Chief Development Officer

Mahler Private Staffing provided pay range This range is provided by Mahler Private Staffing. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range $300,000.00 / yr - $400,000.00 / yr

Our client is seeking a visionary, entrepreneurial, and deeply mission-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to create, build, and lead a new era of philanthropy for a nonprofit in Los Angeles.

This is a rare opportunity to build a development department from the ground up, designing the strategy, assembling the team, and laying the infrastructure to support transformational growth and impact.

As a key member of the executive leadership team, you'll set the direction for all fundraising efforts, from major gifts and institutional partnerships to campaigns, donor engagement, and annual giving, while cultivating a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

What You'll Do

Design and lead a multi-year fundraising strategy that supports long-term growth and mission alignment.

Build and manage a high-performing development team and donor systems that are scalable, data-driven, and rooted in strong relationships.

Drive major gifts and donor engagement, with a focus on six- and seven-figure contributions.

Secure and steward funding from foundations, corporations, and public agencies across California and beyond.

Partner with leadership and the Board to build a culture of philanthropy organization wide.

Shape the narrative of the mission through compelling campaigns, events, and storytelling that inspires action.

What You Bring

10+ years of experience in nonprofit development, with at least 8 years in a leadership role.

A proven track record in securing major gifts, managing donor pipelines, and building or scaling successful development teams.

Deep knowledge of fundraising best practices and compliance, especially in California's nonprofit and philanthropic landscape.

Experience in building systems, tools, and teams from scratch.

Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.

A commitment to equity, integrity, and community-centered leadership.

Why This Role?

You'll be a builder. You won't be inheriting legacy systems, you'll be creating the blueprint and building the structure yourself.

You'll work alongside values-aligned leaders committed to transparency, equity, and innovation.

You'll shape the future of a mission-driven organization.

Compensation

Salary : $300,000–$400,000 annually, based on experience and location, benefits included.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, general business hours with some flexibility needed

To Apply

Please apply at www.mahlermatch.com for consideration; if already on our job board, click Apply Now. Qualified applicants will be contacted.

J-18808-Ljbffr