The CDO will oversee the revenue channels of major gifts, principal gifts, and institutional partnerships (foundations and government) as well as development communications and development operations. They will oversee a corresponding team of approximately 24 that includes the Vice President of Development. These revenue channels were responsible for securing more than $31.4 million during FY25 with a cumulative goal of $40 million for FY26.
The CDO will closely collaborate with the Chief External Relations Officer to form a powerful advancement function for the organization, thus ensuring appropriate coordination and synergy among the CDO’s areas of oversight with other teams responsible for direct response fundraising and business partnerships as well as enterprise-wide marketing and communications, special events, and volunteer programs.
City Harvest seeks a highly experienced and motivated fundraising executive with a track record of developing and executing strategies that generate significant, sustainable revenue growth, particularly from high-net-worth individuals and major philanthropic institutions.
While City Harvest will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
- Strong connection to City Harvest’s mission and broader efforts to address food insecurity.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated success in securing major and principal gifts ($1M+) from high-net-worth individuals and institutions.
- Proven experience managing annual fundraising goals of $30 million or more.
- Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with an ability to build trust with donors, colleagues, and stakeholders at all levels.
- Knowledge of the major players, strategies, and trends in giving within New York City’s philanthropic community as well as demonstrated fundraising success therein.
- Track record of managing, mentoring, and retaining high-performing fundraising teams.
- Excellent public speaking, writing, and communication skills.
- Experience working with boards and engaging them in fundraising strategy and initiatives.
- Strong familiarity with donor management systems and fundraising analytics.
City Harvest seeks a highly experienced and motivated fundraising executive with a track record of developing and executing strategies that generate significant, sustainable revenue growth, particularly from high-net-worth individuals and major philanthropic institutions.
The following describe the core responsibilities of the position and are not intended as an exhaustive list of all job duties:
Strategic Leadership & Vision
- Design and lead fundraising strategy across the revenue channels of major gifts, principal gifts, and institutional partnerships that drives to combined annual revenue of more than $40 million and year-over-year increases and incorporates a vision for ongoing long-term growth. Align fundraising strategies with City Harvest’s organizational goals, priorities, and programmatic needs.
- Provide strategic leadership for expanding the donor pool; strengthening the fundraising performance of donors, including size and number of gifts; and developing a compelling case for support and other messaging in support of the development program.
- Oversee respective fundraising strategies for assigned revenue channels, ensuring ongoing identification of prospective funding sources; strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-impact relationships;
compelling proposals and stewardship reports in collaboration with program, finance, and communications teams; ongoing engagement of donors to ensure renewal of funding commitments as well as deepening of their connections to and investments in City Harvest over time; and appropriate integration of revenue channels to identify and engage donors with greater giving capacity.
Board Engagement & Executive Collaboration
- Partner with the CEO, executive team, and board development committee to drive revenue growth.
- Educate and support Board members in their fundraising roles and strategically involve them in donor engagement and stewardship.
Frontline Fundraising
-Identify, cultivate, and steward a personal portfolio of 25–50 of the highest potential individual and institutional
donors capable of making seven and eight-figure gifts.
-Lead and oversee strategic donor cultivation and solicitation opportunities that involve the CEO, senior
executives, and Board members or other high-level volunteer leaders. Manage connections between these
leaders and current or prospective donors, ensuring the preparation of strategic communications, reports,
briefings, and other materials, as necessary.
- Build and expand the pipeline of high-net-worth donors, particularly within NYC’s philanthropic communities.
While City Harvest will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
-Strong connection to City Harvest’s mission and broader efforts to address food insecurity.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated success in securing major and principal gifts ($1M+) from high-net-worth individuals and institutions.
- Proven experience managing annual fundraising goals of $30 million or more.
- Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with an ability to build trust with donors, colleagues,
and stakeholders at all levels.
- Knowledge of the major players, strategies, and trends in giving within New York City’s philanthropic community as well as demonstrated fundraising success therein.
- Track record of managing, mentoring, and retaining high-performing fundraising teams.
- Excellent public speaking, writing, and communication skills.
- Experience working with boards and engaging them in fundraising strategy and initiatives.
- Strong familiarity with donor management systems and fundraising analytics.
The annual base salary for this position is expected to range from $300,000 to $400,000, commensurate with experience.
City Harvest also offers the following benefits and rewards:
▪ Generous time off
▪ Full benefits (medical, dental, vision) with employer contributions towards premiums
▪ Employer-provided life insurance
▪ 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer matching
▪ Professional development opportunities
▪ Free mental health services with BetterHelp
▪ Commuter benefits
▪ Discounted staff perks (e.g., movie tickets, gym memberships, cellular plans)
City Harvest has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of DSG Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to the leaders of the search team:
https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22674
Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder, DSG Fundraising & Advancement
[email protected] | 212.542.2587
City Harvest is New York’s first and largest food rescue organization, collecting perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste and delivering it, free of charge, to help feed the millions of New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. In over 40 years of serving neighbors experiencing food insecurity, City Harvest has rescued and delivered more than 1 billion pounds of food for neighbors in need.
City Harvest is recognized as a leading equity-driven organization that works alongside its partners to rescue nutritious food and deliver it for free to our neighbors, offers free nutrition and culinary education programming, and advocates in order to strengthen the local food system. City Harvest is committed to being there to provide food to all New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity today and to those who may need assistance in years to come.