Chief Development Officer

Mississippi Food Network; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

Mississippi Food Network seeks a Chief Development Officer to lead private fundraising, donor engagement, and development operations. You will drive annual revenue, diversify funding, and partner with the CEO, board, and community partners to advance MFN’s mission.

The role requires leadership of major gifts, foundations, and corporate partnerships, with experience in grant strategy, reporting, and donor communications, while modeling MFN’s values and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; CFRE or advanced degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Experience managing staff, budgets, vendors, and CRM/reporting systems.
• Excellent writing, public speaking, interpersonal, analytical, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies to achieve revenue goals.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other funding sources.
• Lead donor relationship-building to increase retention, engagement, and revenue.
• Oversee programs: major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, grants, digital fundraising, planned giving.
• Direct institutional fundraising efforts including grant strategy, proposal development, and reporting.
• Ensure donor communications and annual reports are compelling and brand-aligned.

Skills

Donor relations

Grant writing

Public speaking

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Advanced degree

CFRE preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Salary Range: $120,000-139,000 (Based on Experience)

About Mississippi Food Network

The Mississippi Food Network (MFN) changes lives by fighting hunger today and feeding hope for a healthier tomorrow.As the only Feeding America-affiliated food bank serving Mississippi, Mississippi Food Network is dedicated to ending hunger by providing food, building strategic partnerships, and delivering innovative programs that increase access to nutritious food across 56 counties in central Mississippi. Working alongside more than 430 partner agencies, volunteers, donors, and community leaders, MFN is committed to building a stronger, healthier Mississippi where no one goes hungry.At MFN, our culture is built on collaboration, compassion, innovation, and service. Every team member plays an important role in creating lasting community impact while advancing our mission of eliminating hunger throughout our state.

Why Join Our Team?

At Mississippi Food Network, your work has purpose. As part of our team, you'll help strengthen one of the largest hunger-relief networks in the state while building meaningful relationships with community partners who serve thousands of families every day.We invest in our employees through professional development opportunities, a collaborative and mission-driven workplace, competitive benefits, and the opportunity to Fight Hunger, Feed Hope throughout Mississippi each day.

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer is the executive leader responsible for Mississippi Food Network’s private fundraising, donor engagement, development operations, institutional giving, communications alignment, and fundraising culture. The CDO partners closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, Development Committee, staff, vendors, and community partners to deliver annual revenue goals, strengthen donor relationships, diversify funding, and position MFN for sustainable growth.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategies to achieve revenue goals and support organizational growth.
• Partner closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other key funding sources.
• Manage a portfolio of major, principal, corporate, and foundation donors, leading relationship-building efforts that increase donor retention, engagement, and revenue.
• Oversee all fundraising programs, including major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, digital fundraising, monthly giving, and planned giving initiatives.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate development staff, establishing clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities.
• Direct institutional fundraising efforts, including grant strategy, proposal development, funder stewardship, compliance, budgeting, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure donor communications, stewardship materials, annual reports, digital content, and public-facing messaging are compelling, donor-centered, and aligned with the organization's mission and brand.
• Oversee development operations, including CRM management, donor data integrity, gift processing, financial reconciliation, revenue forecasting, and fundraising performance reporting.
• Strengthen Board and leadership engagement in fundraising through training, donor strategy development, prospect assignments, and regular pipeline and performance reporting.
• Represent the organization with donors, community leaders, corporate partners, foundations, public officials, and network partners while ensuring adherence to ethical fundraising practices, donor intent, privacy standards, and applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and senior-level fundraising experience required; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including major gifts, institutional giving, annual fund strategy, and team leadership.
• Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant individual, corporate, and foundation gifts.
• Experience managing staff, budgets, vendors, board engagement, donor communications, and CRM/reporting systems.
• Excellent writing, public speaking, interpersonal, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel within MFN’s service area as needed.
• Mission commitment and respect for the dignity of neighbors, donors, volunteers, agencies, and colleagues.
• High standards for accuracy, confidentiality, stewardship, and follow-through.
• Collaborative, service-oriented work style with a practical bias toward action and continuous improvement.

Mississippi Food Network offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Professional Development Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mississippi Food Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with dignity and respect. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.