The Chief Development Officer will support the Vision, Mission, and Values of Feeding Southwest Virginia and is responsible for securing both individual and institutional funds, providing strategic direction, leadership and management of all aspects of fundraising activities. Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Development Officer fosters a culture of philanthropy, serves as a key member of the leadership team, provides an active voice in the organization’s strategic decision-making and designs and implements communications, systems and protocols to ensure aggressive annual revenue growth.
The CDO will provide executive leadership and direct supervision of the Development, Grant Writing, Donor Services, Volunteer Services, and Marketing & Communications teams, fostering a collaborative and results-driven culture that advances the organization's strategic plan, expands philanthropic support, and achieves annual fundraising and revenue targets.
The CDO communicates Feeding SWVA’s vision to the Board of Directors, committees, potential funders and donors, and builds strong relationships with stakeholders to meet fundraising targets. The CDO serves as the Board’s contact for all fundraising efforts, serving as the lead solicitor and overseeing fund development for major gifts, planned giving, annual and capital campaigns, direct response, corporate partnerships, foundations, and special events to ensure fund growth and stability.
The CDO is expected to adhere to the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and best practices to provide leadership and oversight for a Development Department team of five direct reports in achievement of fundraising productivity targets, donor relationship and record management, marketing, communication, events and community engagement.
To be successful in this role, an individual must be able to perform in a satisfactory manner the functions or responsibilities listed below.
Resource Development Strategy
· Establish the revenue forecast and evaluate fundraising potential to implement a comprehensive and effective fundraising strategy for Feeding SWVA with clear annual financial goals.
· Develop annual and strategic plans for the development department, including a departmental budget, benchmarks and job performance goals to measure progress and success.
· Direct and manage all fundraising activities, including the identification of new funding opportunities and the implementation of targeted strategies.
· Personally secure major planned gifts and organizational gifts with an assigned portfolio of high net-worth prospects and current donors. Engage the CEO, Board members and other appropriate staff in relationships with high net-worth individuals.
· Lead organizational innovation efforts to develop new fundraising ideas and programs.
· Oversee a donor moves management and solicitation system to develop a donor pipeline and organize the fundraising assignments for staff.
· Oversee Volunteer Services operations in both the Salem and Abingdon service areas, ensuring effective volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, recognition, and retention to support organizational goals and mission delivery.
· Oversee the Annual Fund strategies including direct mail, online solicitations, monthly giving and social media engagement.
· Oversee a mature and effective grant program to ensure continued growth of institutional funder revenue and cultivation of foundation and organization support, and corporate and government relationships.
· Monitor staff in meeting grant requirements and timeframes, preparation of grant proposals, reporting, and required documentation.
· Manage and promote the Legacy Society to steward, recognize and secure planned gifts.
· Track and analyze major and planned giving performance and develop reports for the CEO and Board of Directors.
Management:
· Promote an organization-wide culture of philanthropy and appreciation.
· Generate evaluation reports on cost effectiveness and productivity of fund-raising strategies. Oversee marketing and communications plans and goals. Ensure consistent branding and corporate image.
· Oversee donor services and record management to ensure accuracy of database information, protocols, relationship management, gift tracking and acknowledgment, cultivation and donor communications.
· Partner with the finance department to reconcile donations, organizational budgeting, and revenue projections.
· Collaborate and lead cross-departmental and branch initiatives. Works closely with the Abingdon Director of Operations, Programs and Volunteer departments to ensure seamless and coordinated messaging, implementation of special events, building community awareness, advocacy and cultivating constituent relationships.
· Hire, train and motivate a competent Development staff committed to the mission and values of the Food Bank. Coach, evaluate and develop staff to maximize performance, make personnel recommendations for the CEO affecting salary and employment decisions.
· Oversee the Virginia State Department of Social Services Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credits to ensure qualified donations are processed to meet regulations and deadlines.
· Ensure private revenue resources are accurately documented and reported to Feeding America on quarterly and annual reporting schedules.
· Possess knowledge of the programs and services of Feeding Southwest Virginia and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, attend and participate in team, departmental and quarterly meetings.
· Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO.
· Keep informed and consistently practice the policies and procedures of Feeding Southwest Virginia and Feeding America National Office regarding member compliance standards. Develop professional and peer relationships with the national office and other Feeding America member organizations to increase hunger awareness and support the overall mission through fundraising and communication.
Board Relationship Management
· Partner with the CEO to establish and sustain strong relationships with Board members.
· Support Board members in their fundraising roles and responsibilities.
· Staff the Board Development Committee.
· Work with the CEO, Governance/Nominations committee to develop and maintain a leadership pipeline.
· Provide leadership for the orientation, support and the “onboarding” of new Board members in support of their fundraising responsibilities.
Other functions:
Promote a cooperative spirit within the organization and among internal and external participants.
Represent Feeding SWVA among professional and peer related organizations, media and food bank constituents.
Be available to mobilize staff, fundraising and communications during disaster relief and emergency food distributions.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO.
Interface: Responsible in maintaining positive relationships
Serve in an executive leadership relationship role to the CEO, Board of Directors, Board Development Committee, Campaign committees, and Executive Team of Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Director of Human Resources, and Executive Affairs Director.
Feeding America national office and network members
Virginia Department of Social Services
Professional investment advisors and client relationship managers
Food and fund donors
National, regional and local media contacts
Key stakeholders and contacts
Education:
Bachelor’s degree, course work or professional certification in related field preferred.
Experience:
Minimum of 8 years successful nonprofit fundraising experience, including managing a development staff, directing campaigns and marketing, grant submissions and annual programs involving multiple fundraising disciplines and strategies.
A proven individual track record of securing $1.5 million in major, capital and planned gifts as a result of cultivating top-tier, executive level donors, corporate leaders, foundations and individual donors.
Experience in media relations and management of national and regional media relationships is desired.
Demonstrated applications of marketing techniques for market penetration and messaging.
Previous leadership experience with responsible decision-making authority in the management and accountability of assigned staff.
Strong personnel management and leadership skills, including delegation, strategic management, conflict resolution, motivational skills, coaching/counseling, mentoring, etc.
Experience in departmental budget planning and revenue forecasting.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of IRS charitable giving and fundraising regulations.
Ability to secure gifts in the six-figure range, maintain a portfolio of donors with major giving capacity.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with internal and external audiences are required
Position requires a high degree of professionalism with the demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team player to meet deadlines while managing multiple tasks and changing priorities required.
Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with staff and from all areas of the organization is necessary.
Excellent presentation and negotiation skills with strong oral communication and writing skills. Must be committed to our organizational mission to feed the food insecure of southwest Virginia.
Preferred knowledge of planned giving tools.
Analytical skills applied to market and donor segmentation.
Team player, willingness to help others achieve success in fundraising and marketing campaigns.
Must be able to understand instructions and effectively demonstrate quality results.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work on short-term and long-range strategic goals.
Ability to develop reports and charts for meetings and committees.
Required attention to detail and situational awareness.
Ability to travel to donor meetings, conferences and food distribution programs.
Strong customer service ethic is required.
Limited occasional evening and weekend work required for special events.
Allowable Substitutions: Combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the required knowledge and skills for the position may be considered in lieu of education and/or experience at the company’s discretion.
Eligible employees receive a total compensation package that includes employer-subsidized health and dental insurance, basic vision coverage, optional enhanced vision and supplemental insurance, employer-paid life and disability coverage, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Feeding Southwest Virginia also provides generous paid time off, paid holidays, bereavement leave, and other savings benefits that support employees’ financial security, health, and work-life balance.
Feeding Southwest Virginia, a food bank, has been addressing food insecurity in Southwest Virginia for 43 years. Today, it is the largest supplier of charitable food assistance in the region. Feeding SWVA serves as the hub of over 400 partner feeding programs, sourcing, inspecting, warehousing, and distributing millions of pounds of food every year, valued at over $30 million. It serves 26 counties and nine cities across the region with distribution centers in Salem and Abingdon and the Community Solutions Center in Roanoke. Partner programs include food pantries and meal programs for children, families, and older adults. Feeding S\M/A was founded by President and CEO, Pamela Irvine. It is a locally owned and operated member of the national Feeding
America network of food banks and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. Its mission is to nourish neighbors, engage community partners, and develop solutions to address food insecurity.
Feeding Southwest Virginia’s Mission: Nourish neighbors. Engage community partners. Develop solutions to address food insecurity.
Total Staff and Budget: Approximately 65 staff members and an FY2026 operating budget of approximately $7.92 million.
Working Environment/Location: Based in Salem, Virginia, Feeding Southwest Virginia operates through around 350 agency partners across a 26-county, 9-city service area, with major distribution hubs in the Roanoke and Abingdon, Va. areas.