Position:        Chief Development Officer 

Reports To:        President/CEO

Start Date:        Immediate 

Salary/Benefits:    $100,000-$120,000 inclusive of a benefits stipend. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Paid Leave & Holidays

Hours:            Full-Time/Salaried         

Location:        In-person (Orlando/Winter Park) with some remote flexibility

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Position Summary: 

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a key member of RCF’s executive leadership team and is responsible for shaping and driving the organization’s overall development strategy. This role provides visionary leadership for all fundraising efforts, including major gifts, grants, corporate and foundation partnerships, annual campaigns, and signature events. The CDO will work closely with the CEO, board members, and staff to cultivate meaningful relationships, grow revenue, and expand RCF’s base of support.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, dynamic relationship-builder, and a clear and honest communicator who brings a proven track record of fundraising success. They are both data-driven and people-centered—skilled at leading teams, telling compelling impact stories, and aligning development goals with organizational growth. This individual strives for excellence in all aspects of their work and is committed to building a high-performing, mission-aligned development program. Passionate about educational equity and literacy, the CDO is a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities:

-Develop and execute an innovative,  strategic and sustainable Annual Development Plan that includes grants, major gifts, sponsorships, annual fund and end-of-year campaigns, planning giving, endowments and fundraising events.

-Manage and supervise all development-related budgeting, financial tracking, and grant compliance, ensuring accurate financial tracking and reporting.

-Support development team to create a comprehensive yearly grant writing plan, including identifying which RCF programs align with each grant opportunity and completing a final review and sign-off of all grants for submission.

-Proactively cultivate and manage a portfolio of prospective major donors by developing tailored engagement strategies, tracking next steps and touchpoints in the donor database, and coordinating with the CEO and Board to move prospects toward meaningful, long-term support.

-Develop an annual performance plan, inclusive of projected goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the development team with specific financial and fundraising goals with corresponding timelines for execution.

-Leads RCF’s CORE volunteer leadership team, aligning high-capacity volunteers with organizational priorities.

-Create and execute a comprehensive donor-centric communications and Stewardship Plan with monthly, quarterly and annual touch point strategies.

-Identify and manage a comprehensive grants program in collaboration with the Grants & Development Manager including research qualify prospects, craft clear, concise and compelling proposals and donor materials, meet every compliance deadline, and steward funders with data-driven impact reports.

-Responsible for growing the overall donor base and recurring givers according to the organization’s KPIs. 

-Oversees all fundraising events, ensuring alignment with development goals and coordinating closely with Communications on promotion and logistics.

-Lead and coach the development team to a culture of accountability, equipping staff with systems, goals, and metrics that deliver weekly performance snapshots and quarterly board-ready insights.

-Lead cross-department collaboration with communications, events and structured literacy teams to align funding priorities with mission-driven initiatives.

-Fosters current strategic partnerships while continuing to build and manage new strategic partnerships to expand the organization’s reach and resource base.

Experience & Qualifications:

-A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Accounting or a related field required. A Master’s Degree and CFRE credential is highly desirable, but not required.

-Five (5) years of progressive experience in planning and implementing fundraising and community relations/brand management campaigns advancing growth in a $1 million or larger organization with at least three (3) years of administrative/management experience directing all aspects of a comprehensive development department with demonstrated success. 

-Essential traits include clear and compelling verbal and written communication, strong interpersonal skills, excellent organizational ability. Proven problem-solving ability, time management skills and supervisory experience are required. The CDO must be able to hold themselves and their team accountable, feel comfortable giving feedback, having difficult conversations and foster an environment where feedback is viewed as an opportunity to improve and further RCF’s mission. 

-A systems-oriented strategist that instinctively builds repeatable processes and leverages data to drive decisions and continuous improvement.

-A professional and resourceful style; the ability to work independently without close oversight and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.  

-Computer literate with demonstrated knowledge of automated information management systems related to developing, monitoring and managing all aspects of a comprehensive development department required. Advanced knowledge and experience with Google Workspace, Zoom, event registration and donor management software (DonorPerfect) preferred.  

-Experience with and/or willingness to learn about the literacy crisis and  neurodiversity.

Qualified applicants please send your resume and cover letter to Anne Williams: anne@reedcharitablefoundation.org.

About REED Charitable Foundation:

RCF makes best-in-class literacy training, implementation support and educational events financially & geographically accessible because every child deserves to feel empowered and have a teacher who can confidently teach them how to read. Our vision at RCF is to end the literacy crisis and ensure ALL children, including the 1-in-5 with dyslexia, are afforded their fundamental right to literacy, identify their inherent strengths and are equipped with a strong foundation of confidence for life-long success.

REED Charitable Foundation (RCF) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.  In addition to federal law requirements, RCF complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location RCF serves.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. RCF expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status.  Improper interference with the ability of RCF’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.