Chief Development Officer Jobs

Chief Development Officer jobs are open across nonprofits, higher education, healthcare systems, and social services organizations, from senior director to C-suite level, with specializations in major gifts, capital campaigns, and institutional partnerships. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles56
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerAmerican Red Cross
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Work type58% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 4 of 56+ Chief Development Officer jobs

Kansas City Pet Project
Chief Development Officer
We won't show you this job again
Kansas City Pet Project
Added 2d ago
Chief Development Officer
Kansas City Pet Project
Kansas City, Missouri
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
$80k - $90k/yr
Bachelor's degree
11-50

Have you applied for this role?

YWCA Berkeley/Oakland
Senior Fundraising Consultant / Fractional Chief Development Officer (6-9 Month Engagement)
We won't show you this job again
YWCA Berkeley/Oakland
Added 2d ago
Senior Fundraising Consultant / Fractional Chief Development Officer (6-9 Month Engagement)
YWCA Berkeley/Oakland
Berkeley, California
Business Development
Business Strategy
Partnerships & Business Development
$100 - $150/hr
Hybrid

Have you applied for this role?

National Veterans Foundation
Chief Development Officer
We won't show you this job again
National Veterans Foundation
Added 3d ago
Chief Development Officer
National Veterans Foundation
Los Angeles, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$80k - $100k/yr
Hybrid
11-50

Have you applied for this role?

OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR NONPROFITS
Chief Development Officer
We won't show you this job again
OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR NONPROFITS
Added 3d ago
Chief Development Officer
OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR NONPROFITS
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
On-Site
2-10

Have you applied for this role?

See All 56 Chief Development Officer Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs

Chief Development Officer Job Market

Who's Hiring

American Red Cross
American Red Cross2 open roles
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University2 open roles
University of Southern California
University of Southern California2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Technology & Software
  • Non-Profit & Social Services
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Investment & Asset Management

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chief development officer jobs.

  • 10 or more years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts
  • Demonstrated success leading capital campaigns or comprehensive fundraising programs
  • Experience managing and growing a development team of professional staff
  • Bachelor's degree required, with CFRE certification preferred by many employers
  • Proficiency with donor management platforms such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce NPSP
  • Strong board relations experience and comfort presenting to executive leadership

Tips for Your Chief Development Officer Job Search

Quantify your fundraising results clearly

Your resume needs hard outcomes: campaign totals raised, donor retention improvements, or endowment growth figures you drove. Chief development officer hiring committees compare candidates on revenue impact, so vague language about 'leading fundraising efforts' won't separate you from the field.

Tailor your materials to mission type

A portfolio that worked for a university capital campaign reads differently to a hospital foundation or arts nonprofit. Reframe your experience around the mission type in each posting, because boards and search committees want to see sector fluency, not just transferable skills.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists chief development officer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target organizations in active growth phases

Postings that mention a new strategic plan, a campaign feasibility study, or recent board expansion signal genuine need rather than a backfill. Prioritize these openings, because you'll enter with a clearer mandate and faster path to visible impact.

Prepare a portfolio case study for interviews

Walk interviewers through one complete campaign you led, from prospect identification through close and stewardship. Boards and executive teams at this level expect a structured narrative, not a list of talking points, so practice telling the arc before your first conversation.

Negotiate the full package, not just base pay

Chief development officer offers often include performance incentives tied to campaign goals, professional development budgets, and board engagement expectations. Clarify each element before accepting, because campaign bonus structures and travel requirements vary widely across organization types.

Chief Development Officer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most chief development officers?

The companies hiring the most chief development officers right now include American Red Cross, Western Michigan University, and University of Southern California, with the largest share of openings in California, New York, and District of Columbia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Demand is concentrated in organizations with active fundraising campaigns or recent leadership transitions in their development function.

How many chief development officer jobs are remote?

About 63% of chief development officer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, though full-time remote roles are less common at this level than in many other functions. Donor stewardship, board relationship management, and major gift cultivation tend to require regular in-person presence, so most organizations expect at least partial on-site availability.

How do you become a chief development officer?

Most chief development officers build their path by starting in annual giving or major gifts, then moving into director-level roles overseeing a full development team. From there, gaining experience leading a comprehensive campaign, managing board volunteers, and presenting to trustees positions you for a CDO search. Earning your CFRE certification and developing a strong professional network in your sector accelerates the timeline considerably.

How do you get hired as a chief development officer without direct CDO experience?

Organizations conducting their first CDO search, or smaller nonprofits with growing programs, will often hire a strong director-level candidate who can grow into the role. Emphasize any experience where you functioned as the senior development leader, even without the title, and highlight board-facing work, campaign leadership, and team management. A clear vision for building or scaling the development function matters as much as an existing CDO title.

What does the chief development officer interview process look like?

Chief development officer searches typically run in multiple stages, starting with a screening conversation with HR or a search consultant, followed by interviews with the executive team and a separate session with board members or a board search committee. Many organizations ask finalists to present a fundraising vision or first-year strategic framework. Reference checks at this level are thorough and often include conversations with former board chairs or major donors.

Where can I find and apply to chief development officer jobs?

You can find and apply to chief development officer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that fit your experience and sector focus, then apply directly to each listing. There's no need to go through a third party or wait to be contacted.

See All 56 Chief Development Officer Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs