About United Way of Rhode Island
Our vision is a Rhode Island where every individual in each community has an equal opportunity for justice and prosperity. Since our inception in 1926, United Way of Rhode Island has effectively moved people from crisis to stability while working to shore up the systems that provide support across the community. When called to action in the face of a global pandemic, we proved that we were built over the last 95 years to be the best organization in the state to effectively harness resources from government, corporations, nonprofits, and individuals to address the many significant crises affecting all of us.
The pandemic also spotlighted how the war on poverty for the past 50 years has been ineffective in creating opportunity and prosperity for all members of our community. In particular, where you live, and the color of your skin continues to be the most powerful determinant of your ability to live, learn, and thrive here in our state. That is why, when launching our Live United 2025 strategic plan, we committed to a new mission of uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.
To deliver on the goals of Live United 2025, we must go "deep, rather than wide," with investments and partners to target the root causes that have thwarted Rhode Island's ability to thrive. While we serve all Rhode Islanders in need, our work today will tackle Rhode Island's great challenge, reversing the racial inequities that have plagued Rhode Island's Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities for generations.
That means we are committed to being brave and applying all our assets and approaches, including delivery of direct services, strategic community investments, advocacy, and coalition building to build a better Rhode Island for all. We are applying these tools in the following areas of need:
Lift United: Through our Lift United pillar, we're investing in affordable housing, improving care coordination, and expanding access to adult education and job training. We're also supporting the growth and stability of women- and minority-owned businesses.
Achieve United: Through our Achieve United pillar, we're working to ensure that all Rhode Island children walk into the classroom with the tools to learn. This includes increasing literacy levels and expanding access to afterschool and summer learning programs.
Invest United: We're building nonprofit resiliency and leadership development through our Invest United pillar. We also empower donors, engage corporations, and connect Rhode Islanders with volunteer opportunities.
Advocate United: We're driving systemic change through our Advocate United pillar through public policy and research. And, because democracy isn't a spectator sport, we're training Rhode Islanders to be advocates and working to increase voter turnout.
Learn more about United Way of Rhode Island at https://www.unitedwayri.org/.
The Opportunity
United Way of Rhode Island is seeking a highly visionary, experienced leader to embraces the opportunity to help move the organization to its next level of impact. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as the head of the Resources and Engagement Department with a focus on building a community of support for the work of United Way of Rhode Island. The CDO will lead the development and implementation of integrated fundraising, marketing, events, and volunteer strategies that ensure organizational capacity to deliver on the ambitious goals of our Live United 2025 plan.
In addition, they will manage a portfolio of high-capacity major gift donors and continue the diversification of our revenue streams with an emphasis on establishing, sustaining, and growing quality relationships with our supporters. Finally, the CDO will be an innovative fundraiser with an appetite for trying new approaches and will lead our efforts to build a culture of philanthropy in Rhode Island.
This position leads a team of 28 talented professionals across three departments: donor relations, corporate relations, and marketing/communications. The CDO will provide strategic leadership for the department as we upgrade and implement new systems and processes to drive success through performance management, fundraising growth, and development operations, and serve as a strengths-based manager for their team. This is an exciting opportunity to join the top-notch leadership team of a statewide organization having tremendous impact across Rhode Island.
Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Organizational Leadership
As a member of the organization's senior leadership team, the CDO will work collaboratively with the President and CEO, Chief Impact and Equity Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer to build alignment, secure necessary resources, and execute annual work plans that deliver on the goals of Live United 2025 and United Way of Rhode Island’s centennial celebration plans, including significant fundraising growth through the implementation of the organization’s 100th anniversary centennial fundraising campaign.
The CDO will serve as primary staff to the organization's Resources and Engagement Committee and will engage and leverage the skills and knowledge of the committee members. In addition, the CDO will provide regular updates to the Board of Directors on the work and goals of the Resources and Engagement Department.
Philanthropy and Action
The CDO, in collaboration with the Resources and Engagement directors, will guide the development of an annual equity-centered fundraising plan that continues to diversify and strengthen the foundational resources of the organization. This includes:
- Strengthening our direct-to-donor fundraising and communications strategies to provide a strong complement to our annual workplace giving campaign revenue.
- Building relationships with corporations to serve as the state's leading partner for corporate social responsibility programs, including prospecting and recruiting new partners, sponsorships, and volunteer engagement.
- Personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of approximately 30- 40 individual major donors, with a focus on face-to-face relationship-based fundraising. Help develop high-trust relationships with major corporate and foundation donors.
- Coaching and developing team to provide excellent donor experiences and stewardship for their donor portfolios.
- Increasing our ability to leverage data to ensure the organization responds quickly, effectively, and contextually to client needs and donors' interests.
- Maintaining and improving fundraising infrastructure and CRM so that every fundraising activity follows a consistent process from prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
- Managing the process to modernize systems and processes in order to both prioritize and accelerate metrics-driven fundraising and therein accountability across fundraising teams.
- Leveraging the power and promise of supporter affinity groups such as Women United and Emerging Leaders and oversee the development of new affinity groups that build connection and camaraderie among supporters.
- Guiding the creation of a best-in-class volunteer engagement operation which is agile and responsive to changing markets, evolving organizational and community needs, and emerging opportunities.
- Create innovative programs, projects, and relationships that extend our long-term reach within the community it serves.
- Providing leadership on the organization's efforts to increase philanthropy in the state of Rhode Island.
Marketing and Communications
The CDO will collaborate with a Senior level Director of Marketing and Communications on developing and delivering an integrated multi-channel communication and engagement strategy that inspires donor loyalty and supports meaningful relationships with supporters. At the core will be a clear articulation of the impact that donors, volunteers, and advocates have in the community through their relationship with United Way of Rhode Island.
In addition, the CDO and team will oversee a robust schedule of high-quality events that deepens the relationship with existing supporters and introduces new audiences to the work of United Way of Rhode lsland. This includes donor stewardship events (Thank You Celebration, Power of the Purse, Annual Celebration, etc.) and community impact events (Community First Conversations, Equity Challenge, etc.).
Serve as an inspiring storyteller and steward of the organization's brand identity, helping to ensure that United Way of Rhode Island's messaging, voice, and tone are consistent and fully integrated across channels.
Division Management
The CDO will lead the full Resource & Engagement Department team to accomplish the goals outlined in United Way of Rhode Island's strategic plan and yearly operational plans. They will directly supervise the Director of Corporate Relations, Senior Director of Donor Relations, and a Senior level Director of Marketing & Communications.
In alignment with United Way of Rhode Island's strengths-based approach to staff engagement and development, the CDO will simultaneously hold the team accountable to ambitious goals and offer support and inspiration. They will ensure that training, coaching, support, and resources are in place to leverage the team's strengths to achieve individual and organizational goals.
The CDO will develop yearly and multi-year budgets for the department and ensure we generate value with our investments and expenditures. Working with the finance department, the CDO will track and provide regular updates on department revenue and expenses.
Finally, the CDO will actively recruit and retain top talent while providing meaningful professional development and growth opportunities.
Candidate Profile
Staff at the United Way of Rhode Island strive to embody the organization's five core values; impact through equity, respect, and value all, lead with a growth mindset, be a legendary partner, and strive for excellence. The organization will be looking for a Chief Development Officer who demonstrates their ability to carry out these values as follows:
Impact through equity – able to meet ambitious resource development goals while centering racial equity in our work. This includes clearly demonstrating donor impact in a way that celebrates the agency and resilience of those we serve. In addition, can articulate a clear case statement for why racial equity is at the center of our mission.
Respect and value all – is an organizational leader and chief fundraiser that builds trust among colleagues as well as with donors and with corporate partners. Can build consensus where possible and can respectfully make definitive decisions when needed.
Lead with a growth mindset – will be experienced leading through change and committed to continual growth as a fundraising professional and organizational leader. Will seek and celebrate the lived and learned experience of colleagues and community members and will empower team members to grow professionally.
Be a legendary partner – able to build relationships across the organization to ensure that fundraising strategy is integrated with the organization's impact and operational strategies. In addition, is able to make donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and community members feel like true partners in achieving the goals of Live United 2025.
Strive for excellence – should demonstrate a drive to make United Way of Rhode Island a nationwide leader in fundraising and community engagement centered in racial equity. They will demonstrate an attention to detail, adherence to best practices and will utilize data and evidence to continually improve our resource and engagement work.
In addition, an effective Chief Development Officer will also be able to demonstrate the following skills and competencies:
Relationship building – building effective and durable relationships with internal and external partners based on trust, understanding, and action.
Engaging communication – can effectively communicate the organization's value proposition through various formats and channels.
Leadership – demonstrate leadership as defined by their willingness to hold responsibility and their skill at supporting success in others.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $170,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the CDO will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and geography and aligned with United Way of Rhode Island’s compensation policies.
Contact
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Shannon O’Neill. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
United Way of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.