Chief Development Officer
The Opportunity
Room to Read is one of the fastest-growing and award-winning NGOs founded in the last decade. Our goal for the future is more ambitious than ever: to enable more than 10 million children in over a dozen developing world countries to maximize their educational experiences by 2015. We now seek a super-star Chief Development Officer (“CDO”) to lead a large and growing team, and to work closely with the management team and Board of Directors to take fundraising, PR and marketing to the next level during our second decade. In order to achieve our bold vision, the CDO will be tasked with growing our diversified funding base with a focus on individuals, corporations and foundations, and supporting a flourishing volunteer chapter network that continues to be energized, engaged and committed – all with the goal of continuing significant growth in revenues to over $100MM. This is the ideal opportunity for a leader who wants to leave a legacy and change the future for millions of children. The successful candidate will have already had significant success leading fast-moving teams in either the corporate or non-profit sector.
Organization Profile:
Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.
We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 5 million children by constructing more than 1,400 schools, establishing over 11,000 libraries, publishing 550 new children’s book titles in 22 local languages, and putting over 10,000 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships.
Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$38 million and our global staff numbers over 420. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and we are setting up operations and hiring staff for a new office in Tanzania.
Position Overview:
The Chief Development Officer is responsible for all fundraising, marketing and PR for the organization. This includes leading the global fundraising team with offices in San Francisco (Global Office), New York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, and Delhi. We seek a leader and an excellent manager who can build and run an efficient high performance team so that they are able to spend significant time in outward facing pursuits of the organization’s growth targets. The position plans, coordinates and assures implementation of strategies to develop donors and contributions to support Room to Read’s bold annual and long-term goals. Additionally, as we expand into new geographies, the CDO sets the strategy for raising multi-year operating campaign funds. In conjunction with a Deputy Director of Development, he/she also assures the development and maintenance of appropriate systems to support fundraising including volunteer and donor management, research and cultivation, gift processing and recognition. The Chief Development Officer will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Board Chairman and Board of Directors. This is a full-time, exempt position located in San Francisco, CA.
Duties & Responsibilities:
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Build, inspire, motivate and lead a global team currently comprised of 40 fundraisers, who collectively meet (or exceed) the annual fundraising goal for the entire organization ($38MM in 2011, growing to over $100MM).
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Directly supervise a Deputy Director, Director of Marketing & Communications, and a part-time Executive Assistant.
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Plan and implement long-term fundraising strategies to attract large, multi-year support for the vision of the organization.
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Strategize for organizational growth, including, but not limited to, launching multi-year operating fund campaigns for new geographies and exploring the potential for an endowment.
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Ensure that the annual goal for Gifts in Kind is met or exceeded for the organization ($4.3MM in 2010).
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Provide vital input in short- and long-term strategic and operational planning and positioning within the organization.
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Evaluate the effect of internal and external forces on the organization and its fundraising, and recommend short- and long-range fund development plans and programs that support the organization’s values, mission and general objectives.
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Help develop a balanced funding mix of donor sources and solicitation programs tailored to the needs of the organization that will enable it to attract, retain and motivate donors and volunteers.
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Oversee the creation of an integrated global brand for Room to Read that is represented through all print and web-based marketing pieces.
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Oversee the PR function and ensure that Room to Read is well represented in local, national and international media outlets.
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Report to the Board and Advisory Board on annual plans, results to date and new fundraising initiatives on a frequent basis.
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Working with the CEO, the Board and Advisory Board, help identify new potential board members.
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Represent Room to Read by presenting at fundraising events and having an active slate of donor cultivation meetings in numerous locations.
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Assist with expansion and leadership of our global network of 50 fundraising chapters, including providing guidance on the legal setup and operation of international chapters.
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Other duties as necessary
Qualifications:
- Twelve or more years of professional experience and proven achievement, with a minimum of 5+ years in a senior management capacity
- Successful implementation of an annual fundraising and/or sales, marketing and business development plan for a growing organization with a current annual operating budget of $38MM+
- Extensive capability leading and motivating a large (40+), geographically-dispersed staff to collectively meet or exceed goals
- Demonstrates advanced ability to work closely with and build relationships with diverse staff, corporate partners, major donors and Boards of Directors
- Demonstrates advanced fundraising or sales and sales leadership ability from a wide variety of sources including corporations, foundations, individuals, family foundations, and events fundraising
- Demonstrates advanced ability to close six and seven figure gifts or sales contracts
- Demonstrates advanced ability managing the overall marketing strategy for an organization including public relations for an individual or international organization
- Ability and desire to travel frequently both domestically (30%) and internationally (10%)
- Demonstrated effectiveness in either working or volunteering for a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead is highly desirable
- Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
- Strong leader and strategic thinker
- The ability to engage and inspire audiences
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:
- Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
- Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
- Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
- Work well independently as well as part of a team
- Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
- Ability and desire to travel extensively
Compensation:
Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include health, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, and a 401K match. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.
Application Procedure:
Please send a compelling cover letter and resume by email, with “Chief Development Officer” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to Katie Bouton at executivesearch@koyaconsulting.com. Due to high applicant volume you may not receive a response from Room to Read. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.
Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing
the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.