for advancing the organization’s philanthropic impact throughout the Southwest Gulf Coast of Florida. The CDO will steward the mission of strengthening community through early learning, family engagement, healthy living, and social responsibility by building lasting donor relationships and securing transformational investments.
 

This individual will lead the organization’s development strategy with a focus on major donations, endowments, and capital campaigns exceeding $1 million. The CDO will partner with the CEO, Board of Directors, and community leaders to cultivate deep ties with philanthropists, foundations, and corporations who share our vision for expanding access to programs and services that strengthen families and communities.

Essential Functions

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy that prioritizes major gifts, capital campaigns, and endowment growth, while directing philanthropy staff to achieve ambitious revenue goals.
• Translate the YMCA’s mission into actionable strategies that guide and inspire the development team, ensuring fundraising initiatives directly support long-term community impact.
• Mentor, coach, and hold philanthropy staff accountable, fostering professional growth and building team capacity to secure transformational gifts and deliver successful campaigns.

Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns

• Lead and personally manage a portfolio of 75–100 high-capacity donors, securing six- and seven-figure contributions in support of capital projects and organizational priorities.
• Design, plan, and execute capital investment campaigns exceeding $1 million, providing direction to staff and volunteers to ensure strategies are executed with excellence.
• Grow and strengthen endowment resources, working with the team to cultivate donors committed to the YMCA’s long-term financial sustainability.

Donor & Community Engagement

• Build and nurture strong relationships with community leaders, philanthropic partners, and prospective donors across the Southwest Florida region.
• Maintain a consistent stewardship program that strengthens donor trust and long-term engagement.
• Serve as an ambassador of the organization’s mission, values, and impact in public settings.

Team Leadership

• Direct and empower the philanthropy team with a clear focus on capital campaigns, major gifts, and endowment growth, setting priorities that advance both immediate fundraising goals and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Communicate the YMCA’s mission in actionable, campaign-focused strategies, equipping staff to engage donors effectively and connect major investments to community impact.
• Coach, mentor, and strengthen team capacity in high-level donor cultivation and campaign execution, fostering professional development and accountability within a collaborative culture of excellence.

Organizational Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and Board to identify fundable initiatives and secure strategic investments.
• Provide training and support to Board members and volunteers to increase their confidence in fundraising roles.
• Supervise development staff and contractors, ensuring accountability and growth in donor services.
   

Operational Excellence

• Oversee donor database systems, reporting, and analytics to support data-driven decision-making.
• Monitor donor retention, design initiatives for lapsed donor re-engagement, and ensure compliance with fundraising ethics and tax law.
• Evaluate fundraising events and campaigns for mission alignment and return on investment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• CFRE certification preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising leadership in the nonprofit sector
• Demonstrated success in securing six- and seven-figure major gifts and leading capital campaigns exceeding $1 million.
• Experience managing endowment growth and planned giving programs.
• Strong knowledge of philanthropy in Southwest Florida or the Gulf Coast region, with established donor and community relationships highly preferred.
• Expertise in donor cultivation, prospect research, and the use of fundraising technology tools.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, with a commitment to advancing a mission-driven cause.

Leadership Competencies

• Mission & Community Engagement
• Philanthropic Strategy
• Collaboration & Team Leadership

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• 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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device. The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.