Chief Development Officer

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

ABOUT A PLACE CALLED HOME

A Place Called Home (APCH) is a dynamic youth and community center in South Central Los Angeles. Through a wraparound model that includes education, arts, mental health, wellness, and community engagement, APCH provides a safe and supportive space for young people and their families to thrive. We are guided by our HEART values: Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency.

ABOUT THE POSITION

APCH seeks an experienced, equity-driven, and visionary fundraising leader to serve as our next Chief Development Officer. The CDO will lead a high-performing team of development and communications professionals and serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board of Directors. The CDO will guide all aspects of fundraising strategy and operations, steward relationships with major donors and institutional funders, and elevate the visibility and impact of APCH's mission in a shifting philanthropic landscape.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership of APCH’s fundraising and communications functions. As a key member of the C-Suite, the CDO shapes the agency’s long-term direction and ensures its financial sustainability through resource development aligned with the agency’s values and mission. The CDO will lead a dynamic and growing team of development professionals to secure philanthropic support across individual, foundation, corporate, and public sectors, while innovating in response to a changing philanthropic landscape.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Serve as a key thought partner to the CEO and C-Suite in vision-setting, strategic planning, and organizational growth.
• Collaborate in setting agency-wide revenue targets and drive plans to meet/exceed them.
• Represent APCH externally to donors, partners, and sector peers with professionalism and integrity.
• Inform financial planning, organizational priorities, and scenario planning.
• Staff or support key Board committees and provide high-level stewardship to Board members and donors.

Department Oversight & Team Leadership

• Lead a department of 10–12 including directors of development, communications, and special events.
• Provide mentorship, professional development, and performance management.
• Build a culture of accountability, inclusion, excellence, and continuous learning.
• Establish policies, systems, and structures that enhance cross-department collaboration.

Fund Development

• Direct and participate in all fundraising activities: major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, grants, corporate sponsorships, events, and emerging earned revenue opportunities.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects while ensuring donor retention and re-engagement strategies are implemented across all giving levels.
• Support and guide efforts to expand government funding and fee-for-service contracts.
• Oversee grant writing, prospecting, reporting, and compliance functions.
• Drive innovation in donor engagement and fundraising practices, including digital campaigns, donor segmentation strategies, and exploration of new revenue channels aligned with APCH’s mission.

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee the Marketing & Communications team by providing strategic direction to ensure all messaging, branding, and storytelling aligns with APCH’s mission and fundraising goals.
• Lead strategy for media, digital campaigns, donor communications, and content production, while empowering the Communications team to execute creative direction.

Events & Engagement

• Oversee the Marketing & Communications team by providing strategic direction to ensure all messaging, branding, and storytelling aligns with APCH’s mission and fundraising goals.
• Lead strategy for media, digital campaigns, donor communications, and content production, while empowering the Communications team to execute creative direction.

Culture of Philanthropy

• Promote a culture of philanthropy grounded in inclusion, equity, and shared purpose.
• Align development work with APCH’s HEART values and mission of youth empowerment.
• Educate and engage staff, board, and volunteers as ambassadors for fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development
• Demonstrated success in raising six- and seven-figure gifts
• Deep knowledge of fundraising strategy and donor engagement models
• Strong understanding of the nonprofit landscape in California, including foundation, government, and corporate sectors
• Commitment to racial and social equity
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills
• CRM/database fluency (Salesforce preferred)
• Bachelor’s degree and/or advanced degree a plus
• Ability to work in a dynamic youth-centered environment
• Occasional evenings and weekends required for events and donor cultivation
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs occasionally

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position $180,000 to $200,000 annually. It offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage, a retirement plan, and generous paid time off. In addition, employees have access to professional development opportunities and leadership coaching to support ongoing growth.

Envision Consulting was retained by A Place Called Home to conduct the search for their incoming Chief Development Officer.

Applicants needing accommodation for any part of the application process may contact Envision Consulting at 626.889.7905 to request and arrange for assistance.