Co-Chief Development Officer

The Serica Initiative; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Serica Initiative seeks a Chief Development Officer to lead donor engagement and expand philanthropic support in New York and the tri-state area. You will oversee donor research, cultivation, stewardship, and a fundraising budget aligned with our mission.

Collaborating with the CEO and COO, you will build strategies for major gifts, foundations, family offices, and corporate sponsorships, while ensuring program and communications alignment and a culture of gratitude.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent fundraising experience.
• 5-7 years in nonprofit or development, with major gifts preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Willingness to travel throughout NYC tri-state area.
• Strong organizational and program management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement donor engagement strategies to grow a portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Identify new funding sources and lead outreach to individuals, family offices, foundations, and corporations.
• Maintain donor databases, track touchpoints, and produce impact updates.
• Collaborate with leadership to plan donor experiences, events, and campaigns.
• Coordinate engagement activities with Serica’s programs, communications, and operations.
• Represent Serica’s values in donor and partner interactions.

Skills

Communication skills

High EQ

Organizational skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Reports to: Anla Cheng, CEO; dotted line to Andrea Louie, Executive Director & COO

FLSA Status: Exempt

ABOUT THE SERICA INITIATIVE

Mission Statement: The Serica Initiative amplifies the impact of the Asian diaspora in America through storytelling, empowering, and convening.You can learn more about our programs and ways we impact the community at www.sericainitiative.org

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will lead donor engagement efforts and play a key role in advancing Serica’s visibility and philanthropic support within the community. The CDO will be responsible for fundraising: donor research, cultivation, and stewardship, for high net-worth individuals, foundations, family offices, and corporations. The CDO will identify new donor opportunities, deepen relationships with existing supporters, and craft engagement strategies that reflect the values and aspirations of the Serica community.

This individual will join a team of six full-time staff and work in close partnership with a Co-Chief Development Officer/Chief of Staff. (Approximately 30% of that colleague’s time is devoted to administrative/operations matters, which this role will not be responsible for.)

1-Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, nurture, and generate a portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Identify new funding sources and lead outreach efforts to individuals, family offices, corporations, foundations, community partners, and other grantors.
• Maintain and expand donor databases, track touchpoints, and produce impact updates and engagement materials.
• Develop and deliver an impactful fundraising budget by establishing clear revenue objectives that support Serica’s mission, then actively set, monitor, and achieve these targets through a robust fundraising strategy.

2- Strategic Partnership Development

• Work closely with the Chair/CEO and Executive Director/COO to support overall fundraising goals and program initiatives.
• Contribute to planning and attending donor-facing experiences, including Serica’s public programs, events, cultivation dinnersand campaigns.
• Work closely with the Chair/CEO and Executive Director/COO to plan and execute the fundraising strategy of the annual fundraising gala; work closely with other Serica staff to ensure a financially successful and smoothly run event.
• Work closely with the Chair/CEO and Executive Director/COO to plan and execute regular cultivation activities, including dinners, cultural events, etc.
• Coordinate engagement activities aligned with Serica’s programs and mission.

3-Communication and Culture

• Serve as a representative of Serica’s values and work in all donor and partner interactions.
• Collaborate across the team to ensure that fundraising efforts are aligned with communications, programming, and operations.
• Foster a culture of stewardship and gratitude in all aspects of donor relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrated professional experience in fundraising (especially individual and major donor stewardship), community engagement, Asian American studies, or a related field.
• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in nonprofit, development, or related fields.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• High EQ, especially in discerning what interests and motivates potential donors.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, small-team environment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and follow-through on tasks and projects.
• Experience with managing CRMs and generating/interpreting donor reports.
• Willingness and availability to occasionally work evenings and weekends in support of organizational events.
• Ability to travel throughout New York City and tri-state area for meetings, events, and donor cultivation activities.
• Commitment to the Serica Initiative's mission of amplifying the impact of the Asian diaspora in America through storytelling, empowering, and convening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in successfully garnering and stewarding corporate sponsorships.
• Fundraising and development experience within a 25-mile radius of NYC.
• Interest in or direct experience with community building as well as Asian American issues and communities.
• Master’s degree in relevant fields to this position and/or Serica’s mission (including but not limited to MBA, MPA, Asian American Studies, Asian Studies, etc.)
• Ability to speak and/or read an Asian language, at least conversationally.