Chief Development Officer

Cover Letter is required with application.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

VRL/A are national, nonpartisan, civic leadership organizations committed to training anti- racist, feminist leaders who support democracy reform and representative government. We use training, technology, and community to create large-scale impact on women and gender- expansive people’s representation, to fuel their ambition for political leadership, and close the knowledge gap around civic engagement.

Our mission is to unleash the political power of women and gender expansive people as voters, candidates and leaders to create and sustain an equitable democracy. Our vision is nothing short of a country where women and gender-expansive folks are the majority of office holders at every level of government, forging the democracy we deserve.

Launched in 2014, VRL/A was founded with the central tenet that at every level of government, more women and gender-expansive people’s representation means greater impact and efficiency. Leveraging our award-winning Run As You Are curriculum, VRL/A trains women and gender-expansive people to run for office, and win. To date, VRL/A has worked with tens of thousands of people – nearly 60% of whom are people of color. Alumni are proudly serving on city councils, county boards, state houses, supreme courts, and in Congress.

Today, VRL/A has grown six times since its founding. With a deepened commitment to transform the leadership of our public offices, VRL/A has implemented the Run/51 Project, a moon-shot goal of gender parity in all 50 state legislatures. RUN/51 is now the primary focus of VRL/A’s programming.

OVERALL FUNCTION

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) CDO is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and will lead the design and execution of the fundraising strategy for VRL/A, ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the organizations. The CDO will be responsible for securing and growing diversified revenue streams, strengthening donor relationships, and fostering a culture of philanthropy across the organization. This position exists to strategically advance VRL/A’s mission through resource development and by supporting an ambitious vision for growth. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in fundraising for political committees and other tax-exempt advocacy organizations.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the CEO
• Manages the Development Team and Fundraising Consultants

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The CDO must have a strong understanding of the national political fundraising landscape, including the ability to navigate its complexities and adapt to the boom-and-bust nature of electoral cycles. They must also be skilled at crafting unique value propositions that effectively highlight VRL/A’s programs and mission.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Fundraising Strategy and Execution (30%)

• Design and implement a comprehensive, multi-channel development plan to achieve annual revenue targets.
• Oversee individual, corporate, and foundation giving strategies, as well as government grants and sponsorships.
• Diversify and grow funding sources to include major gifts, planned giving, events, and digital fundraising campaigns.

Major Gifts and Donor Stewardship (25%)

• Cultivate and steward relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, and institutional funders.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of major donors, crafting personalized engagement and solicitation plans.
• Work with the CEO and Board of Directors to enhance major donor and corporate partnership engagement.

Team Leadership and Collaboration (20%)

• Build and manage a high-performing development team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Collaborate with Political and Communications teams to align fundraising initiatives with organizational priorities and messaging.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team on matters related to philanthropy and revenue generation.

Finance and Development Operations (25%)

• Collaboration on Financial Systems Development
• Partner with the Finance team to design and refine financial systems that align with organizational growth.
• Ensure system enhancements enable real-time tracking and reporting of financial data for better decision-making.
• Integrated Budgeting and Forecasting
• Work closely with Finance to develop accurate budget projections that reflect organizational growth plans.
• Align forecasting processes with programmatic and operational goals to anticipate future needs and opportunities.
• Bridge-Building Across Departments
• Establish a robust feedback loop between Finance and other departments to capture on-the-ground insights for financial planning.
• Act as a liaison to ensure financial data supports and informs strategy execution.
• Growth-Centric Financial Analysis
• Collaborate on analyzing financial trends and identifying growth opportunities or risks.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to growth objectives and monitor performance.
• Resource Allocation and Investment Strategy
• Partner with Finance to ensure resources are allocated effectively to support scaling efforts.
• Jointly evaluate investment opportunities for long-term sustainability.
• Compliance and Risk Management
• Ensure financial systems and projections comply with regulations and organizational policies.
• Work with Finance to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks tied to growth initiatives.
• Capacity Building
• Contribute to training programs that empower staff to understand financial systems and their impact on growth.
• Foster a culture of financial literacy and accountability across the organization.
• Development Operations
• Oversee donor database management, ensuring accuracy and compliance with data privacy regulations.
• Provide regular reports and forecasts to the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Monitor and evaluate fundraising efforts, leveraging data to inform decisions and refine strategies

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 or more years in nonprofit fundraising with increasingly responsible experience in the creation and execution of development strategies, programs, and systems as well as an established track record of increasing philanthropic revenue.
• Minimum of 5 years working in political fundraising.
• Clear understanding of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and political organizations’ legal considerations and structures.
• Proven track record in securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and leading diverse revenue streams (including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and grants) for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 527 organizations.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Familiarity with donor management systems (e.g., Action Network or similar CRM).
• Exceptional leadership and management skills, with experience building and managing development professionals.
• Ability to recruit, lead, evaluate, and develop staff and contribute to the ongoing fostering of a results-oriented, multiracial/multicultural workforce.
• Track record of maintaining best practices, clear goals, and shared accountability, as well as working cross-departmentally when necessary to achieve results. Experience managing budgets and revenue forecasts.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational goals into actionable development plans.
• Experience leading while centering the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Passion for VRL/A’s mission and a commitment to advancing equity for a representative democracy.
• Requires occasional travel for donor meetings, fundraising events, and organizational retreats (up to 25%).
• Regular virtual collaboration with staff across multiple time zones.