[Hiring] Chief Development Officer @Thrive Scholars

Role Description

Thrive Scholars seeks a disciplined, entrepreneurial, and results-driven Chief Development Officer to shape the fundraising engine that will power its next chapter of growth. Thrive has a proven model, a national base of loyal supporters, and a strong development team. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on the senior leadership team, the next CDO will build on that foundation to create a sustainable, growing, and diversified revenue stream.

With contributed revenue of roughly $18 million annually, Thrive Scholars is poised for its next stage of growth. The incoming Chief Development Officer will build on this foundation and drive contributed revenue to $25 million in the years ahead.

This is a hands-on, visible leadership role. The CDO will spend meaningful time on the road with donors, partners, Board members, and regional teams in Thrive's key markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville.

Key Responsibilities

• Build a Disciplined Pipeline-Driven Fundraising Program
  • Develop and execute annual and multi-year fundraising plans with the CEO that support Thrive's five-year strategic plan.
  • Diversify Thrive’s revenue base by identifying and securing new funders, partners, and revenue streams while maximizing revenue nationally and across Thrive’s regions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
  • Dedicate a meaningful share of time to personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations, including managing a focused portfolio of major national prospects with the potential for making transformational, multi-year investments.
  • Strengthen and grow Thrive's broad base of existing donors by defining clear stewardship expectations and building an organization-wide donor recognition strategy, applied consistently across national and regional teams, that drives retention and increased giving.
  • In partnership with finance, ensure Thrive’s fundraising meets legal, ethical, and policy requirements, including gift acceptance, donor restrictions, gift acknowledgment, and grant reporting.
  • Provide clear, timely reporting on fundraising performance to the CEO, finance team, and Board.
  • Use Salesforce and data to forecast revenue, measure performance, and inform decisions.
• Lead and Manage a High-Performing Development Team
  • Lead and manage a development team of ~12, including regional executive directors, corporate partnerships, and development operations.
  • Translate the development strategy into specific goals, roles, and accountabilities for every team member.
  • Know the state of the pipeline at all times, including what has closed, what is at risk, and what each team member is working on, using disciplined routines such as regular pipeline reviews, activity tracking, and progress against targets.
  • Hire, onboard, coach, and develop strong fundraisers as the department and revenue grows.
  • Identify and integrate AI-enabled tools and practices that sharpen prospect identification, forecasting, and personalized stewardship, ensuring the team uses them responsibly and effectively.
  • Foster a team culture grounded in Thrive's Cultural Commitments, with high expectations, candid feedback, collaboration, and connection to the mission.
• Corporate Partnerships
  • Lead the corporate partnerships strategy, with the goal of growing corporate support as a share of total revenue.
  • Partner closely with the Chief Program Officer and the program and career teams to design corporate partnerships that Thrive can deliver on with excellence, building long-term sustainable and meaningful relationships with these corporations.
• Partner with the CEO, Board, and Senior Leadership
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and deploy the CEO's time on the highest-value fundraising opportunities while accompanying and preparing the CEO for donor meetings when appropriate.
  • As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to organization-wide decisions and build strong partnerships with program, finance, and operations leaders.
  • Work with the CEO and Board members to map and open their personal and professional networks, and support them in their own cultivation and solicitation of donors.
  • Engage the National Board and regional boards as fundraisers, connectors, and ambassadors, and secure clear annual fundraising commitments from Board members.
  • Collaborate closely with the marketing and communications team so that Thrive’s brand, storytelling, impact reporting, and donor communications directly support fundraising goals and the donor pipeline.
  • Foster a culture of philanthropy across Thrive, and ensure that systems and processes support fundraising.

Qualifications

• A deep commitment to expanding opportunity for talented young people from low-income backgrounds.
• At least 12 years of fundraising experience, or transferable for-profit sales experience, with a track record of growing revenue over time.
• At least 7 years leading a team at a multi-site or national organization.
• Experience running fundraising with the rigor of a sales organization, including pipeline management, forecasting, playbooks, and performance metrics.
• Experience cultivating long-cycle relationships with national foundations, corporations, and/or major donors.
• Experience building corporate partnerships that combine philanthropy with deeper engagement.
• Ability to quickly earn the trust of a CEO, Board members, and senior colleagues.
• Comfort with significant travel, up to 40% of the time, to Thrive's key markets.
• Experience using a CRM, preferably Salesforce, to manage pipeline and report results.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A forward-looking leader who uses AI tools to strengthen fundraising strategy and efficiency.
• A solid understanding of nonprofit budgets and revenue forecasting.

Requirements

• Location: While this is a fully remote position, candidates based in Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles preferred; other major U.S. metros considered.
• Travel Expectations: Up to 40%.

Benefits

• The salary range for this role is $225,000 to $275,000, commensurate with experience.
• Thrive offers a comprehensive benefits package, including high-quality health and dental insurance.
• Four weeks of paid vacation.
• Professional development funding.
• An employer-matched retirement plan.

Application Process

Thrive Scholars has retained Orr Group to conduct this search. Please direct all inquiries, interest, and nominations to the Orr Group search team.

Jesse Bryan
Vice President
Orr Group
[email protected]