Chief Development Officer

Oct 31

Institute for Nonprofit Practice
Boston, MA (Hybrid)

Anticipated Start Date: Spring 2026

Description

INP is seeking an experienced and innovative Chief Development Officer (CDO) to develop and lead its philanthropic strategy, securing the investments necessary to scale the organization’s national impact. Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CDO will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, a skilled development team, and colleagues throughout the organization to achieve key fundraising goals.

The CDO will collaborate closely with the Chief External Engagement Officer (CEEO), who oversees brand development, marketing, communications, and earned revenue through INP’s scaled impact strategy, the Community of Talent Initiative (COTI). This is an exciting time for INP, presenting an incredible opportunity for the right person to join the organization at a critical inflection point in the social impact sector. This is a hybrid role that will require moderate domestic travel and regular in-person meetings with the Executive Leadership Team, prospects, donors, and institutional funders. INP offers a high-performing, fun, and deeply connected team culture—where collaboration, creativity, and purpose drive everything they do.

Responsibilities

This is an important and exciting time for INP at a moment of significant change and challenge in the social impact sector. INP is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to join their team as they continue to build on INP’s considerable momentum and expand their efforts to transform communities by equipping social impact leaders across the nation to meet the moment and achieve lasting, transformative change. INP is preparing for a period of transformational growth, including plans to double its operating budget and expand its national footprint through major philanthropic investments and earned revenue. The CDO will play a critical role in ensuring that the organization is financially positioned to scale with integrity, building the systems and relationships necessary to secure multi-year support for INP’s next chapter.

Reporting directly to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the CDO will be responsible for all aspects of philanthropic fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship, prospect pipeline development, development operations, board engagement, and data management. They will design and execute effective strategies and processes and develop the necessary infrastructure to deliver outstanding long-term results in a growing national enterprise. The CDO will work closely with the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, the Executive Team, and a dedicated team of fund development professionals to develop and lead a multi-year fundraising strategy that strengthens INP’s financial sustainability.

The CDO will also engage in the following opportunities and efforts: Diversify and grow INP’s revenue streams. The annual budget at INP is currently $8.1 million. INP aspires to continue its trajectory of strategic growth and projects that the annual budget will be approximately $15 million within the next five years. To achieve this, the next CDO will leverage, partner with, and support the President & CEO and Board of Directors to advance INP’s fundraising objectives. The CDO will architect and execute an expanded, comprehensive, multi-year philanthropic growth strategy to secure and sustain support for INP’s operations and key programs, fueling continued national growth. As INP explores innovative approaches to fundraising and donor engagement, the CDO should be open to learning about emerging tools and technologies, including the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence, to enhance strategy and scale impact. Build a national development team. The INP development team is currently comprised of a Vice President of Development, a Development Operations Manager, a Development Manager, a Senior Grant Writer, and a Grant Writer.

The CDO will mentor team members, refining and expanding their capacity to facilitate growth and incorporate best practices, thereby elevating the team's impact as INP continues to scale. They will cultivate a welcoming and supportive team environment that values and rewards strategic thinking and planning, effective cross-team collaborations, attention to detail, adaptability, learning, and professional development. Build robust systems and processes to fuel and sustain “next level” fund development. The next CDO will ensure that INP has robust operational and data management, analysis, and reporting systems and processes in place to optimize the development team's capacity, drive the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness, and support data-informed planning and decision-making. This will entail working with the President & CEO, as well as other members of both the senior team and the development team, to assess current systems and processes and design and implement necessary improvements. Strengthen and deepen the fund development partnership with the Board of Directors.

The INP Board of Directors comprises a deeply committed group of business and community leaders who are passionate about INP's mission. The CDO will work closely with the Board of Directors and the President & CEO to develop and support new opportunities for board engagement in INP's fund development efforts. Collaborate closely with other members of the INP team to support a healthy culture and achieve shared goals. INP is a deeply relational organization. INP’s culture and systems are built on a philosophy of mutual respect and interdependence, and colleagues collaborate closely to lift up and strengthen their collective work and impact. The CDO is a critical member of the team and will contribute to INP’s culture by committing to cross-departmental partnerships, authentic engagement, collaboration, and deep learning.

Requirements

INP’s next Chief Development Officer will be an experienced leader with deep knowledge and a passion for the nonprofit sector, as well as a nuanced and current understanding of relevant developments and dynamics impacting INP and the social impact sector writ large. The CDO will approach their work with a humble, learning mindset and demonstrate a commitment to building strong, engaged, and collaborative teams. Demonstrated ability to drive resources into an organization is required. While no one candidate will embody all of the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experiences:

Experienced and strategic fund development professional with at least ten years of senior leadership experience and a record of building and growing successful funding portfolios and development teams in a nonprofit organization. A track record of securing seven-figure major gifts and institutional grants in large urban environments is essential.
Demonstrated success leading and expanding a comprehensive and talented development department that delivers multi-million-dollar annual results. Brings a deep understanding of best practices across all core functions of fundraising and donor engagement, including major and planned gifts, foundation and corporate giving, annual and direct response campaigns, development communications, stewardship, and strategic partnership with executive and board leadership.
Strong track record of leading development efforts in large organizations, including the development of comprehensive fund development strategies, campaigns, and plans, oversight of annual fundraising events, effective departmental budget and operations management, and the successful cultivation and stewardship of strong donor relationships resulting in seven-figure corporate and foundation grants and major donor gifts.
An effective partner to the President & CEO and Board of Directors, bringing experience and insight to deepen engagement and expand INP’s development strategy. The CDO will work with the Board of Directors and other key volunteers, leveraging their talents, resources, and ideas to enhance fundraising activities; enhance board members’ ability to identify fundraising opportunities, and encourage their ongoing participation as donors and solicitors.
Demonstrated commitment to INP’s mission to build capacity for strong, connected, and diverse leadership and management within the nonprofit sector.
Openness to learning about and incorporating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance fundraising strategies and stakeholder engagement.
Values alignment and commitment to living out the values of social impact work in the INP workplace. A collaborative, collegial style that fosters respect, teamwork, and flexibility.
Excellent communicator, collaborator, and relationship builder who can skillfully engage and connect with a wide range of audiences. Critical skills in this arena include exceptional, demonstrated public speaking ability; the capacity and gravitas to engage effectively in mission-critical one-on-one conversations; and the ability to craft compelling written materials and messages specifically tailored to donors and funders, key stakeholders, and the community writ large.
Deeply relational, with a demonstrated capacity to build high-trust relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
An effective builder of strong, cohesive teams. Prior experience calibrating, structuring, and overseeing effective development team staffing models in a growth-oriented organization. Demonstrated capacity to create working conditions that support impact, collaboration, learning, professional development, and camaraderie.
A savvy navigator of the nonprofit sector who brings a working understanding of the social impact sector ecosystem and can craft and communicate compelling stories and appeals about the value of INP’s mission and work.
Ability to zoom in and out with ease, maintaining a steady focus on strategic goals while attending closely to the details that lead to a high level of excellence and success.
Flexibility, nimbleness, and humility. Commitment to ongoing, personal learning and growth.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The salary range for this position is $220,000 – $260,000 and is negotiable depending on the candidate’s relevant experience, capabilities, and skills.

INP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage, as well as a retirement savings 401(k) plan. Additionally, INP currently offers Flexible Time Off (FTO) to all team members, as well as eleven paid holidays and winter and summer breaks for collective rest and restoration. Location This role is hybrid and will require moderate domestic travel and regular in-person meetings with the Executive Leadership Team, prospects, donors, and institutional funders.

How to Apply for this Job

This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe, Alejandra Villa, and Ebony Breaux-Liang of NPAG. We invite applications, including a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications, via the portal on NPAG’s website:

Apply Now

About the Organization

The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) transforms communities by equipping social impact leaders – nonprofit, public sector, and social enterprise – with the skills, networks, confidence, and resources they need to effectively lead, advance social change, and make their organizations more effective, innovative, and sustainable. INP trains thousands of leaders annually through the Core Certificate Program, RISE Program, Leadership Learning Series, Black Leadership Institute, alumni programming, and community convenings.

INP has experienced tremendous, transformative growth in the demand for its leadership programs over the last five years. From an annual operating budget of $2.9 million serving 230 leaders and 1,400 alumni in 2020, INP has matured into a dynamic, growing organization with 28 full-time staff and 58 part-time faculty members, with an annual operating budget of $7.3 million. INP now trains over 500 leaders annually and boasts a national alumni network of over 4,500 leaders.

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