Elmira, New York
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, responsible for leading fundraising, marketing, and communications efforts to advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals. The CDO provides direct leadership to the Development and Community Engagement team and collaborates with the President & CEO, Agency Council, Development Committee, and community partners to drive a strategic culture of philanthropy that inspires a mission-driven commitment to generosity and community impact across the organization. By aligning development initiatives with organizational priorities, the CDO fosters donor engagement, visibility, and stewardship to achieve annual and long-range revenue goals.
Supervision Responsibilities
• Annual Fund Manager
• Corporate Partnerships Manager
• Development Assistant
• Director of Communications
• Grants Manager
• Major Giving Officer
Reports To: President & CEO
Work Type: Hybrid, minimum three (3) days on-site. Remote work requires a reliable internet connection with minimum speeds of 50Mbps download and 8Mbps upload to ensure consistent software functionality.
Location: 388 Upper Oakwood Ave., Elmira, NY 14903
Strategic Fundraising Leadership
• Leads the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy, including annual campaigns, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, planned giving, and donor events, to drive sustainable revenue growth and advance the organization’s mission.
• Provides strategic leadership to the Development team in developing innovative strategies and identifying opportunities for corporate partnerships, grants, major giving, and annual fund campaigns that position the Food Bank as a charity of choice, cultivating relationships with individuals, corporations, foundations, and community organizations to secure financial support and foster long-term engagement.
• Partners with departmental leads to identify and secure funding for existing and emerging programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Educates and engages prospective donors on special funding opportunities, encouraging support through current-use gifts, endowments, planned giving, and in-kind contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Provides strategic guidance to the President & CEO and senior leaders on donor engagement and external visibility to strengthen fundraising efforts.
• Develops and communicates fundraising priorities to external constituents to align giving opportunities with mission needs.
Donor Engagement & Stewardship
• Oversees donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including a robust stewardship program with recognition efforts and strategic communications, to build and sustain a pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation support across all giving levels.
• Develops and manages relationships with top donors and prospects, including personally stewarding a portfolio of approximately 25 high-level funders and cultivating long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Conducts regular donor portfolio reviews and partners with volunteers, Agency Council members, or staff to meet and solicit donors as needed.
• Coaches staff and Agency Council members on identifying and cultivating prospective donors within their networks and on stewarding existing donor relationships.
• Reviews and refines solicitation strategies to increase donor conversion, efficiency, and return on investment.
Communication & Visibility
• Provides strategic leadership and collaborates with the Director of Communications to develop and implement an annual communications and marketing plan that aligns fundraising goals, brand identity, and community engagement strategies, enhancing visibility and donor engagement across the six-county service area.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of communications initiatives by establishing clear metrics, monitoring progress regularly, and implementing innovative strategies to enhance reach, engagement, and impact.
• Oversees a comprehensive communications calendar and drafts key fundraising messages, ensuring donor engagement materials and promotional content align with development objectives across platforms.
Fundraising Operations, Data & Budget Oversight
• Oversees development operations, ensuring accurate and complete contribution tracking, data integrity, and strategic use of donor information in Raiser’s Edge while maintaining strict donor confidentiality, including timely gift acknowledgments, staff training on database protocols and confidentiality practices, and coordination with Finance for reconciliation and reporting.
• Ensures ongoing prospect research and analysis to inform cultivation strategies for individual, corporate, and foundation donors, identify new funding opportunities, and support long-term donor pipeline development.
• Research is consistently archived to support strategic planning and stewardship.
• Collaborates with the Catholic Charities Finance Department to reconcile donor and financial data on a monthly basis between Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge, ensuring consistency and accuracy in fundraising and financial reporting.
• Develops and manages the annual fundraising budget in collaboration with the Finance team and President & CEO, ensuring efficient resource allocation and alignment with organizational revenue goals.
• Oversees relationships with fundraising vendors and consultants, including direct mail, marketing, and digital contractors, to ensure cost-effective, mission-aligned, and results-driven partnerships.
• Evaluates fundraising program effectiveness through performance metrics, monthly progress monitoring, and data-informed process improvements to enhance development outcomes.
• Oversees annual fund solicitation programs, including mailings, digital campaigns, and third-party vendor engagements, to achieve revenue and donor retention goals.
• Oversees the operational execution of the planned giving program, ensuring effective implementation of established goals, marketing efforts, and stewardship activities in alignment with strategic objectives.
Organizational Leadership & Committee Support
• Drives a strategic culture of philanthropy across the organization and Agency Council, fostering a mission-driven culture that inspires staff, leadership, and council members to champion generosity, community impact, and organizational values.
• Serves as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic direction on fundraising, communications, and community engagement initiatives.
• Contributes to strategic planning and develops departmental work plans that align with and support key organizational objectives and priorities.
• Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Development Committee, providing guidance, support, and strategic input to advance fundraising goals and committee engagement.
• Collaborates with the Development Committee Chair and President & CEO to develop meeting agendas and provide relevant reports and information to support effective discussion and decision-making.
• Attends all Agency Council meetings and participates in other committee meetings as needed, representing the Development function and providing updates or input as needed.
• Engages Agency Council members in fundraising goal-setting and collaborative donor engagement strategies.
• Identifies, recruits, and supports volunteers for fundraising efforts and campaign initiatives as needed.
Team Leadership, Supervision & Development
• Provides strategic leadership, coaching, and mentorship to the Development and Community Engagement team, fostering a culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, and high performance through consistent supervision and feedback.
• Oversees all aspects of departmental staffing and supervision, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance management, professional development, and approvals for time off, timesheets, and overtime.
• Ensures team structure, responsibilities, and individual goals align with organizational priorities, engaging staff in annual goal-setting, conducting bi-weekly check-ins, quarterly reviews, and annual performance evaluations to track progress, provide feedback, and hold space for open communication.
• Collaborates with staff across departments to identify and engage potential corporate, foundation, and individual major donors.
• Promotes effective communication and cross-departmental collaboration between Development and Community Engagement staff and other Food Bank teams to advance shared goals and organizational cohesion.
• Evaluates departmental structure, roles, and reporting lines, making strategic adjustments to position responsibilities and job descriptions to support evolving organizational needs and goals.
• Supports the ongoing development and effectiveness of the team by ensuring adequate tools, systems, and training are in place to carry out work successfully.
External Relations & Other Responsibilities
• Acts as a key spokesperson for the Food Bank, representing it in the media and at public events as needed.
• Builds and maintains positive external relationships with donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and other stakeholders.
• Represents Food Bank at external meetings, conferences, and events, fostering relationships with local, regional, and national partners.
• Participates in key fundraising and friend-raising events to enhance public engagement and philanthropic support.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with a detailed understanding of individual giving programs, corporate support, foundation grants, and annual fundraising programs such as direct mail and email campaigns.
• Minimum 3 years of experience supervising teams and leading cross-functional staff.
• Experience with marketing, public relations, and community engagement.
• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets.
• Proficiency in donor management systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), and other digital tools required.
• Strong aptitude for data systems and technologies that support donor engagement, reporting, and campaign success; experience with vendor and contract management a plus.
• Proven ability to lead change initiatives and promote continuous improvement across administrative functions.
• Demonstrated experience in soliciting gifts at a 6-figure level or higher.
• Proven skills in effective volunteer management related to fundraising and boards/council members.
• Planned giving experience preferred.
• Strong emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and excellent written and verbal communication skills; organized, goal-oriented, and a creative thinker.
• Position requires the ability to travel to meet with funders, donors, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in managing competing priorities, solving problems, and driving results in a fast-paced environment.
• Time Off: 10 days of PTO to start, increasing to 15 days after the first year, plus 13-15 paid holidays.
• Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, life, short-term & long-term disability.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with pension contribution.
• Additional Benefits: Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Supplemental Insurances, Legal & Identity Shield Programs, Employee Assistance Program, and discounts through "My Better Benefits."
Ready to Make an Impact?
• Visit www.foodbankst.org to learn more about our work.
• The full job description is available on our Careers page at foodbankst.org/careers.
Apply today with your resume and cover letter. Help us build a stronger, hunger-free Southern Tier.
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is a trusted regional leader in the fight against hunger, serving six counties across the Southern Tier of New York: Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins. As a member of the Feeding America network, we work to build and sustain hunger-free communities through partnerships, innovation, and compassionate service.
In 2023, we distributed over 15.5 million pounds of food—equivalent to more than 13.2 million meals—through a robust network of 332 agency and community partners, including food pantries, meal programs, shelters, and schools. Our direct-service initiatives, such as the Mobile Food Pantry, BackPack Program, and Kids’ Farmers Market, ensure that nutritious food reaches our neighbors where and when they need it most.
Our commitment extends beyond food distribution. We invest in long-term solutions by supporting local agriculture, enhancing cold storage infrastructure, and providing culturally relevant foods. In 2023 alone, we distributed over 3.75 million pounds of fresh produce, reflecting our dedication to offering healthy options to those we serve.