Chief Development Officer

Key Responsibilities

The Chief Development Officer will have primary responsibility for evolving and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that engages existing donors and builds new relationships, growing Activate’s annual budget from approximately $35 million to over $50 million annually within the next three years. They will lead the development team in executing targeted fundraising efforts aligned with Activate’s mission and long-term objectives.

This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring a leader who is equally comfortable mapping long-term fundraising strategy as well as directly executing the day-to-day work of donor cultivation, reviewing revenue projections, representing donor requirements during selection process for fellows, and managing the sponsor matching process for fellowship awards.

Resource Mobilization

• Develop and execute a visionary fundraising strategy in alignment with Activate’s mission and goals, leveraging innovative approaches to secure substantial contributions and diversify funding sources. Directly manage and maintain relationships with government sponsors and philanthropic funders.
• Tailor a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy, delineating specific identification, solicitation, and cultivation approaches for various donor segments, including federal and state government, family offices, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Spearhead efforts to secure seven figure gifts through strategic negotiations and creative tactics, ensuring Activate’s financial sustainability, growth, and the advancement of its impactful mission.
• Lead efforts to rapidly expand Activate’s network within family offices and institutional donors, leveraging personal and professional relationships to generate new philanthropic leads.
• Work with government relations firm to navigate shifts in federal and state funding environments, leveraging expertise in government budget cycles, legislative processes, and bipartisan relationship-building to effectively position Activate and secure sustained government funding.
• Collaborate closely with the Finance team on revenue forecasting, donor pipeline modeling, and budgeting processes to inform development strategies and resource allocation.

Team Management & Leadership

• Champion, mentor, and build a high-performing team of development professionals, empowering them to excel in every facet of fundraising, from identifying lucrative opportunities to forging lasting donor relationships. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, create an inclusive and supportive work environment to drive the team towards building a world-class fundraising unit, while providing strategic guidance and oversight to elevate their individual portfolios.
• Collaborate closely with the Fellowship, Strategic Initiatives and Brand Teams to align on proposal messaging and positioning, ensuring proposals effectively reflect Activate’s programmatic priorities and resonate clearly with donor interests.
• Actively participate in fellow selection meetings and processes and lead efforts to match fellows with aligned donors across philanthropy and government.
• Effectively manage and coordinate an internal government relations and philanthropy team, and external government relations consultants to refine systems and processes, aligning with government funding strategies to maximize funding potential.
• Serve as a strategic partner and advisor to the CEO, board, and executive leadership team, providing thoughtful guidance, support, and structure to enhance their effectiveness in cultivating donor relationships and securing funding, while fostering a shared culture of philanthropy.

Thought Leadership

• Take ownership of shaping Activate’s compelling narrative from a donor-engagement perspective, translating Fellows’ scientific breakthroughs and entrepreneurial potential into clear, persuasive messaging that motivates family offices, foundations, government funders, and key donor audiences to invest.
• Deliver expert insights and perspectives at industry conferences, forums, and high-level donor gatherings to elevate Activate’s visibility and reputation within philanthropic and government communities, while effectively representing Activate’s mission, impact, and thought leadership externally.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Chief Development Officer for Activate is a visionary and values-driven fundraiser with deep expertise in both philanthropy and government funding. They bring an established, extensive network within family offices, high-net-worth communities, and major philanthropic institutions. Leveraging these networks immediately, they have a proven ability to secure substantial, multi-year commitments and rapidly expand funding pipelines.

This strategic and execution-oriented leader possesses the unique ability to communicate the transformative potential of Activate’s Fellows in ways that inspire family offices and government stakeholders to commit meaningful resources. Ideally, this candidate has experience navigating funding through government agencies as well as philanthropy in order to support Activate’s program and development staff in executing on its government funding strategy at the federal and state levels, positioning Activate to capitalize on emerging opportunities and maintain steady financial support.

The ideal candidate also has a successful track record building and leading high-performing fundraising teams. They lead with clarity, collaboration, and inspiration, fostering a robust internal culture of philanthropy and proactively engaging the CEO and board as strategic fundraising partners. Their exceptional communication skills and credible external presence enable them to effectively represent Activate at industry conferences and donor forums, elevating the organization’s profile and attracting new resources to support Activate’s mission and sustained growth. They are energized by rolling up their sleeves to solve problems, manage relationships, and ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly and effectively.

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum of 15 years of senior fundraising leadership experience, with a proven track record securing multi-million-dollar gifts from family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and major philanthropic institutions.
• Exposure to federal and state government funding, including understanding budget cycles, legislative processes, and bipartisan dynamics.
• Successful experience managing, coaching, and building high-performing and empowered fundraising teams, with a track record of developing a robust internal fundraising culture.
• Proven ability to effectively partner with CEOs, executive leaders, and boards to enhance their fundraising effectiveness.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with experience serving as a compelling external representative at high-level donor meetings, events, and industry forums.
• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments requiring hands-on lead generation and donor relationship management.

Preferred:

• Existing strong network and established relationships within family offices and institutional foundations as well high-net-worth communities.
• Experience in or deep familiarity with organizations supporting scientific innovation, entrepreneurship, climate solutions, or related fields.