Chief Development Officer

Mission:

The mission of Bread for the City is to help Washington, DC residents living with low income to develop the power to determine the future of their own communities. We provide food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to reduce the burden of poverty. We seek justice through community organizing and public advocacy. We work to uproot racism, a major cause of poverty. We are committed to treating our clients with the dignity and respect that all people deserve.

Position Profile:

Bread for the City seeks a senior, relationship-driven leader to serve as CDO and member of the executive team. Reporting to the CEO, this role leads fundraising, communications, and external engagement to drive a diversified $20M+ revenue portfolio and strengthen organizational visibility. The CDO partners with leadership and the board to align resources with strategic priorities and foster a culture of philanthropy grounded in racial equity.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Growth: Develop a multi-year strategy to diversify revenue and set ambitious goals with the CEO and CFO. Serve as a strategic advisor on philanthropic trends and ensure resource development aligns with organizational priorities.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement: Oversee all giving streams, including individual, institutional, and special campaigns like Holiday Helpings. Personally manage a high-capacity portfolio of five- to seven-figure donors while partnering with program leaders to create compelling funding opportunities.

Capital Campaigns & Initiatives: Lead all phases of capital campaign planning and execution, maintaining strong relationships with campaign donors for sustained investment.

Communications & External Relations: Lead an integrated strategy to advance fundraising, advocacy, and brand visibility through media relations and ethical storytelling. Serve as a spokesperson, ensuring all messaging reflects BFC’s values of racial equity and dignity.

Board Partnership: Act as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, fostering a culture of philanthropy and engaging members in donor cultivation and give/get expectations.

Team Leadership & Culture: Lead and mentor the development, communications, and operations teams. Manage departmental budgets and performance metrics while embedding an anti-racist lens across all advancement practices

Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven success leading complex fundraising programs and securing major and principal gifts (five-, six-, and seven-figure levels).
• Experience designing and executing comprehensive advancement strategies that drive measurable revenue growth.
• Background leading integrated fundraising and communications functions, including capital campaigns.
• Strong record of building and sustaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including donors, board members, and community partners.
• Experience managing external partners and consultants, and leading high-performing teams.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic, systems-level thinker who translates vision into actionable results.
• Strong relationship-builder with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative leader able to influence across all levels of an organization.
• Self-directed, accountable, and results-oriented.

Values & Commitment:

• Deep alignment with the mission and commitment to racial equity and justice.
• Dedication to ethical, community-centered, and donor-centered fundraising practices.
• Ability to integrate an anti-racist lens into advancement and communications work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of development experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Familiarity with the Washington, DC philanthropic landscape.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM systems.

Bread for the City is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental disability, medical condition, status as a veteran, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.

To Apply:

You must complete an application through Bread for the City's ADP portal. Click here to review available openings and click on "Chief Development Officer" position. Select "apply" at the top right-hand corner to register for a login and apply for the position. Please upload a resume and cover letter through this online application process. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.