Chief Operating Officer Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund

Mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund

The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) unlocks educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. We partner with Scholars, families, schools, alumni, donors, and community leaders through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs and personal support so that each Scholar can reach their full potential.

Founded by the Murphy brothers in 1989, DMSF now offers around 150 scholarships to 8th graders each year, supporting more than 500 Scholars in high school with a 100% graduation rate. Those Scholars are attending roughly 40 different parochial and independent day schools in the Chicago area, as well as 40 boarding schools from coast to coast. For more information, please visit https://www.dmsf.org/

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to DMSF’s CEO. The COO is responsible for leading and strengthening organizational operations, managing and supporting the Development team, driving cross-functional disciplined execution of strategic priorities, and helping advance DMSF’s mission through strong operational leadership, and donor engagement support.

This role oversees day-to-day organizational effectiveness while helping position DMSF for long-term growth and sustainability. The COO works closely with the CEO on strategic planning, fundraising initiatives, board engagement, donor strategy, and organizational development, ensuring that systems, people, and priorities are aligned to maximize impact for Murphy Scholars.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven, hands-on, highly relational, and strategic leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can balance high-level strategy with operational execution, and is excited to help support a high-performing nonprofit organization with a $6M+ budget.

Provide leadership and oversight of organizational operations, systems, and internal processes to ensure efficiency, accountability, and alignment across teams.

Lead the implementation of strategic priorities in partnership with the CEO and leadership team.

Develop, strengthen, and continuously improve operational systems, workflows, and internal communications that support organizational growth and effectiveness.

Oversee organizational goal tracking, staff accountability, project management, and cross-department coordination.

Build a culture of clarity, collaboration, urgency, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Lead staff culture, professional development, and organizational health initiatives.

Partner with the CEO on board preparation, strategic planning, executive-level initiatives and special projects.

Identify operational challenges and proactively recommend solutions that improve organizational effectiveness.

Lead, mentor, and develop the Development team (2-3 direct reports).

Partner with the CEO to drive fundraising strategy, donor engagement, stewardship, and revenue growth initiatives.

Support preparation for donor meetings, sponsorship conversations, foundation meetings, and major fundraising initiatives.

Conduct donor and prospect research and help develop briefing materials, talking points, meeting agendas, and follow-up strategies for the CEO.

Monitor fundraising progress toward annual goals and support reporting and analysis efforts.

In partnership with team members and outside agencies, lead operations for our annual Golf Classic (which raised $3.4M in 2026) and other fundraising events as needed.

Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO on organizational…