Founded in 1913 by 10 doctors and five laypeople in New York City, the American Cancer Society, Inc. (ACS) is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, ACS has been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. ACS is committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
ACS provides the support and guidance people impacted by cancer need at every step – from increasing access to screening at the local, state, and federal levels and advocating for more affordable health care to guiding patients and caregivers through their free 24/7 helpline and helping them get the treatment they need by offering free transportation and lodging. ACS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation governed by a single Board of Directors that is responsible for setting policy, establishing long-term goals, monitoring general operations, and approving the organizational outcomes and allocation of resources. The Board is composed entirely of volunteers from the medical and lay communities. With a presence in more than 21,000 communities, ACS is working to support people facing all types of cancer, in every community. ACS helps mobilize communities in the cancer fight, delivering potentially lifesaving programs and services and raising crucial funds to support their mission. ACS organizes its efforts around four main Pillars: Advocacy, Discovery, Patient Support, and Development.
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads the Development Pillar of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and they maintain broad systemwide authority over all aspects of revenue generation. The CDO sets strategies and is responsible for the overall revenue portfolio, as aligned to needs identified by the Advocacy, Discovery, and Patient Support Pillars. The CDO has oversight and is accountable for all aspects of revenue generation, including but not limited to the following: corporate partnerships; philanthropy; planned giving; assisting with digital fundraising; peer-to-peer fundraising; Discovery Shops (carefully curated collections of high quality, locally donated merchandise); and in-person and virtual events. The CDO is also responsible for the incorporation of regional revenue-generation strategies, leveraging the strength of both Field Development team members and volunteers to achieve Pillar goals.
The CDO is charged with rethinking and optimizing how ACS conducts fundraising as the organization continues its evolution from a previous emphasis on events and peer-to-peer fundraising to a growing focus on corporate partnerships and high-level, major-gifts-focused philanthropy. Accordingly, the CDO will inspire and facilitate more ambitious goals for the Development Pillar and respective fundraising initiatives as well as new ways of operating in the pursuit thereof.
The CDO oversees an overall team of approximately 1,350 individuals. The CDO will be empowered to assess and optimize the team’s organizational structure and functional alignment in consultation with the CEO.
While ACS will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience:
- Authentic connection to and passion for the ACS mission and vision.
- Minimum of 15 years of experience in fundraising/development at progressively more responsible management levels. Proven fundraising knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of corporate, individual, and peer-to-peer relationships.
- Proven track record in fundraising from diverse sources, including experience applying moves management and facilitating leadership gift conversations with individual, corporate, and/or foundation donors. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful cultivation and solicitation strategies as well as to provide leadership in major campaign planning and execution.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, iteratively, and creatively with a diverse set of stakeholders, including scientists and researchers, to co-create processes and solutions that meet the needs of the organization as well as those of donors and funders.
- Demonstrated leadership ability, confidence, and executive presence – ability to motivate, inspire and produce outstanding results.
- Track record of successfully managing teams and providing leadership to boards, team members, and volunteers in fundraising activities. Experience leading teams to achieve ambitious objectives by leveraging best practices, clear goals and metrics, and shared accountability as well as facilitating cross-departmental collaboration when necessary. A track record of rebuilding a development program(s) and team(s) in partnership with human resources colleagues is strongly preferred.
- Ability to set priorities, balance the demands of multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to think strategically and creatively, as well as to implement and follow-through. Demonstrated ability to integrate data into strategy development and decision-making.
- Knowledge of the nonprofit sector and awareness of the context in which ACS operates.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence to inspire, motivate, and manage donor relationships effectively.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to passionately communicate the impact of ACS’ work.
- Familiarity and comfort with development database systems (i.e., Salesforce).
- Bachelor’s degree in fields of business management, finance, or other relevant discipline (or equivalent work experience).
- Ability to travel on a national scale to support organizational priorities and strategic communications, including planning, personal cultivation and solicitation, or special events.
ACS is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will take positive action to continually ensure equal opportunity to its employees and to its applicants in the conduct of all business activities. The Society is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran’s status, caregiver status, genetic information, or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law.
If you are having difficulty in applying for a job due to a disability, please contact ACS at 1-800-227-2345 to request accommodation to ensure that you can submit a timely application and have an equal opportunity to compete for jobs.
ACS has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of DSG Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to the leader of the search team.
https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22250
Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder – DSG Fundraising & Advancement
DSG Global
[email protected] | 212.542.2587