Chief Development Officer

Job Posting

Position Title: Chief Development Officer
Direct Supervisor: CEO
Employment Type: Full-Time Exempt (40 hours/week)
Position Posted On: April 17, 2024
Salary Range: $175,000 – $200,000
Location: Hybrid, within commuting distance to Westport,
CT
Position Start Date: as filled

Position Summary
Embark on a transformative journey as an entrepreneurial leader at
Horizons National, a rapidly growing
nonprofit network committed to advancing educational equity. We are
seeking an experienced and strategic
Chief Development Officer to propel our organization to new
heights. This dynamic role involves crafting
innovative development strategies, fostering collaborative
partnerships, and overseeing a talented team to
enhance our impact and serve more children and families. The
position is hybrid, based in the U.S., working
frequently (1-2 times per month) in Westport, CT. Candidates must
reside within commuting distance to
Westport, CT.
About Horizons
At Horizons, we envision a future in which every child thrives.
Horizons National is the central office of a
nation-wide network of education programs that advance educational
equity by building long-term
partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to
create inspiring learning opportunities
outside of school. Horizons affiliates, along with Horizons
National (HN), make up the Horizons Network: a
powerful community dedicated to increasing opportunity for children
from communities that have been
historically, systemically, and structurally under-resourced.
Horizons’ hallmark 6-week summer program
engages over 7,100+ students annually from Pre-K through high
school, who return to the program each year
for project-based literacy, art, and STEM, field trips, swimming,
healthy living, and community building in a
joyful, supportive environment.
The first Horizons program began in 1964 in response to the Civil
Rights Movement. The original program
helped local students accelerate learning and broaden their
experiences, including learning to swim. In 1995,
Horizons National (HN) was formed to spread the successful model to
more communities. Today, there are 70
Horizons sites in 20 states, and the Network continues to expand
every year. In addition to program
expansion, HN is responsible for supporting Horizons affiliates
with a suite of training and resources,
professional development, peer-led communities of practice, and
Network convenings including the Horizons
National Annual Conference.
About Horizons National
At Horizons National, we have two primary roles: to expand the
Horizons Network and to support and provide
quality assurance to affiliates. The Horizons National staff is
small and mighty and motivated by our mission,
working collaboratively across teams to ensure that we achieve our
goals. Each staff member contributes their
unique strengths to the organization and has continued
opportunities to learn, share ideas, take innovative
risks, and think strategically. Just as we work to ensure caring,
welcoming environments for Horizons students,
we prioritize the well-being of our staff – offering flexible work
schedules, generous benefits packages, remote
work options, various communication channels, and opportunities to
connect with colleagues remotely and
in-person.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
As an organization whose central purpose is to mitigate inequities
in education, Horizons is committed to
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB), and we strongly
denounce racism, sexism, and
discrimination of any kind. Our Equity Framework guides our work,
underpins all of our staff and board
planning, and we commit to ensuring that all members of the
Horizons community have the opportunity to
flourish. All staff members of Horizons National are expected to
engage in thoughtful discussions, be
self-reflective, and be willing to challenge themselves and others
to learn and grow continuously. We are
eager to welcome future HN team members who share our commitment to
EDIB, and we strongly encourage
individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Position Primary Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities: As the Chief Development Officer, you will
collaborate closely with the Horizons National
Board, the CEO and staff, and affiliates nationwide. Primary
responsibilities include:
1. Development Strategy Leadership: Spearhead the formulation and
execution of strategies to diversify
funding sources, set vision and goals for development, and manage a
portfolio of programs,
partnerships, and relationships. Develop strategies for major gifts
and fundraising collaboration with
affiliates.
2. Team Management: Grow a team that supports annual fundraising of
at least $5M, covering individual
giving, corporate partnerships, and events, including the annual
Horizons Giving Day. Inspire team
cohesion, and an open and creative team culture that is not siloed
within the organization.
3. Results-Driven Operations: Optimize internal processes,
including Salesforce CRM, to foster a
data-driven, results-oriented culture within the team, emphasizing
clear goals and transparent
accountability.
4. Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with the Chief
Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and
fellow members of the Management Team on resource development for
HN and the Horizons Network.
Communicate effectively and publicly to raise awareness and attract
resources.
5. Strategic Planning: Be a leading voice in the execution of the
current, and development of future,
strategic plans; creating development objectives to support the
organizational vision.
6. Financial Oversight: Work in partnership with the Sr. VP of
Finance and Operations to oversee the
fundraising budget, actively managing revenue risk and potential to
ensure alignment with operational
budget objectives and plan goals and communicate effectively to the
board.
Ideal Candidate Qualifications and Experience
At Horizons National, we know there are countless ways to learn,
grow, and excel professionally. We respect
the diversity of experience, skill set, and perspectives of each
applicant. We want to get to know the unique
strengths and lived experiences you bring to your work. We are most
likely to be interested in your candidacy
if you exhibit the majority of qualifications and experiences
listed below.
To thrive in this role, you will have these qualities:
● Passion for education equity and a commitment to the mission of
Horizons National.
● Curiosity that drives you to keep current on fundraising trends
and best practices.
● Enthusiasm for engaging in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and
Belonging.
● An approach that values innovation, continuous improvement, and
life-long learning.
● Excitement about working collaboratively across organizational
and Network-wide teams to achieve
common goals.
● An eagerness to contribute on an individual level balanced by a
commitment to humility that drives you to
recognize and celebrate the contributions of others.
● A genuine sense of humor and a strong sense of self.
This kind of experience:
● At least fifteen years of demonstrated success in meeting or
exceeding fundraising goals, and recent
success with raising at least $5M annually and/or a capital
campaign of $20M.
● Experience in fundraising within a federated nonprofit
organization without a strong alumni base.
● Track record of consistently expanding the donor base by
identifying new revenue sources, including
foundations, major gifts, and corporate partnerships with a high
rate of convergence.
● Demonstrated ability to cultivate donors and build strong
relationships over time as evidenced by a high
rate of donor retention.
● At least 10 years’ experience working with and inspiring a Board
of Directors.
● Experience working directly with people from diverse racial,
ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
And these capabilities:
● Excellent verbal, written, and public speaking communication
skills.
● Proficiency with and enthusiasm for Salesforce or similar CRM
reporting and tracking tools.
● Flexible and adaptable working style, proactive and
reliable.
● Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced
environment.
● Self-discipline in a remote work environment- to be focused,
self-driven, and able to communicate across
different channels.
● Proven ability to lead a team of professionals, board members,
and consultants.
Compensation and Benefits
● $175K-$200K Annually
● Generous Paid Time Off with Paid Holidays
● Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage
● 401k with Company Contribution
● Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
● Short-Term Disability and Personal Leave
● Telecommuting Opportunities and Flexible Work Schedules
● Professional Development
● Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Application Process
● Interested applicants are required to attach a cover letter, a
resume and answer the questions via the link
below:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HorizonsNational1/ChiefDevelopmentOfficer

● No phone calls please.
● Cover letters should address why you are the best candidate for
this position.
● Selected applicants will be contacted to set up an
interview.
● Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis and may include
phone or video, with one or more Horizons
National staff and board members.
Join us in shaping the future of educational equity at Horizons
National.
Horizons National is an equal opportunity employer that is
committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We
prohibit
discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color,
sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin,
disability,
genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected
characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This
commitment applies to all employment practices within our
organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion,
termination,
layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and
training. Hiring decisions are made based solely on
qualifications,
merit, and business needs at the time.