Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer | Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York New York, NY – with responsibility for supporting the full Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York chapter footprint, including Metro New York, Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, and surrounding communities.

Organization Overview

Make-A-Wish is the largest wish-granting charity in the world with 57 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, and 40 international affiliates on six continents. Make-A-Wish America, the national office, is located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Founded in 1983, Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York has granted the wishes of over 21,000 children with critical illnesses. The organization serves children in the five boroughs of New York City, on Long Island, and in 17 counties in the Buffalo and Rochester areas.

Over 600 volunteers make wishes possible for the children the chapter serves.

Right now, there are more than 1,000 children in the communities the chapter serves waiting for their wish to be granted. Every one of these kids needs a wish to give them strength and help them heal.

Wish kids are not necessarily terminal. In fact, the majority of children who receive a wish overcome their medical conditions or learn to live with them and go on to lead strong, vibrant lives.

A wish is not simply a wish. In the fight against a critical illness, a wish serves as a catalyst for renewed strength and encouragement for every child and family on their journey. In fact, wishes have proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival. And wishes not only help these children – they also have far-reaching, positive impacts on their families and communities.

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for leading all fundraising strategy and execution for Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York. This includes developing and implementing an integrated development plan that increases contributed revenue, diversifies funding streams, deepens donor engagement, strengthens Board fundraising participation, and expands the chapter’s base of major donors and individual supporters.

The CDO serves as a senior member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for shaping, leading, and executing a comprehensive revenue strategy that advances the chapter’s mission:
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This leader will partner closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, senior staff, volunteers, donors, and community leaders to strengthen a culture of philanthropy, grow philanthropic support, strengthen donor relationships, and ensure the chapter has the resources needed to grant wishes at scale.

The CDO provides executive leadership to the chapter’s multi-channel fundraising program and oversees an overall team of approximately 19 team members responsible for major gifts, individual giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, planned giving, annual giving, donor stewardship, special events, community fundraising, research, development operations, and regional development activities. The role is responsible for building a high-performing, collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven development team across the chapter’s geographic footprint.

The role requires a leader who can balance long-term revenue growth with near-term fundraising performance, inspire staff and volunteers, steward transformational donor relationships, and embed a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

The ideal candidate is an experienced nonprofit fundraising executive with demonstrated success personally…