Chief Development Officer

Location: New York

Chief Development Officer

Join to apply for the Chief Development Officer role at City Harvest.

City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization, and we believe all New Yorkers deserve access to the food they need to thrive.

With over 40 years serving New Yorkers in need, City Harvest is recognized as a leading equity‑driven organization that works alongside our partners to rescue nutritious food and deliver it for free to our neighbors, offer free nutrition and culinary education programming, and advocate to strengthen the local food system.

To support City Harvest’s next phase of growth, the organization created the new executive position of Chief Development Officer (CDO). Reporting directly to CEO Jilly Stephens, the CDO will serve as a core member of the Executive Leadership Team and work closely with members of the Board of Directors to develop and lead an ambitious, forward‑looking fundraising strategy. The CDO will be a key thought partner to the CEO and the central figure in ensuring that City Harvest’s development program meets the considerable operational capacity of the organization and keeps pace with community needs going forward.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

City Harvest is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, citizenship, color, creed, physical or mental disability, ethnicity, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion, veteran status or other unlawful factors with respect to employment. City Harvest is committed to the maintenance of a drug‑free workplace and ensuring compliance with the Drug‑Free Workplace Act of 1988.

Gerard

F. Cattie, Jr. Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder, DSG Fundraising & Advancement  |

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