Chief Development Officer

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for developing and executing a best in class comprehensive fundraising strategy to support BridgeUSA’s mission and long-term sustainability. For context, BridgeUSA’s current budget is $2.2M, it has 85 college chapters, and engages ~10,000 students/year. The 4-year goal is to expand to 800 college chapters and reach 600,000 students/year. This will require fundraising $23.4M over a 4 year period.

The CDO role will oversee all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, annual giving, planned giving, and donor stewardship. The ideal candidate is an ambitious, entrepreneurial, and results-driven leader with a proven track record in revenue generation, relationship management, and team leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the CEO to develop and implement systems and processes to increase revenue and diversify funding sources in three key areas: high net worth individuals, private foundations, and corporate partners.
• Develop and implement a sales funnel that steers prospective donors from initial relationship building to supporting BridgeUSA.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Oversee grant strategy, including prospecting, proposal development, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to align fundraising messaging with brand strategy.
• Leverage data analytics to assess fundraising performance and identify opportunities for growth.
• In coordination with the CEO, serve as a key spokesperson and advocate for the organization’s mission at events and donor meetings.
• Work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to align fundraising goals with strategic priorities.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Sincere alignment and belief in BridgeUSA’s mission and vision.
• 5+ years of experience in fundraising.
• A desire to build and execute a fundraising strategy for a high growth organization.
• Proven success in securing major gifts, institutional funding, and corporate sponsorships.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with a passion for storytelling.
• Experience managing development teams and working collaboratively with senior leadership.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms and fundraising technology.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and high-growth environment.