Chief Development Officer

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated tocuring spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research andimproving the quality of life for individuals and families impactedby paralysis. The Reeve Foundation is a pioneer in the field ofspinal cord injury (SCI) research and has funded millions ofdollars in the laboratories of key thought leaders around theworld. The Foundation is committed to building on the findings ofdecades of research and developing therapies that bring meaningfulsolutions to people with SCI. Its National Paralysis ResourceCenter provides the most comprehensive knowledge, tools, andservices for individuals impacted by paralysis through dedicatedInformation Specialists, a substantial Quality of Life GrantsProgram, Peer & Family Support Program, Military and VeteransProgram, Racial and Health Equity initiatives and Advocacyprogram.

Job Summary:

As a partner and advisor to the President & CEO, and theBoard of Directors, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) willfulfill a vision for the organization s revenue growth, build andexecute a development plan and evaluate outcomes using ametrics-based approach.

The Chief Development Officer will be a seasoned fundraisingprofessional who will transform and reach a new and aspiring levelof philanthropic success one that will propel the ReeveFoundation on a sustainable path for accomplishment in the comingyears.

They will be both a strategic thinker who can help guide theorganization s growth and a practical implementer who can cultivatenew relationships to build the visibility, impact, and financialresources of the Foundation. They will lead a team of 7Development professionals responsible for cultivating Major Giftsand Planned Giving, Direct Response (offline/online) campaigns,Corporate and Foundation Support, Special Events, Team Reeve andData Analytics.

They are also an integral member of the Leadership Team whichoversees and manages the day-to-day operations. The ChiefDevelopment Officer will embody the values and mission of the ReeveFoundation and, as a result, inspire and motivate others internallyand externally to fulfill our mission.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive development strategy tosustain and grow core support from approximately $7 million to $10million within three years, with an initial emphasis on expandingand diversifying philanthropic support from major donors,foundations, planned giving and new donors.
• Work closely with the President & CEO to lead theidentification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship offoundation, corporate, and individual major donors to build lastingrelationships and ensure ongoing support.
• Partner effectively with the Board of Directors, ensuring aclose relationship to promote the organization s developmentstrategy and inspiring engagement, introductions, and stretchgiving from each director; Serve as staff lead to the Board sDevelopment Committee, providing guidance and support.
• Oversee the growth of an individual major donor program thatincludes strategic donor stewardship, solicitation, andrecognition.
• Over time, develop additional earned income revenue streams andbuild out the Development team with additional staff
• Handle budgeting and financial reporting for developmentactivities.
• Establish partnerships across corporations and otherorganizations to yield new revenue and tap into industrynetworks
• Collaborate across departments to ensure deep understanding ofprogrammatic objectives to expertly communicate Reeve activitiesand research advancements with donors
• Identify organizations and opportunities to populate a pipelineof prospects with an emphasis on generating multi-year, major giftsof six to eight figures
• Provide hands-on leadership, direction, mentoring and supportto the existing Development team of 7staff members: update positiondescriptions as needed and ensure team/individual performance ismeasured against agreed-upon metrics. When appropriate, recruitprofessionals with proven ability to enhance the team scapabilities.
• Participate in organizational planning and ongoing managementof the Reeve Foundation. Work with other senior team members tomaintain a unified strategy for daily operations.
• Work in concert with the Managing Director of SCI Ventures, awholly owned subsidiary of the Reeve Foundation, the first venturephilanthropy fund focused on innovative therapies for people livingwith paralysis.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A four-year college degree and 10 years in a Senior Director,VP or Management Position or equivalent experience in relatedfield
• Strong, comprehensive managerial experience within afoundation, not-for-profit, or complex organization; provenexperience engaging board-level individuals
• A minimum of 10 years experience as an effective peoplemanager with the ability to motivate staff to achieve results
• Ability to create and implement long-term strategic plans forfundraising activities, experience in managing budgets, creatingforecasts and analyzing progress through established metrics
• Proven track record in building and executing a developmentplan and evaluation of outcomes with a metrics-based approach
• Experience managing major gifts, planned giving and otherfundraising efforts; expert understanding of effective advancementmodels in a range of organizations.
• Exceptional English written and oral communication skills
• Intermediate level experience with a CRM system
• Experience working in research, medical, patientadvocacy/healthcare preferred

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience working with a philanthropic venture fund

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES:

• Entrepreneurial, flexible and agile, able to adjust todifferent work styles and environments
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with theability to speak publicly with comfort
• Ability to effectively manage direct reports and demonstratethe ability to lead, motivate and direct staff
• Collaborate well to build partnerships
• Ability to think strategically and programmatically as well assuccessfully manage operations

Travel:

15-20% travel required

Physical Demands/Office Environment

This position is primarily a sedentary role but will haveperiods of physical activity. The person in this position may needto occasionally move about inside the office to liaise withinternal staff, access files, office machinery and a copymachine/printer. In addition, this person will need to be able toset up live events, including exhibit booths, stages for presentersand displays. They will need to be able to lift up to 15lbs.

As stated above, the position involves moderatetravel.

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,disability status, protected veteran status or any othercharacteristic protected by law.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able toperform each essential job duty satisfactorily, with or without areasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made toenable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essentialjob functions.

The Foundation is committed to providing a work environment freeof harassment and discrimination that supports individual dignityand respect. Accordingly, the Foundation maintains a strict policyprohibiting sexual harassment, unlawful harassment and any type ofdiscriminatory treatment because of any ProtectedCharacteristic