Job
Chief Development Officer
| Location | San Diego, CA 92121 |
| Date Posted | April 22, 2024 |
| Job ID | 10930 |
| Employment Type | Retained |
Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Chief Development Officer for Challenged Athletes Foundation, an innovative organization dedicated to providing opportunities and support to people with physical challenges, so they can pursue active lifestyles though physical fitness and competitive athletics. The vision of our esteemed client is to be recognized as a leader in a movement through which physically challenged athletes are accepted and respected at the same level as able-bodied athletes and provide inspiration, awareness, and mentoring to the physically challenged community. This full-time, hybrid opportunity is available for immediate hire, inviting candidates to consider San Diego, CA, as their base. Seize the chance to lead development initiatives and contribute to a mission that is transforming lives through the power of sports!
ABOUT CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a trailblazing organization that has been transforming lives for over 30 years. Headquartered in the vibrant city of San Diego, with regional offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Boise, Idaho, CAF is a global leader committed to providing opportunities and support for individuals with physical challenges to pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
CAF’s mission is clear: to enhance lives through sports, believing that involvement at any level boosts self-esteem, encourages independence, and elevates overall quality of life. As a testament to their impact, CAF has raised over $158 million since 1994, fulfilling more than 44,000 funding requests from challenged athletes across all 50 states and numerous countries. CAF has not only changed the lives of tens of thousands of challenged athletes worldwide but has also played a pivotal role in evolving the world's perception and acceptance of those with physical challenges. To learn more about their transformative work, click here.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation is in search of an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial Chief Development Officer (CDO) to orchestrate and oversee all aspects of its development efforts. Collaborating closely with the Chief Executive Director, the CDO will oversee all revenue-generating teams at CAF—encompassing Development, Business Development, and Events—to spearhead its annual funding goal. In this pivotal role, the CDO will nurture and expand Development efforts in the Southern California region, acting as the go-to person for all things development. Their strategic vision will shape and execute CAF’s national major gift program, strategically targeting individual major and legacy gifts to fortify its mission. The CDO will actively contribute to strategic planning and identify new revenue streams within the industry, sports verticals, and key CAF regions, all with a clearly defined income goal.
In addition, the CDO will steer the financial success of signature events, overseeing event sponsorship, global partner activation, and key event beneficiaries. These efforts will directly contribute to growing revenue and, in turn, advance CAF’s overarching mission. In alignment with CAF’s mission and values, the CDO will demonstrate awareness and cultural sensitivity, utilizing language and terminology that is respectful and inclusive of individuals with various abilities and physical challenges. The CDO will also deliver high-touch, personalized donor experiences that ensure a meaningful and engaging connection with supporters.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
ABOUT CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a trailblazing organization that has been transforming lives for over 30 years. Headquartered in the vibrant city of San Diego, with regional offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Boise, Idaho, CAF is a global leader committed to providing opportunities and support for individuals with physical challenges to pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
CAF’s mission is clear: to enhance lives through sports, believing that involvement at any level boosts self-esteem, encourages independence, and elevates overall quality of life. As a testament to their impact, CAF has raised over $158 million since 1994, fulfilling more than 44,000 funding requests from challenged athletes across all 50 states and numerous countries. CAF has not only changed the lives of tens of thousands of challenged athletes worldwide but has also played a pivotal role in evolving the world's perception and acceptance of those with physical challenges. To learn more about their transformative work, click here.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation is in search of an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial Chief Development Officer (CDO) to orchestrate and oversee all aspects of its development efforts. Collaborating closely with the Chief Executive Director, the CDO will oversee all revenue-generating teams at CAF—encompassing Development, Business Development, and Events—to spearhead its annual funding goal. In this pivotal role, the CDO will nurture and expand Development efforts in the Southern California region, acting as the go-to person for all things development. Their strategic vision will shape and execute CAF’s national major gift program, strategically targeting individual major and legacy gifts to fortify its mission. The CDO will actively contribute to strategic planning and identify new revenue streams within the industry, sports verticals, and key CAF regions, all with a clearly defined income goal.
In addition, the CDO will steer the financial success of signature events, overseeing event sponsorship, global partner activation, and key event beneficiaries. These efforts will directly contribute to growing revenue and, in turn, advance CAF’s overarching mission. In alignment with CAF’s mission and values, the CDO will demonstrate awareness and cultural sensitivity, utilizing language and terminology that is respectful and inclusive of individuals with various abilities and physical challenges. The CDO will also deliver high-touch, personalized donor experiences that ensure a meaningful and engaging connection with supporters.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Directly supervise Northeast and Northern California Development staff.
- Collaborate with Development staff to plan and implement a major gifts program for CAF, ensuring a feasible strategy and timeline for campaigns, planned giving, and other initiatives.
- Create and manage budgets, monitor progress, and provide reports on goal progress.
- Lead the creation and justification of CAF’s cases for support, integrating current funding needs, opportunities, and relevant data.
- Work on organization-wide stewardship programs, wealth screening, and donor profiles.
- Coordinate major gifts plans and solicitations with ongoing campaigns and events.
- Establish gift-related policies and procedures that ensure ethical compliance.
- Qualify and manage a portfolio of ~125 donors and prospects, including individuals, family foundations, and key donors outside regions.
- Implement personalized cultivation/stewardship plans and gift requests.
- Engage in all aspects of the gift cycle, from initiation to closure.
- Work with CAF’s System Administrator to maximize donor records.
- Support fundraising efforts of high-level volunteers, including Board members.
- Set and meet fundraising objectives, evaluating and adjusting as needed.
- Supervise the Manager of Business Development, ensuring the achievement of revenue goals in strategic regions.
- Lead strategy, budget, and operational plans for CAF Business Development revenue, focusing on professional sports teams, athletes, foundations, and agencies in specified regions.
- Oversee identification, cultivation, and maintenance of grant funding opportunities.
- Supervise the Director of Special Events in executing signature events for donors and fundraisers, supporting CAF’s mission (requires a willingness to travel and work availability in the evenings or weekends related to events or site visits).
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in revenue-generating positions, with a preference for development, nonprofit fundraising, and business development roles.
- Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to initiate major gift fundraising strategies, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition strategies resulting in gifts of $100,000 or more.
- Proven track record in designing, pitching, and closing major business development opportunities or philanthropic gifts.
- Knowledge of fundraising concepts and techniques, including gift planning and procedures, as well as current trends in charitable giving, particularly in major gifts and legacy gifts.
- Successful experience in building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents and donors.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with teams and cross-functionally with Board members and volunteers.
- Ability to present and persuasively convey the mission of CAF to diverse groups, including donors, prospects, corporate executives, board members, and other key stakeholders.
- Direct experience in building and managing both in-person and remote teams to achieve revenue targets.
- Ability to interact with physically challenged individuals and be an advocate of disabled athletics.
- Solid understanding of the sales cycle and/or fundraising strategies, systems, and processes.
- Exceptionally strong internal communicator with strategic thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with CRM databases, preferably Salesforce, as a central tool for development tracking and efficiency.
- Strong commitment to the CAF mission, objectives, goals, and programs of the organization
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
In addition to a competitive base salary of $175,000–$190,000, the Challenged Athletes Foundation enhances the compensation package with generous employer contributions to health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as employer-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance. CAF’s benefit offerings include a 401(k) match, 25 vacation days, 8 sick days, 10 paid holidays, and access to an on-site gym.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation has retained the services of Scion Executive, a national executive search firm specializing in corporate recruitment, to conduct this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/10930
Please address applications to:
Sydney Burnham, Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
(888) 487-8850
Sydney Burnham, Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
(888) 487-8850
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.
ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is an award-winning retained executive search firm. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.
We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.
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