Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer

About Covenant House Greater Washington

For 30 years, Covenant House Greater Washington (CHGW) has been the region's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth ages 18–24 who are experiencing homelessness, disconnection, and exploitation. CHGW provides a safe haven and comprehensive wraparound services including housing, workforce readiness, job placement, and drop-in services. Our mission is to empower, safeguard, and serve youth experiencing homelessness, disconnection, and exploitation in the Greater Washington region. We create tailored solutions for each young person that goes beyond short-term housing and support, equipping youth with resources to overcome common obstacles and barriers. Aside from housing, youth receive workforce readiness, job / career placement, post-secondary support, case management, mental health support, drop-in services, and more.

Our mission is to empower, safeguard and serve youth experiencing homelessness, disconnection, and exploitation in the Greater Washington region. The wrap-around supportive services provided to opportunity youth include housing, workforce readiness, job placement, and drop-in services.

We operate with the following Core Values :

• Immediacy : Homeless youth come to Covenant House in crisis. Immediately and without question, we meet their basic human needs – a nourishing meal, a shower, clean clothes, medical attention, and a safe place away from the dangers of the street.
• Sanctuary : Homeless youth arriving at our door are often frightened and mistrustful. Young men and women can grow only when they feel safe and secure. Covenant House protects them from the perils of the street and offers that important sense of security.
• Stability : Homeless youth never know how they will get their next meal or where they will sleep. Covenant House provides the stability and structure necessary to build a positive future.
• Choice : Young people often feel powerless to control their lives and fall into a self-defeating cycle of failure. Covenant House fosters confidence, encouraging young people to believe in themselves and make smart choices about their future.

Learn more about Covenant House Greater Washington at the site : covenanthousegw.org

The Opportunity

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for planning, developing, maintaining, and continuously growing a comprehensive private and public multi-channel, multi-audience fundraising program. The ideal leader in this role is intuitive, energetic, organized, and compassionate; has a passion to enhance the mission and vision of Covenant House; and is a skilled and experienced fundraiser. The CDO reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the executive leadership team.

Key responsibilities

Fundraising Leadership

Organizational Leadership

Team Leadership and Talent Development

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics :

Expert Fundraiser

This innovative and forward-thinking leader is deeply committed to CHGW's mission of ending youth homelessness. Financially savvy and strategic, they translate complex challenges into actionable insights, optimize budgets and ROI, and diversify revenue streams to build a strong donor base. Skilled in designing fundraising strategies, and building systems, they use data and metrics to guide decisions while maintaining focus on mission impact.

Inspiring Leader

This leader is a dynamic and motivating presence who models passion, accountability, and vision in every aspect of their work. They cultivate inclusive, collaborative teams by fostering trust, encouraging innovation, and setting clear expectations for success. A strong communicator, they engage diverse audiences with authenticity and clarity, whether preparing proposals, presenting to donors, or speaking publicly. As a collaborator, they build genuine partnerships across staff, board, and external stakeholders, creating a culture of shared success that amplifies resources and drives impact for CHGW.

Relationship Builder and Results Oriented

The ideal CDO excels at cultivating, stewarding, and expanding relationships with major donors, board members, and community partners. They are comfortable engaging directly with urban populations, staff, and residents to strengthen credibility and trust. As a results-oriented leader, they inspire teams to achieve measurable outcomes, mentoring development staff to meet ambitious growth targets while leveraging cross-site collaboration to maximize resources and impact.

Mission Aligned

The CDO demonstrates a deep commitment to ending homelessness and serving at-risk youth, showing genuine empathy and cultural competence. They align development strategies with the organization's vision, translating the mission into compelling fundraising narratives. With a clear understanding of the urban environment and the challenges faced by youth, they ensure fundraising and program decisions reflect on-the-ground realities. Serving as a thought partner to executive leadership, they constructively challenge ideas while embedding development into the overall site strategy. They are hands-on, comfortable visiting program sites, and deeply invested in the mission of ending youth homelessness.

In addition, strong candidates will offer :

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary for this role is $140,000 - $150,000 / year. CHGW offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to support your health, well-being, and professional growth :

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Kim Dukes and Judene Hylton. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential. DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps at divsearch dot com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Covenant House Greater Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, national origin, or any other protected class under applicable laws.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.

To apply, visit : covenanthousegw.org / career-opportunities or the external listing at the provided recruitment site.

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