Chief Development Officer

Search for the Chief
Development Officer

PolicyLink

Oakland, California (or
remote)

“This is equity: Just and fair inclusion into a society in
which all can participate, prosper, and reach their
full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing
the promise in us all.”

 – Excerpt from PolicyLink’s Equity
Manifesto

Envision a nation that cherishes the humanity of all its people,
where every individual can actively engage, flourish, and shape
their own destiny. Despite the founding pledge of freedom, liberty,
and justice for all Americans, this ideal remains unfulfilled, as
the foundational systems and structures of society do not deliver
on these core principles. Consequently, 100 million individuals in
the United States, including 55 million people of color, are living
in or near poverty. PolicyLink, a national institution dedicated to
advancing racial and economic equity in the U.S., maintains that a
nation designed to benefit everyone is still within reach. It is
the diverse populace of this nation—families, neighbors, and
communities—that has long embraced a vision beyond the status quo,
edging us closer to the realization of democracy’s promise, and
PolicyLink contends that this vibrant, multiracial democracy is one
we must collectively forge.

Established in Oakland, California, in 1999, PolicyLink works to
change systems and structures—and accelerates the work of other key
actors—to transform our democracy, economy, and communities so that
they truly serve all. Over the last quarter of a century, the
organization has built a broad-based, national movement for equity,
securing more than $5 billion in major policy wins and practice
changes across government entities and corporations, and PolicyLink
has become recognized as a national treasure.

Today, PolicyLink is seeking an enterprising, dynamic,
collaborative, and results-driven revenue-generator and
institution-builder to join its leadership team as chief
development officer (CDO).

Working closely with CEO and President, Dr.
Michael McAfee, the CDO will devise and implement development
strategies to advance the organization’s compelling mission. In
recent years, PolicyLink has achieved remarkable success with its
agile and entrepreneurial approach to development, raising
approximately $50 million annually and currently spearheading a
$300 million capital campaign. In a landscape where few policy
advocacy organizations led by people of color have achieved
enduring impact, PolicyLink stands out as an exception. This rarity
is largely attributed to the challenge of insufficient resources
hindering scalability. However, PolicyLink is privileged to be in
this advantageous position and is poised to continue to make
significant strides toward creating a nation that works for
all.

PolicyLink’s incoming CDO will work to amplify the already
formidable strengths of the organization’s current development
efforts and will expertly steer a talented team of development
professionals towards ambitious objectives, establishing a robust
infrastructure for PolicyLink’s future initiatives. PolicyLink’s
fundraising team is committed to propelling development endeavors
to unprecedented levels under the guidance of the CDO, and the
fundraising team will work closely with other colleagues throughout
the organization. Together, the PolicyLink team will ensure that
the organization is endowed with resources befitting the stature of
the nation’s most influential policy institutions.

This successful CDO will embody a blend of intellectual
curiosity, strong social acumen, a profound sense of
accountability, and a bias toward action. They will demonstrate
exceptional communication skills and seamlessly navigate
interpersonal interactions with keen emotional intelligence.
Additionally, the CDO will have a stellar track record in resource
mobilization, personally securing significant seven-figure gifts
while adeptly nurturing and expanding development teams and
offering strategic counsel to senior leadership. They will also
broaden and diversify funding sources, introduce new organizational
systems and frameworks, refine performance metrics, and harness
data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making.

The incoming CDO will serve as a vital ambassador for
PolicyLink, effectively conveying the organization’s message,
voice, and vision to diverse audiences. Equally crucial, they will
demonstrate unwavering dedication to PolicyLink’s mission and
possess an understanding and appreciation of the organization’s
history, achievements, and future aspirations.

PolicyLink is headquartered in Oakland, California, and many of
its remote staff are located across the country. The successful
candidate for this position will have the flexibility to work
remotely, with regular travel to Oakland.

PolicyLink has retained the national executive search firm
Isaacson, Miller to assist in conducting this search. Inquiries,
nominations, and applications (including resume and 2–3-page letter
of interest responding to the opportunities/challenges outlined
above) should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the
search:
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/policylink/chief-development-officer.

Compensation for this position will be competitive and
commensurate with experience, with a salary range estimated at
$400,000. The organization also provides generous and comprehensive
benefits. PolicyLink is based in Oakland, California; this role can
be based remotely, with regular travel to Oakland.

Consultants conducting this recruitment include:

Rebecca Swartz, Partner; Kennedy Kearney-Fischer, Managing
Associate; and Karson Freeman, Associate

PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and
fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their
full potential. We work toward a more inclusive world, and as such,
we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate
against any employee or applicant for employment because of race,
skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation,
national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status,
pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a
diverse and multicultural working environment.