Chief Development Officer

SSWAA; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Vision

Dental

401k with 6% employer match

Paid Time Off

Vacation days

Sick time

Holidays

Job summary

Rocking the Boat in the Bronx, NY seeks a strategic Chief Development Officer to lead fundraising for a $5M annual budget, partnering with the CEO and Board. The role heads a three‑member Development team across Bronx and SF, guiding major gifts, foundations, corporate and government fundraising, and donor communications.

You will steward major donors, manage Salesforce data, craft donor materials, and ensure timely reporting and events supporting growth.

Qualifications

• At least ten years of progressive nonprofit development experience.
• Ability to craft and edit donor communications and solicitations.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding major donors and building long-term relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills; strategic fundraising mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the major giving program with personalized donor engagement.
• Support CEO and Board in leveraging networks to advance fundraising goals.
• Collaborate on foundation, corporate, and government fundraising efforts.
• Advise the San Francisco Development team and share best practices.
• Develop donor-facing materials and fundraising communications for events.
• Manage events planning with the Special Events team and sponsors.
• Ensure timely donor stewardship, acknowledgments, and impact reporting.
• Maintain Salesforce donor data and track fundraising activity and deadlines.
• Attend board meetings and donor-related organizational events.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relations

Fundraising strategy

Communication

Organization

Strategic thinking

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Organizational Background

Rocking the Boat began as a boatbuilding afterschool program for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of over $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across two locations in the Bronx and San Francisco. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers and a college counselor to have a profound and lasting impact on participants.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Development Officer is an integral member of a four-member Management Team, including the Chief Youth Development Officer and Executive Director – San Francisco. The position leads a three-member Development team in the Bronx, rounded out by the Deputy Director of Development, Director of Special Events, and the Director of Communications, and is supported by the Office Manager.The position is responsible for collaborating with the CEO and the Board of Directors to raise a diversified annual budget of $5 million to support the organization’s youth development activities as well as funding necessary for capital acquisitions and improvements.Program areas for funding include after-school and summer programs for middle and high school students in traditional wooden boatbuilding, environmental education, and sailing, a job readiness program, comprehensive student support services, and programs for schools, businesses, and the local community.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow Rocking the Boat’s individual major giving program, developing and executing strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects. Build and actively manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, developing personalized engagement and solicitation strategies and maintaining consistent, meaningful contact throughout the donor relationship.Support the Chief Executive Officer and Board members in leveraging their networks and relationships to advance fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Director of Development on foundation, corporate, and government fundraising, including conducting prospect research, developing letters of inquiry, grant proposals, budgets, and reports to foundations, corporations, and public agencies in partnership with program staff and outside partners.
• Advise and support the Development team in the San Francisco office, providing guidance on strategies, sharing fundraising best practices, and helping strengthen donor engagement and relationship management.
• Work closely with the Director of Communications to develop compelling donor-facing and promotional materials, including website content, quarterly promotional pieces, fundraising appeals, and event-specific communications that support individual and institutional fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with the Director of Special Events to plan and execute two major annual fundraisers and other smaller special events, including managing committees, developing invitations and donor communications, serving as liaison with venues, honorees, and volunteer fundraisers, securing sponsors, and coordinating logistics.
• Ensure timely and personalized donor stewardship, including written acknowledgements, follow-up communications, impact reporting, and other touchpoints that strengthen donor relationships and encourage continued and increased support.
• Maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the Salesforce donor database, ensuring accurate records of gifts, donor interactions, prospects, moves, and other relationship-management information
• Track and manage fundraising activity and deadlines, including proposals, reports, solicitations, stewardship activities, and opportunities; stay informed about new RFPs and emerging funding opportunities.
• Attend Board meetings, programmatic events, donor meetings, and other organizational activities to deepen knowledge of Rocking the Boat’s programs and impact and to build authentic relationships with donors and supporters.
• Collaborate across the organization to advance Rocking the Boat’s fundraising goals, serving as a strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer, fellow members of the Management Team, the Board, and program staff, helping to foster a strong culture of donor stewardship throughout the organization.

Requirements

• At least ten years of progressive nonprofit development experience, including significant experience in individual major giving, donor relationship management, and developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft and edit compelling donor communications, harness AI for efficiency, and make effective verbal solicitations
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward individual major donors and build long-term donor relationships
• Strong interpersonal skills and responsiveness, with the ability to build trust and maintain effective relationships with donors, Board members, colleagues, and external partners
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects simultaneously
• Strategic, creative, and flexible approach to fundraising and problem-solving
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills
• Proficiency with Salesforce; ability to use fundraising data to inform strategy and track donor engagement
• Knowledge of youth development, interest or experience in sailing, woodworking, or environmental education, and familiarity with the Bronx and/or New York City nonprofit community preferred

Rocking the Boat offers

• Full-time, exempt, salaried position: $150,000-$160,000, commensurate with experience
• Hybrid schedule, if desired
• Benefits package including Health, Vision, Dental and 401k with 6% employer match after first year of employment
• Paid Time Off
• Vacation: 23 days; increase to 28 days after three years
• NYS Sick and Safe Time: 40 hours
• Holidays: 10 days
• Opportunity to work with a creative, well-funded organization committed to community development and youth empowerment

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Rocking the Boat

Rocking the Boat is committed to creating an environment that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging of all applicants and employees.The organization strives not only to accept but to affirm and celebrate all identities.Race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and veteran status are not barriers to employment at Rocking the Boat.Candidates should feel welcome to communicate any special needs or requirements to be accommodated throughout the hiring process.