Chief Development Officer

ACEing Autism Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

ACEing Autism seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial Chief Development Officer to lead fundraising strategy and execution. This remote role will build relationships with individual philanthropists, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners to support program expansion and impact across the country.

The CDO will report to the President and work closely with leadership to grow multi-market fundraising, drive a major gifts program, and enhance development operations for scalable growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead all fundraising strategy and execution, cultivating major gifts and stewarding donors.
• Engage executive and board leadership in fundraising efforts and strengthen philanthropic partnerships.
• Guide a development function with support from a Development Manager to scale programs nationwide.

Job description

ACEing Autism seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial, and relationship-driven leader to serve as its next Chief Development Officer (CDO). This leadership role offers the opportunity to help advance one of the nation's leading adaptive sports organizations, expanding philanthropic support for programs that help children and young adults on the autism spectrum experience fitness, friendship, and belonging through the sport of tennis.

Founded in 2008, ACEing Autism has developed a national network of community-based tennis programs that combine individualized support, a structured curriculum, volunteer leadership, and ongoing evaluation to create meaningful experiences for participants and their families. The organization is entering an exciting period of growth with a strategic goal of expanding to 400 markets and serving more than 10,000 participants by 2028.

Philanthropy will play a central role in achieving these ambitions. Through its comprehensive Play. Belong. Live. campaign, ACEing Autism seeks to raise $10 million through fiscal year 2028 to support program expansion, enhance program quality, and strengthen evaluation efforts. The next Chief Development Officer will have the opportunity to build upon the organization's strong reputation within the tennis and autism communities while expanding relationships with individual philanthropists, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners nationwide.

Reporting to President Philip Milburn and working closely with Founder and Executive Director Richard Spurling, the CDO will serve as a member of the senior leadership team and lead all fundraising strategy and execution. This leader will personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts; engage executive and board leadership in fundraising efforts; strengthen philanthropic partnerships; and guide a development function supported by an experienced Development Manager. The successful candidate will help build the relationships, visibility, and fundraising capacity needed to support ACEing Autism's next phase of growth.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and hands-on fundraising executive with a demonstrated record of cultivating major gifts, building philanthropic programs, and driving organizational growth. The successful leader will possess strong relationship-building skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and experience engaging supporters across multiple markets. While experience in autism services or adaptive sports is not required, a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and families and an appreciation for the transformative power of sport are essential.

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing national organization and help shape its future impact. Through philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and increased national visibility, the next Chief Development Officer will play a critical role in expanding access to life-changing programs and advancing ACEing Autism's vision of becoming the leading adaptive sports organization serving the autism community.

This is a fully remote position requiring convenient access to a major airport and regular travel to meet with donors and partners nationwide, including recurring visits to Los Angeles. The anticipated starting salary is approximately $150,000, accompanied by a competitive benefits package.

ACEing Autism values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.