Chief Development Officer

About KIND

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.

Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary

KIND seeks a highly strategic, driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to join the team at a moment of transformation for our organization. After the recent loss of KIND’s federal funding, the organization now enters a new chapter, seeking ways to transform its work to further serve our mission, advocate for change, and fund our work through a development strategy that meets the moment and expands our channels. This will entail growing even further our existing network of pro bono partnerships, corporate partners, foundations and individual donors.

Reporting to the President, and a member of KIND’s senior leadership team (SLT), the CDO is both a pragmatic fundraising expert and strategic partner. They will build the ambitious development strategy that powers KIND’s programmatic roadmap and institutional success for the next four years and beyond. The CDO is a go-to resource and thought partner for members of KIND’s executive leadership team and Board of Directors. They are also KIND’s primary link to its external prospective donors, joining the right leaders to the right prospects, armed with the right information and approach. The CDO acts as the international face of KIND in fundraising circles, leveraging their passion for our mission to become strong and reliable supporters. They also personally cultivate and closely manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals who have a passion for KIND’s work.

Significant travel will be required throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Leadership and Planning
• Builds and owns KIND’s overarching development strategy, working with the President and SLT colleagues.
• Leads and continuously reviews the fundraising roadmap that will strategically increase KIND's revenue year over year.
• Creates and oversees the annual fundraising plan, and underpinning budget, that contributes to the multiyear fundraising roadmap.
• Ensures that KIND has a development plan that delivers sustainability by leveraging a holistic blend of individual giving, major gifts, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, special events, planned givings, U.S. federal funding, and other U.S. state and international funding opportunities.
• Champions a long-term, sustainable approach to development planning, identifying and cultivating a strong donor pipeline for KIND’s long-term growth.
• Along with the President, acts as external spokesperson for KIND, responding to media and other stakeholder requests.
• Works with Advocacy and Communications peers to map out and deliver the forward-thinking strategy that increases the overall visibility of KIND’s mission and profile.
• Partners with the Chief Programs Officer and programs teams to drive a fundraising strategy that is pragmatically aligned to our work and that delivers the most value to our programs.
• Acts as philanthropic champion for the wider KIND staff team, encouraging all to adopt a profile-raising mindset, aligned to the organization’s development priorities.

• Donor and Pipeline Management
• Champions a data-first team approach to prospect identification and management, donor pipeline creation, and fundraising.
• Develops fundraising strategies for new and expanded areas of work, such as program growth outside of the U.S.
• Uses own network, along with guided research conducted by the team, to identify and then cultivate a network of major gifts prospects.
• Builds a strong, personal network with current donors, prospective donors, and other key influencers and stakeholders.
• Uses a combination of communication, events, and 1:1 engagement to make donors feel heard, engaged and recognized.
• Maps out and oversees a pragmatic network between other senior KIND stakeholders and external key donors and influencers.
• Works closely with the board and executive leadership to identify and solicit major funding opportunities, developing presentations and proposals that bring together the donor’s vision with KIND’s mission.
• Serves as a visible KIND champion within the legal partner network to maximize both in-kind and financial donations.
• Oversees the coordination of all government funding received, working with the Chief Programs Officer and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer to ensure that funds are diligently managed to maximize their impact and capacity.

• Team Leadership
• Serves as a visionary leader to the Development team, creating a sense of engagement and accountability around KIND’s development strategy and fundraising plan.
• Ensures that the team resources are agilely aligned to the programs that will deliver the overall stretch fundraising targets.
• Prepares and manages the annual budgets for both the overall development department and key programs.
• Oversees routine reporting on department results against the annual department operating plan to inform future strategy and decision making.
• Works with team to prepare regular updates to the board, regional advisory committees, and SLT on funding plan status, progress made, and evolving priorities.
• Monitors and reports on network and market trends that impact fundraising and KIND’s issue areas to ensure KIND’s fundraising competitiveness.
• Works with team to periodically reviews the market for new potential foundation grants and other opportunities in corporate giving and government granting.
• Oversees a strong culture of collaboration, ensuring that the Development team effectively coordinates with their colleagues in Advocacy, Corporate Partnerships, Pro Bono, and Marketing.
• Identifies and implements new technology tools and innovative practices to maximize team efficiency, secure increased revenue, and provide best in class donor stewardship.

• Events
• Designs and oversees fundraising events.
• Convenes small groups of donors and would-be donors in mission-connected small events and roundtables.
• Represents KIND at convenings, conferences and other public events, using their passion and network to increase support for the mission.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A clear passion for KIND’s mission at a time when our work to protect the legal rights and well-being of unaccompanied children has never been more necessary.
• Graduate degree required.
• Must be fluent in English.
• Minimum of 15 years of proven Development experience, with at least five years in a senior level role.
• A proven leadership track record of achieving significant revenue growth in one or more large nonprofits.
• Strong experience of identifying and securing significant-sized gifts from a built network of large donors.
• Excellent experience of building and executing development and fundraising strategies in times of change.
• Demonstrable experience in planning, leading, and managing large scale development projects that required strong cross-functional coordination.
• Strong knowledge of current and emerging trends and innovative development practices.
• Ability to supervise and train employees including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments; evaluating performance; and mentoring and coaching employees to achieve maximum productivity.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment; ability to prioritize tasks and delegate as appropriate.
• Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.
• Ability to multitask and work with a sense of urgency in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.
• This role will require both U.S. domestic and international travel (approximately 30%-45% of the time).