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Be a bridge builder. Inspire generosity. Help shape a stronger tomorrow as Chief Development Officer at the YMCA of the Black Hills.
Job Description
At the YMCA of the Black Hills, we believe that the power of community begins with connection. It starts with people coming together to care, to serve, and to build something lasting. Every act of generosity, every partnership, and every shared vision helps strengthen the foundation of a healthier tomorrow. We are seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) who will be a bridge builder: someone who connects hearts to purpose, generosity to impact, and stories to the future we are creating together.
The Chief Development Officer plays a vital role in ensuring that the Y’s mission continues to grow and thrive across the Black Hills. This role is not only about fundraising. It’s about relationship building, storytelling, and vision. The CDO helps others see the YMCA for what it truly is: a movement dedicated to nurturing youth, inspiring healthy living, and fostering social responsibility. Through authentic relationships, strategic leadership, and heartfelt communication, the CDO connects donors, partners, and community members to the real stories of lives changed every day at the Y.
Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief Development Officer will lead the Y’s comprehensive fundraising and resource development efforts, including annual giving, grants, endowments, planned giving, and capital campaigns. Working closely with a passionate Board of Directors and volunteers, this leader will help shape the YMCA’s story in a way that inspires generosity and action. Each donation, whether from an individual, a business, or a foundation, becomes a bridge between compassion and transformation, allowing the Y’s programs to reach further and impact more lives.
The person in this role will be both strategist and storyteller, with the ability to see the big picture while caring deeply about the people behind it. They will translate the heart of our mission into words and experiences that resonate, ensuring every donor understands how their support directly strengthens youth programs, families in need, community health initiatives, and safe spaces for belonging. By building trust and cultivating meaningful relationships, the CDO ensures that philanthropy at the Y is not just about dollars raised. It’s about shared vision and collective impact.
Leadership at the YMCA is rooted in service. The Chief Development Officer embodies that spirit, leading with authenticity, collaboration, and hope. The right candidate will bring both experience and empathy, a background in fundraising strategy and grant development, paired with a genuine passion for community building. They will understand that the true power of development work lies in connection.
At the YMCA of the Black Hills, our culture reflects our cause. We are welcoming to all, genuine in our relationships, hopeful in our outlook, nurturing in our support, and determined in our mission to make our community stronger. Here, your leadership will make a tangible difference. You will have the opportunity to help tell the story of who we are, and to invite others to be part of that story.
If you are a bridge builder who believes in the power of philanthropy to create a better tomorrow, we invite you to bring your voice, your vision, and your heart to the YMCA of the Black Hills. Together, we will continue to strengthen the fabric of our community-one connection, one story, and one act of generosity at a time.
Qualifications
- Have a four-year degree in financial development or related field or six years of related field experience.
- Be passionate about the YMCA mission and vision, and must personally advocate and demonstrate the core values of honesty, respect, responsibility and caring.
- Demonstrate solid leadership as demonstrated by a high level of loyalty and respect among those this person leads.
- This person must have knowledge of and advocate the YMCA mission.
- YMCA Organizational Leader certification preferred.
- Working knowledge of giving and charitable vehicles.
- Foundation and government grant writing expertise.
- This position requires an emphasis in positive human relations skills, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to research potential funding sources.
- This position also requires the ability to recruit, facilitate, lead, and recognize high-performing volunteers and staff.
- Have CPR and First Aid certification prior to or within 60 days of hire.
- Have a valid driver’s license.
Essential Functions
Financial Development Strategies
- Establish and coordinate an annual comprehensive financial development plan designed to meet financial resource needs of the association. The plan should include specific strategies for endowment, grants, annual giving, capital giving, United Way, and special events.
- Create and reinforce a culture of philanthropy in the YMCA and among key stakeholders that is characterized by connecting giving with community impact.
- Recruit, supervise, evaluate, and recognize the development associate or other support staff in such a way that facilitates meeting his/her performance objectives related to development activities.
Endowment Development
- Promote Heritage Club membership through facilitating individual and group presentations, connecting with financial planning professionals, and developing fresh and vibrant interpretive materials.
- Promote the Heritage Club through a planned giving web page that is reviewed for potential updates at least once every six months.
- Organize and manage an accurate and up-to-date database of Heritage Club members and target prospects.
- Promote and manage legacy software that communicates the importance of agency sustainability and community support.
Grants Development
- Research, organize, coordinate, write, and submit grant applications such that the number or amount of grant awards meets or exceeds the previous years’ awards.
- Coordinate, write, and submit grant reports as required by funders.
- Maintain an accurate database of grant requests and grant awards, and report such database monthly to the CEO.
Annual Campaign
- Develop the annual association campaign plan, complete with goal, action steps, timelines, and needed materials for each year.
- Develop, train executive directors/branch managers, publish and produce communication materials needed for successful branch annual campaigns.
- Conduct the annual sponsorship campaign such that the approved campaign goal is met or exceeded at each branch.
- Coordinate and ensure that all donors receive a Thank You message at least 5 times for each gift/pledge. This should include, but is not limited to, a timely Thank You letter, an annual Your Impact piece highlighting how the gift was used, and some personal contact.
- Ensure that all volunteers are recognized at least once each year and receive at least one piece of communication outside of the campaign period.
- Coordinate local, state, regional, and/or national collaborative campaign efforts.
Capital Campaign Development
- Develop in partnership with the CEO a capital campaign plan based on best practices with the ultimate goal of setting a reasonable campaign goal, reaching the campaign goal, increasing interest among high-capacity prospects, and building community ownership.
- Provide the organizational and logistical support needed for a successful capital campaign.
- Develop, publish and produce communication materials needed for a successful capital campaign.
- Conduct volunteer recruitment, training, and oversight in coordination with the CEO.
- Identify and participate in the appropriate leadership or support role in soliciting prospective donors.
- Research, establish, and implement recognition strategies in coordination with the CEO.
Advocacy Support
- Develop and implement advocacy strategies that may include cultivation visits with candidates for elected office, inviting elected officials to key events and programs, and supporting statewide and federal YUSA advocacy efforts.
- Developing and implementing, in coordination with the CEO, a response to potentially adverse public policy issues and/or community issues.
- Developing and implementing, in coordination with the CEO, the crisis communication plan.
Whatever else that may be needed to further the YMCA movement.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
- Change Leadership
- Engaging Community
- Collaboration
- Communication & Influence
- Critical Thinking & Decision Making
- Fiscal Management
- Program/Project Management
- Developing Self & Others
- Emotional Maturity
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