Chief Development Officer

Organization and Mission: 

A pillar in the Phoenix community for 30 years, Fresh Start’s mission is to provide access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. We envision and work towards establishing a future of unlimited opportunities for women. Fresh Start empowers women to succeed by providing a wide range of comprehensive, wrap-around services. 

Our work—centered around helping women achieve economic self-sufficiency and personal empowerment— focuses on five key areas of service provision: family stability; health and well-being; financial management; education and training; and careers. Fresh Start has served thousands of women aged 18 and older, supporting them as they transform their lives and, in turn, transform the lives of their children, families, and the broader community. 

Overview of the role: 

The Chief Development Officer leads the organization’s comprehensive development program to support significant and continued organizational growth. The CDO oversees the full spectrum of fundraising programs: Individual Giving (special/major gifts, annual giving, planned giving), Institutional Relations/Grants (corporate, foundation, and government), Development Operations (database management, basic direct mail), and Fundraising Events. 

CDO is responsible for taking current activities to new levels and developing strategies for increasing the organization’s revenue-generating capabilities efficiently, sustainably, and reliably. 

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors, the CDO is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for managing and directing professional staff and volunteer committees toward high levels of performance and stewardship. 

What you’ll do: 

• Drive Strategic Fundraising Growth – Develop and execute innovative fundraising strategies to expand donor engagement and increase revenue. Lead a high-performing team to achieve ambitious fundraising goals, ensuring alignment with Fresh Start’s mission and strategic priorities. Build clear structure and accountability around fundraising activities, including portfolio management, donor outreach goals, and stewardship practices, ensuring consistency, excellence, and measurable progress across the Development team. 

• Cultivate Key Partnerships – Manage a donor portfolio and build and nurture relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners to enhance long-term philanthropic support. 

• Support the CEO and Board in securing transformational gifts and fundraising partnerships. 

• Oversee grants team to identify, cultivate, and steward foundation and corporate partners, developing grant proposals and sponsorship opportunities aligned with Fresh Start’s mission. 

• Manage a personal portfolio of top capacity corporations and foundations for strategic engagement and increased funding. 

• Oversee the launch of a branded Leadership Annual Giving society for donors of $2,500 and more per year to drive mission-essential contributions to record levels. 

• Lead strategy and execution for the Annual Giving campaigns, ensuring growth in donor participation and retention at all levels. 

• Oversee direct mail, digital fundraising, peer-to-peer efforts, and donor stewardship programs to build the pipeline for major gifts. 

• Oversee the strategy, integrity, and optimization of the organization’s donor database to ensure accurate reporting, data-driven decision-making, and effective donor stewardship. 

• Foster a planned giving strategy as an organic part of current giving. Oversee Philanthropic Boards and Events 

• Oversee the Fresh Start Auxiliary Board and Fresh Start Men’s Board and the two fundraising events they host. 

• Oversee the events team who manage the fundraising events at Fresh Start, currently a luncheon, a golf tournament and a Gala which currently equates to over $4m in revenue. 

• Support the events through leadership, sponsorship and underwriting support. Capacity-building Initiative 

• Develop and manage detailed plan for a Capacity-Building Initiative including timelines, gift tables, donor pipelines, communications strategies, and progress tracking for special gift opportunities tied to clusters of programs, positions, and named funds. 

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major and leadership-level gifts, for these special/major gifts, ensuring alignment with Fresh Start’s mission and future growth goals. 

• Establish and oversee volunteer committees, providing staff support, training, and resources to empower volunteer leaders and Board members in fundraising efforts. 

• Create and implement stewardship and recognition plans for special donors, ensuring consistent communication, transparency, and long-term engagement. 

• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to design compelling materials, including impact storytelling. 

• Monitor and report progress, preparing updates and presentations for senior leadership, Board, and stakeholders. 

• Ensure seamless integration of this special initiative with ongoing annual, major gift, and event fundraising efforts, maintaining momentum across all giving programs. Inspire a Culture of Philanthropy 

• Supervise, mentor, coach, and evaluate the Development team to achieve revenue goals and professional growth. 

• Develop clear fundraising structures and performance metrics for the team, emphasizing accountability, activity tracking, and stewardship excellence. 

• Partner with the CEO, Board, and leadership team to foster a community of engaged supporters and champions. 

Qualifications: 

• Proven Fundraising Expertise - You have a successful track record, 8–12+ years of fundraising experience in securing five-and six-figure gifts through major gifts, corporate partnerships, and grants. 

• Strategic Leadership – You’re experienced in developing and executing high-level fundraising strategies for mission-driven organizations and 5+ years in a leadership role. Proven experience managing staff, budgets, and developing fundraising systems or structures. 

• Strong Relationship Builder – You have the ability to engage, steward, communicate, and inspire staff, major donors, board members, and corporate partners. 

• Data-Driven & Results-Oriented – You leverage fundraising analytics and donor insights to inform strategic decision-making. 

• Education & Professional Acumen: Bachelor’s degree or higher in marketing, business, or nonprofit fundraising. 

This position is a C-level position and is primarily based in-office, leading the development team with a strong blend of in-person meetings with donors in the field.