Chief Development Officer

Organization Overview: Community Services League (CSL) enjoys more than a century of community support, and is one of the most recognizable charitable brands in the Kansas City area. In 2023, more than 1,200 unique donors made charitable gifts to CSL, and the organization processed more than 3,000 gift transactions. Additionally, CSL enjoys longstanding relationships with many of the well-known grantmaking foundations in the area, along with support from regional and national funders. Several signature events help communicate our impact to thousands of annual event attendees. In total, philanthropic support totaled more than $3 million for CSL in 2023.
 
In 2023, the CSL Board of Directors approved a new Strategic Plan that will continue to guide and inform the organization’s impact and investments. The Chief Development Officer will work to help CSL meet its mission, aspire to its vision, embrace its core values, and work to financially support our community impact areas.
 
Position Overview: The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for all fundraising and communication efforts of Community Services League. The CDO will work with the CEO, Board of Directors, Development Committee, staff, volunteers, and vendor partners to design and sustain Community Services League's fundraising and communications programs through a well-defined development plan, including direct mail, special events, grant/proposal writing, sponsorships, planned giving, monthly giving, donor recognition, promotional materials, database management, and public relations.
 
The CDO will also give thoughtful, collaborative leadership to CSL’s signature events, and to evaluate their effectiveness in achieving our goals. Special consideration will also be given to strategies to grow monthly giving and estate giving through CSL’s 1916 Club and Bess Wallace Truman Legacy Society, respectively. The CDO will also, after an evaluation period, make staffing recommendations to the CEO and Board of Directors in areas that CSL can grow its philanthropic reach, possibly through additional major gift staff members.
 
Reports to: CSL’s President and CEO
 
Supervisory Responsibility: Directly – Up to 5 Functional or Department Managers
Indirectly – NA
 
Responsibilities

• Develops and implements both annual and long-range fundraising goals, objectives, and strategies to increase financial, volunteer and community support of Community Services League.
• Manage individual major gift fundraising with a commitment of 150-250 cultivation & solicitation visits per year or 3-5 individuals per week.
• Conduct ongoing donor segment research and prospect evaluation; solicit donors as requested.
• Coordinate all capital campaign efforts to secure funds above and beyond annual fundraising goals.
• Develop and continually update the agency case for support in coordination with senior management.
• Develop and manage/execute a cultivation plan for each major individual and corporate donor.
• Coordinate all fundraising and communications mailings with development team.
• Manage and coordinate special events with Signature Events Manager.
• Develop, implement & manage grant writing process including: research, writing & submitting proposals to foundations, corporations, public entities, & organizations, and follow-up reporting with grants manager.
• Develop, implement and manage CSL's planned giving program.

• Ensure that donor recognition is adequate on all levels (annual and capital).
• Oversee the donor database and its functions
• Create annual and long-term marketing and communications plans.
• Ensure that all communications reflect CSL's values, mission, vision, and brand identity guidelines.
• Create promotional materials and publications as needed.
• Strategize and lead public relations and media activities when appropriate.
• Coordinate all advertising efforts for agency.
• Oversee ongoing development of an interactive website in support of Community Services League's strategic goals.
• Provide comprehensive reports on development projects to staff, board, volunteers and community.
• Represent Community Services League in a professional and ethical manner at all times.
• Supervision of volunteers and staff involved in development and marketing activities.
• Advising board and CEO about staffing needs of the Development team.
• All other duties appropriate to the position as assigned by the CEO.

1. Unquestionable Integrity: Upholds highest standard of ethical, moral, and financial responsibility in all aspects of leadership and personnel management.
2. Organizational Leader: Be an effective organizational leader and a key member of the CSL executive management team with a strong emphasis on the following attributes:
   1. A long-term perspective
   2. Inspires and motivates others to perform well
   3. A strong sense of accountability
   4. A practical ability to get things done
   5. Accepts feedback from others
   6. Wisdom and good judgement
   7. A fair and thoughtful approach to management
   8. Flexibility and courage to shift direction and experiment with new opportunities
   9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills

1. Communications: Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
2. Managing People: Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes self available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products and services.; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
3. Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
4. Professional Reflection of Organizational Culture: Effectively demonstrate and bring professional qualities to the role that directly reflect the overall culture and values of CSL.

• Creating a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all. 
• Being present, leading with care and compassion, while delivering on the promise 'nothing about me without me'.
• Embracing and promoting the values of trauma-informed care.
• Prioritizing people above process, encouraging all voices, and respecting all choices.
• Accountability and transparency, acting with courage to build connections across communities, while finding new ways to grow ourselves and those we serve.