Chief Development and Communications Officer

Chief Development and Communications Officer

New York City, New York (hybrid)

As the Fresh Air Fund approaches its 150 th anniversary, it is seeking a visionary Chief Development and Communications Officer to lead and grow its fundraising program into the next chapter of its history

The Fresh Air Fund is a youth development non-profit providing transformative outdoor experiences, at no cost, for New York City children from underserved communities. At six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, children have new experiences, learn new skills, and gain new perspectives. Youth also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration, and educational programs. In its nearly 150-year history, the Fresh Air Fund has served more than 1.8 million children and unlocks the limitless potential of thousands of New York City children annually through its transformative summer experiences and programs.

The Fresh Air Fund seeks a Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO) to lead the next phase of its fundraising and communications strategy. As the organization prepares for its 150 th anniversary, the CDCO will be the primary architect of the fundraising strategy needed to fuel its next chapter of growth.

The CDCO will be charged with growing fundraising for a program that currently raises around $10M annually, with a sharpened focus on principal and major gifts. They will also lead an integrated communications department responsible for the Fresh Air Fund's brand, storytelling, media relations, and digital presence.

Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors, the CDCO will serve as a senior leader and trusted partner. They will be responsible for setting an organizational-wide development and communications strategy, directly managing a portfolio of top donors, and leading and guiding a team of talented and passionate staff. This leader will play a vital role in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding new funders whose interests intersect with the Fresh Air Fund’s core work.

The ideal candidate is an ambitious, relationship-oriented fundraiser who deeply believes in the power of philanthropy to change lives and is eager to partner with the Board and CEO to grow Fresh Air's impact for thousands of New York City children each year.

• Partnering with the CEO and Board, develop and execute an ambitious and comprehensive, multi-year fundraising and communications strategy that integrates all philanthropic revenue streams to grow philanthropy across all channels for the organization, with a keen focus on increasing major and principal gifts
• Partner with the CEO to translate organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities
• Collaborate with the Board to maximize their role in fundraising, supporting individual and collective goals, and leading the Development Committee in maximizing results
• Set clear revenue goals, performance benchmarks, and accountability structures across the department
• Play a key role in the development and communications strategy for the Fund's 150th anniversary, connecting a century and a half of mission to bold and ambitious fundraising growth
• Lead, inspire, and mentor a talented development and communications team, which includes 5 direct reports and 13 total staff
• Foster alignment across the team by clearly communicating vision, priorities, and progress so that every member is working toward shared goals with clarity and confidence
• Set clear performance expectations, establish and maintain strong KPI practices, provide consistent feedback, and build professional development pathways that attract and retain top talent
• Build systems and processes that support a culture of accountability and results orientation
• Directly cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors, with a focus on raising six-, and seven-figure gifts
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities specifically focused on new major donors
• Partner with the CEO and Board on donor cultivation, solicitation strategy, and stewardship, helping them to prepare, position, and follow…