Chief Development Officer
SMASH, United States
Job Description
ABOUT SMASH
Established in 2004, SMASH is committed to increasing racial equity in K-12 computer science (CS) education and resultantly the workforce by building interest, knowledge, and aspirations in computing among underrepresented identities in the field. After nearly 20 years of operating programs across 10 campuses, serving thousands of students, and demonstrating an impressive impact on developing STEM scholars of color, the Board and SMASH leadership team have been resolute in reimagining SMASH, aligned with educational and economic climate shifts.
Charting a new path forward for SMASH, with the lens of current shifts, SMASH aspires to engage over 5000 scholars underrepresented in CS, each year. Innovative in-person and virtual programs aim to provide early exposure to CS concepts and careers, as well as deep-impact programming for high school students.
The SMASH on-line resources are open to students nationwide. In-person programming serves students throughout the Bay Area, greater Atlanta, Detroit, and Boston regions. Ongoing partnerships with host universities, including UC Berkeley, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and the University of Michigan, are integral to enabling the success of each scholar.
This is a pivotal time for SMASH as we build on the success of our programs. We have architected an expansion strategy to unlock national impact. Working at SMASH is about rapid growth, grit, personal commitment, accountability, and courage to challenge the status quo. If you have what it takes to change the computer science landscape, we want to hear from you.
SMASH is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization operating under the umbrella of the Kapor Center family of organizations.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
SMASH is seeking a seasoned and well-networked Chief Development Officer (CDO) with a track record of raising funds from a variety of sources. The CDO is responsible for designing, leading, and implementing SMASH’s development program. The CDO will meet an annual fundraising goal of $7-8M from corporate, individual, and foundation sources, setting and meeting appropriately ambitious growth targets. The CDO reports to the CEO, Mitchell Kapor Foundation.
SMASH is headquartered in Oakland, CA, though the incumbent may be fully remote. Substantial travel is required. Fundraising responsibilities for national and regional programming rest in Detroit, greater Atlanta, Boston, and the Bay Area.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy
- Design and lead implementation of a comprehensive, growth-oriented development strategy and campaigns aligned with SMASH’s mission, goals, and financial needs (estimated $7-8M annually)
- Lead the identification of diverse funding sources, including corporate, individual donors, major gifts, and grants, with priority given to non-restricted sources
- Provide clear and regular reports and analysis on: fundraising performance, donor engagement, and other KPIs to essential stakeholders within SMASH, the Kapor Foundation, and governance and advisory boards
- Identify grant opportunities, collaborate effectively with Programs and other internal stakeholders to develop accurate and relevant proposals, and submit applications in compliance with grant requirements, deadlines, and deliverables
- Develop and manage a fundraising board of advisors
Donor Management
- Cultivate and maintain existing organizational relationships with major donors, philanthropic organizations, corporate partners, and others to ensure long-term and ongoing support
- Significantly increase the fundraising base by identifying and establishing new relationships across corporate, individual, and institutional donors and sponsors
Development Events amp; Campaigns
- Leverage marketing resources to drive effective fundraising events, campaigns, and other revenue-generating activities as outlined in the development strategy and/or in response to relevant trends and current events
- Represent SMASH at events and otherwise externally to expand the organization’s network and cultivate donors
Team Leadership
- Assess, design, hire and lead a high-performing development team, with clear responsibilities
- Serve as a member of the SMASH leadership team, setting organizational goals and priorities in close partnership with program leaders to ensure spending and fundraising are managed proactively and effectively
- Work with the Finance team on annual budgeting to develop, manage, and monitor spending, keenly leveraging reporting capabilities
- Ensure ethical fundraising practices in accordance with relevant regulations that uphold the organization's reputation and maintain accountability in fundraisi