Chief Development Officer, New Heights Youth

McDermott + Bull; Brooklyn (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Job summary

An established nonprofit organization in Brooklyn is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead their fundraising efforts. This role involves developing multi-year revenue strategies, managing major donor relationships, and collaborating with executive leadership to identify funding opportunities. Candidates should have over 10 years of nonprofit development experience with strong skills in communication, project management, and strategic planning. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $170,000 to $200,000 plus benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in nonprofit development in leadership roles.
• Experience in multi-channel fundraising and major donor management.
• Strong strategic planning and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising components of the Power Forward Strategic Plan.
• Develop multi-year revenue strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with senior staff to identify and steward funding opportunities.

Skills

Nonprofit development experience

Major donor management

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Project management

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Founded in 2005, New Heights Youth, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization that uses to help young people rise to their potential physically, emotionally, socially and academically. The foundation for New Heights began in 2001 when a public school teacher and coach in New York City began to offer students the opportunity to play basketball in the gym after school and on weekends, but only if they first completed their homework. He quickly recognized the motivating power of basketball, and realized that it could be an excellent tool to engage struggling students in academic activities. With this in mind, a pilot program that combined basketball with tutoring and college application assistance for students from Washington Heights, the Bronx and Harlem was formed under the Children’s Aid Society from 2001 - 2004. In 2005, the pilot program became New Heights, an independent nonprofit organization serving the larger New York City community.

One of the organization’s biggest strategic goals since day one was to find a home facility that would allow for scaling of services to reach additional youth and families, and to deepen the impact on their lives. In 2021, following a comprehensive campaign, New Heights Youth achieved this goal and transitioned the offices and all program sites to a new, centralized headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn at the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. With three full-sized basketball courts, multiple classrooms, study spaces, a technology lounge and administrative offices, the new space brings together academic, athletic and social emotional learning resources under one roof and fosters greater collaboration between New Heights’ coaches, tutors, staff and volunteers.

Through a variety of after-school, weekend and summer programs, New Heights now engages over 1,700 youth and young adults annually, the majority of whom represent racially and/or economically marginalized communities. New Heights is currently expanding its signature College Bound program and introducing new community-based services, primarily in grades 4- 12, that will deepen their impact in Brooklyn and throughout New York City.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Executive Director. The unique role combines the opportunity to lead a high-quality Development team, oversee all revenue-generating activities to support organizational growth and the goals of the Power Forward Strategic Plan as well as provide strategic direction for an innovative and growing non-profit organization. The CDO will grow the development program with a focus on building a robust individual donor pipeline, implementing effective moves management strategies to support the continued growth of the major gifts program, and furthering the growth of corporate partnerships.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead implementation of the fundraising components of the Power Forward Strategic Plan, including scaling successful programs, launching new community-based initiatives, and supporting expanded operations.
• Develop and execute multi-year revenue strategies aligned with organizational priorities and a growing budget that will reach $8M in FY28.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and senior staff to identify high-impact funding opportunities and steward transformational gifts.
• Direct all fundraising streams, including individual giving, institutional giving, corporate partnerships and government funding to raise $6M in the upcoming fiscal year.
• Manage a robust portfolio of major donors and prospects, securing six- and seven-figure contributions through thoughtful cultivation and stewardship.
• Oversee appeals, donor engagement campaigns, and multi-channel strategies to broaden the base of support and retain high-value donors.
• Ensure accurate pipeline tracking, forecasting, and reporting using Salesforce.
• Serve as lead staff liaison to the Board of Directors for development strategy, ensuring active participation in giving, fundraising, and stakeholder advocacy.
• Drive the Board’s fundraising efforts and individual give/get goals through individual meetings, impact reports, and personalized engagement plans.
• Partner with the Board Development and Nominating Committee to expand and diversify Board membership in alignment with the Power Forward Plan.
• Support the activation of the Emerging Leaders Council as a donor pipeline and event support resource.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of experience in nonprofit development, including leadership roles with demonstrated revenue growth.
• Experience leading development work across a range of disciplines, including individual and institutional giving.
• Proven experience managing major donors and multi-channel fundraising strategies.
• Minimum 3 years of experience supervising fundraising teams with varying levels of expertise and experience.
• Strong communication, project management, and strategic planning skills.
• Commitment to youth development, equity, and strengths-based fundraising.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
• Experience with social media, collateral design, and/or branding, preferred.

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $170,000 - 200,000 plus benefits.

MISSION CRITICAL OBJECTIVES | YEAR ONE:

• Establish strong, trust-based relationships with the Executive Director, leadership team, Board members, and key donors while gaining a deep understanding of New Heights Youth’s programs and strategic direction.
• Lead the Development team to raise $6M+ annually in revenue across diverse funding streams, with a focus on donor stewardship and engaging new corporate and individual donors.
• Expand the individual donor base with a focused effort on building a robust pipeline to support a sustainable major gifts strategy.
• Oversee and inspire a high-performing Development team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth through clear expectations, continuous feedback, and strategic talent development.