ABOUT COLOR OF CHANGE

Color Of Change is the nation's largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by millions of members, we campaign on issues of criminal justice, economic justice, voter freedom, big tech, and culture change and work to move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org to learn more.

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

The President’s Office consists of three teams: the Front Office team, focused on principal operations in direct support of the President,  the Development team, focused on fundraising for Color Of Change’s entities (c3, c4, and PAC), and the Digital Team focused on organizational membership and engagement. The Chief Development Officer is the executive in charge of the Development Team. The Development Team works to ensure that there are sufficient resources for COC to lead as a powerful influencer across broad segments of the progressive movement. We are creative and passionate development professionals playing an essential role in driving COC’s mission; through a robust resource development strategy consisting of both institutional supporters and individual giving.

The Chief Development Officer is a critical position in defining the vision and stewarding the growth of the fundraising infrastructure at COC. The Chief Development Officer works closely with the President and reports directly to COC’s Managing Director, who leads all operations for the organization. The Chief Development Officer owns the fundraising bottom line for COC and manages the Senior Director of Development, who in turn manages the rest of the team. The CDO is also a key member of COC’s Leadership Team and works collaboratively with teams across the organization in furtherance of resource development. This position regularly interacts with the COC Board overall and its Fundraising Committee.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Development Officer is a member of the Organizational Leadership Team and is responsible for managing the operations of the department. This role leads the organization’s fundraising strategy in partnership with the President and Managing Director and with input from the Board. Duties include but are not limited to:

Department Leadership

• Lead COC’s fundraising and stewardship strategy, including individual giving and institutional partnerships, by developing an in-depth understanding of COC’s programmatic work and translating it to donors to enhance fundraising potential

• Create annual department goals, objectives, and action plans to execute COC’s fundraising strategy, including directing donor engagement and cultivation activities for new, prospective, and current donors (issue-specific touch points, cultivation opportunities, and events – internal and external)

• Manage the overall strategy of the Development Team

• Own the bottom line for annual goals —set in collaboration with the President, Managing Director, and Board Fundraising Committee— including dollars raised, renewal targets, and donor pipeline development

• Own integration of organizational databases (HubSpot & ActionKit) into interdepartmental processes and workflows to maintain and augment a highly efficient, nimble Development Department, including the use of ongoing data analysis and relationship management related to all aspects of the annual giving program

• Work in close partnership with the Finance function of COC to ensure accurate revenue tracking and analysis

• Work in close collaboration with COC’s Digital team on shared communications to members and donors and joint strategies for engagement and messaging

Institutional Partnerships and Individual Giving

• Manage a portfolio of donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship activities for new, prospective, and current donors, including issue-specific touch points, salons, relationship-building opportunities, and events

• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development to drive a streamlined system for operations, key reports, and proposals, including the ability to obtain input from appropriate teams across COC

• Lead and facilitate internal communication systems, data management, and reporting with operations, campaign, and leadership teams, including driving the utilization of HubSpot across the team and appropriate parts of the organization for development-related activities

• Evaluate gift opportunities and giving vehicles and their alignment for donors. Where appropriate, develop, write, and present proposals to individual donors, in collaboration with relevant teams

• Work in partnership with the Board of Directors to leverage their networks in pursuit of institutional partnerships and donor cultivation and stewardship.  

Organizational Leadership

• Cultivate an organizational and team environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning

• Collaborate with the President, Managing Director, and the rest of the Organizational Leadership Team to set the tone and direction for the organization, including weighing in on and implementing policies, organizing and participating in staff-wide meetings and events, and setting organizational goals and managing progress

• Represent COC publicly to external funders and partners

• Lead special projects, as needed, and other duties, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

The Chief Development Officer will be a development professional with an established career cultivating and raising resources in support of causes and/or candidates. This person not only has an aptitude for data and budget management but also creates and oversees proactive systems to streamline workflow in a rapid-response fundraising environment. They should possess a deep commitment to and understanding of current racial justice issues that intersect media, economic, criminal, gender, and climate justice. The Chief Development Officer should have prior experience working within a structured and effective development department and bring an entrepreneurial and creative approach to their work. This position is ideal for someone who loves cultivating relationships and is looking to build upon or continue an established career in development to win for Black people.

Qualifications include:

• A minimum of 10 years of development experience and 5 years of supervisory experience, preferably in an executive position or managing other people managers

• Experience with strategic and annual planning, project management, and process improvement efforts

• Enthusiasm for the organization’s mission and campaigns, as well as a passion for participating in COC’s long-term sustainability

• Highly effective communicator with demonstrated experience conceptualizing and conveying impact in a compelling way to key stakeholders (donors, board members, and prospects) through pitches, proposals, presentations, and briefings

• A track record of managing collaborative and high-performing teams, and a commitment to mentorship and growth of team members

• A talent for organizing work and developing workflow systems, tolerant of some uncertainty, with high standards for quality and productivity in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to solve problems and make decisions, apply close attention to detail; coordinate, synthesize, and track large amounts of information

• Strong familiarity with computer systems, including high-level proficiency in MS Office and Google Suite, and a willingness and ability to use new systems and technology; experience with technical tools such as HubSpot and Monday.com is a plus, but not required

• Experience working in a confidential environment and the ability to exercise absolute discretion and independent judgment

• Strong data analysis and evaluation skills related to all aspects of fundraising Experience with cultivation and stewardship of individual donors

• Skilled at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, including the ability to communicate effectively, lead influence, and collaborate with colleagues in a multi-racial, multi-generational work environment

• Excited to help lead a dynamic, fast-moving organization with humor, humility, and a commitment to collaboration and shared successes. 

MORE INFORMATION 

Location: New York, NY, Washington, D.C., or Oakland, CA

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employees Report to this Position: Yes

Job Classification: Non-Bargaining Unit (Confidential Employee)

Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Managing Director

COMPENSATION

The salary range for the Chief Development Officer position is $194,229 - $203,940 per year. Color Of Change also offers a competitive benefits package. This is a full-time, exempt position.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should click the "Apply for this position" link and submit a resume and COC-specific cover letter. Applications will be received on a rolling basis.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Working at Color Of Change (COC), you should be prepared to work remotely and/or in the assigned office location when hired. This position requires working core hours, Monday - Friday, on a laptop for most of the work day and additional time as required by job duties. We are not offering U.S. visa sponsorship for this role.

Color Of Change is an equal opportunity employer. Color Of Change prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law.