Chief Development Officer

Vivalon : Serving Marin County's Older Adults

Vivalon ( ) is the largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting older adults in Marin County. Founded by a grassroots community group in 1954 known as the Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Vivalon helps Marin County’s older adults and vulnerable residents thrive through the power of human connection with rides, meals, classes, care, advice and more.

Vivalon’s vision is to ensure that every adult has the opportunity to age with independence, dignity, and grace.

Marin is the fastest-aging county in California, with projections indicating that by 2030, one in three residents will be 60 or older.

The high cost of housing has led many children of older adults to move away, leaving their parents without a robust family caregiver support network.

Vivalon believes Marin’s older adults deserve the dignity of remaining in their community with access to the necessary resources, connections, and services to age with dignity, independence, and grace.

Vivalon has developed a new community-based model of care for the elderly. The Healthy Aging Campus opened in downtown San Rafael in January 2024 and integrates a medical clinic, Healthy Aging center, and 66 units of safe and affordable low-income housing in one modern and environmentally friendly building.

The project is a collaborative partnership with Marin Community Clinics, Eden Housing, and Vivalon.

Job Overview :

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a key executive leadership position reporting directly to Vivalon's CEO. The CDO will lead and implement the organization’s fundraising strategy, build and manage the development team, and drive advocacy and awareness of the organization’s mission, needs, and deliverables to expand mission impact and organizational growth.

The CDO oversees the development and marketing department, including all fundraising, communications, public relations, marketing, and events activities.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Comprehensive Fundraising and Marketing Strategy :

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising and marketing strategy to identify and cultivate individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects.
• Oversee the creation and implementation of marketing strategies, including collateral materials, social media content, and other communications to promote the organization’s mission, programs, and services.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Board of Directors to maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and community leaders.
• Represent the organization at community events, conferences, and other public forums to enhance visibility and influence.

2. Executive Leadership Planning and Strategy :

• Serve as a key executive leadership team member, working collaboratively with the CEO and senior leaders to develop and implement the organization’s strategic plan and vision.
• Provide leadership and direction to the development and marketing teams and other departments to ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Lead the development and marketing department's annual planning and budgeting process, setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
• Provide regular updates to the CEO and Board of Directors on fundraising progress and challenges and make recommendations for course corrections as needed.
• Represent the organization in public forums and develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders to advance the organization’s mission and goals.

3. Staff Management & Mentorship :

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to a high-performing development and marketing team aligned with the organization’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the development and marketing team and the organization.
• Develop and implement performance metrics and evaluation tools to ensure the team meets or exceeds fundraising targets and other organizational goals.

4. Donor-Centered Strategy :

• Develop and implement a donor-centered fundraising approach that builds strong relationships with donors, emphasizes the organization’s mission and impact, and encourages donor engagement and investment.
• Create and manage a donor stewardship strategy, including a donor recognition program that celebrates and acknowledges donors’ contributions to the organization.
• Ensure timely and accurate acknowledgment of all gifts and donations and cultivate donor relationships.
• Work with the CEO and Board of Directors to maintain a robust donor pipeline progress report and support and train the board to reach long-term fundraising goals.

5. Donor System Infrastructure Strategy and Implementation :

• Develop and maintain effective systems and processes to support fundraising and development operations, including gift processing, database management, and reporting.
• Create and implement a fundraising plan with clear goals, metrics, and timelines for achieving fundraising targets.
• Manage the development team budget aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities and goals.
• Identify and implement technology solutions to support fundraising operations and enhance donor engagement and stewardship.
• Communicate donor system reporting to the board, including metrics and future strategies.

Qualifications :

• At least ten years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and development, including at least five years in a senior development leadership role, working closely with the executive team and board of directors.
• Prior experience creating strategic multi-year fundraising plans and building stakeholder consensus to achieve fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated success in staff management and mentorship, with a commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work culture that fosters professional growth and development.
• A demonstrated passion for the organization’s mission and fundraising, with a deep understanding of and commitment to the values and principles of the nonprofit sector.
• Proven experience leading with a track record of achieving fundraising goals.
• Strong financial acumen skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with prior experience in public speaking and external relations, and the ability to represent the organization to various stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in CRMs, particularly with Salesforce NPSP for donor management and fundraising activities strongly desired.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, and a master’s or other advanced degree is preferred.

Vivalon is an equal-opportunity employer.