Chief Development Officer (StrongMinds Global) | StrongMinds
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Chief Development Officer (StrongMinds Global)

June 13, 2024

Position: Chief Development Officer
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: U.S./flexible
Compensation: $157,000-$162,000 Annually

StrongMinds is a global nonprofit organization driven by the fundamental belief that mental health is a human right, and the foundation of thriving families and communities. At StrongMinds, we deploy ground-breaking innovations to bring free, evidence-based, culturally relevant depression care to the world’s most under-resourced populations. StrongMinds is committed to turning the tide against mental health disparities, ensuring that every individual on the planet has the support they need to lead healthy, satisfying, productive lives. Our mission is to radically expand access to mental health care to people with depression globally. Since 2013, we have treated depression in 550,000 people in Africa, primarily in Uganda, Zambia, and Kenya, earning an impressive reputation as a high-impact, cost-effective charity. We were recently featured as a TIME100 Health Leader in global health, and work has been covered by The New York Times, Forbes, BBC World Service, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The UK organization Founder’s Pledge says, “StrongMinds is among the most cost-effective options available to donors seeking to improve people’s quality of life.” Over the next decade, we will expand globally, with pilots currently underway in the United States.

Position Summary:

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for all fundraising, development, and revenue planning activities. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CDO serves as a key member of the global leadership team (GLT) and a vital participant in strategic decision-making for the organization, ensuring long-term stability and continuous growth. The CDO will have primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to grow the current revenue budget from $10.5M to well over $20M in the next few years, through the solicitation of major gifts, private foundation grants, federal grants, NGO partnerships and corporate support. They will collaborate with the GLT to secure funding for new initiatives and help the Board take a more active role in fundraising. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of transforming NGO budgets through creative and strategic fundraising efforts that generate substantial growth. It is expected that the CDO will significantly increase the department’s capacity for successful fundraising by building systems, staffing, and processes. They will be energized by the opportunity to strengthen the culture of philanthropy at StrongMinds.

Responsibilities:

1. Executive Leadership:

Closely partner with CEO

  • Serve as a key member of the GLT, responsible for all fundraising, development, and revenue planning activities.
  • Partner and collaborate with all members of the GLT, ensuring that the Development team is a trusted collaborator within the organization, acting as a force multiplier to amplify the work and impact of the organization.
  • Represent StrongMinds externally, including with partners, foundations, and major donors, to gather market intelligence and cultivate and secure significant gifts for the organization. • Provide the CEO with quarterly reports and real-time dashboard data on fundraising progress.
  • Work closely with GLT to help achieve their fundraising objectives. Coordinate with Country Offices on their major development initiatives.
  • Be an active and valued voice in the growth trajectory of StrongMinds.

2. Strategy and Vision:

  • Position us for growth via a focus on large opportunities, e.g. the Audacious Fund and other large grants.
  • Envision, lead, and implement a multiyear development strategy that contains shortand long-term measurable goals and is aligned to StrongMinds’ strategic plan.
  • Develop actionable strategies for meeting and exceeding those goals through major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation support, and government funding.
  • Oversee research of funding sources and trends, with foresight, to help position StrongMinds ahead of major funding changes or trends.
  • Apply strong decision-making, innovative and creative thinking, and problem-solving skills to successfully diversify StrongMinds donor-base and overall fundraising goals.
  • Identify key funding challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization. Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.

3. Development:

  • Revenue Generation: Cultivate new sources of support across all funding channels to meet aggressive fundraising goals.
  • Prospect/ New Business Development: Generate and lead an innovative multi-year plan to secure funding from new, previously untapped resources from both major donors, private foundations, and bilateral funding sources.
  • Robust Donor Engagement: o Ensure use of systems and software to track and cultivate donors and prospects, including donor database and wealth screening tools.
    • Engage existing supporters to maximize the philanthropy and personal engagement of donors by building long-term, meaningful, and authentic relationships.
    • Prepare and coach other key leaders as they engage with donors.
  • Supervise the Director of Individual Giving to ensure that all stages of donor relationship – from building pipelines to providing stewardship reports – are executed well and in a timely manner.
  • Supervise the Director of Institutional Giving on oversight of the development and execution of all proposals and reports.
  • Oversee vision and strategy for fundraising events and campaigns.
  • Grow the development team to fuel growth in fundraising with a focus on building capacity and bringing on new hires to be based in Africa.

4. Team Development/Management:

  • Bring knowledge, and continually monitor, the Development team structure to ensure the right roles are in place to continually hit revenue goals.
  • Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
  • Grow leadership positions within development team.
  • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.
  • Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments.
  • Oversee the day-to-day activities of the development function including budgeting, planning, and staff development.

Qualifications:

  • At least 10 – 15 years of experience in a leadership fundraising role.
  • BA required, MA or CFRE preferred. • Demonstrated track record of success transforming NGO budgets, using creative strategies for fundraising to secure new opportunities for substantial growth.
  • Experience creating fundraising team structures designed to meet aggressive goals.
  • Demonstrated success in international nonprofit fundraising that focuses on securing large donations from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government sources.
  • Experience in developing and implementing major gift strategies and campaigns.
  • Experience in building and maintaining relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporate donors, and foundation representatives. This includes experience in personalized stewardship and donor engagement.
  • Experience in planning and executing large-scale fundraising campaigns.
  • Strong results-driven leadership skills, with experience managing and growing a development team.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage and secure six and seven-figure gifts.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring staff and donors alike, and effectively conveying StrongMinds’ mission and impact to a wider audience.
  • Strategic thinker with a commitment to StrongMinds’ values and a deep understanding of the international and mental health landscape.
  • Proven experience in leading and managing organizational change, with the ability to adapt strategies and teams to evolving circumstances and opportunities.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, with an ability to develop and maintain long-term, productive relationships internally and externally and to nurture strong collaboration with other StrongMinds functions.
  • Experience working remotely and leading a remote team.

StrongMinds Core Values

  • We are people focused.
  • We think big and act fast.
  • We are data driven.
  • We do what we say and say what we do.
  • We believe in collaboration, not competition.

Location: This position is available from a remote location in the Eastern US time zone or in the Maplewood, NJ office of StrongMinds.

To Apply

Please submit a thoughtful and brief cover letter and resume to Susan Ryan sryan@strongminds.org mentioning ‘Chief Development Officer’ in the subject line.

We offer great benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance (100% employer paid premium for up to $1500/month), health cost reimbursement, Flex PTO Plan, Simple IRA, cellphone/Internet allowance, business travel reimbursement. We offer highly competitive salary, based on an average 40 hours a week, plus bank holidays, wellness days, flexible/hybrid work arrangements, staff retreats and opportunities for global business travel.