Chief Development Officer

Chautauqua Institution•Chautauqua, NY

About The Position

Chautauqua Institution seeks a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to conceptualize, organize, and implement a comprehensive, strategic fundraising program supporting the Institution’s mission and priorities. Reporting to President Mark Johnson, the CDO will serve as a thought partner and work closely with the Senior Vice President/Chief Program Officer, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Executive Team, Board of Trustees, Chautauqua Foundation leadership, and volunteer leaders. The CDO will help build a sustainable culture of philanthropy, cultivate transformative gifts, and elevate and support Chautauqua’s mission. The CDO leads approximately 10 professionals across major, principal, and planned gifts; annual giving; institutional grants and sponsorships; prospect research, donor relations and events; and development services. Priorities include sustained growth of the Chautauqua Fund, which raised $5.9 million in FY25, and helping develop the strategy for Chautauqua’s next comprehensive campaign. The role calls for building a modern, disciplined, data-informed development program in a period of leadership transition and financial realignment, following the successful Boundless campaign, which raised $166 million and concluded in December 2025. The position requires a visible, relationship-oriented leader who can personally secure significant gifts while strengthening development operations, engaging institutional leaders and volunteers, and building a high-performing team. The CDO must be able to work on site throughout the Summer Assembly Season and the weeks before and after it, and travel extensively throughout the year. Chautauqua Institution is a 750-acre nonprofit institution on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York. Its programming spans arts, religion, education, and recreation, with more than 100,000 visitors engaging each summer in lectures, performances, worship services, classes, workshops, and recreational offerings. The Institution values Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and is an equal opportunity employer committed to equitable and inclusive hiring practices.

Requirements

Twelve or more years of development experience with progressive levels of leadership responsibility.
Experience in individual giving, major and principal gifts, annual giving, planned giving, stewardship, development operations, donor events, board relations, and leadership in a major fundraising campaign from planning through successful conclusion.
Demonstrated success in change management, conceptualizing fundraising program growth, and setting and meeting philanthropic goals.
Demonstrated success building or rebuilding a development program, including assessing structure and staffing, establishing policies, systems, and metrics, and creating operational discipline.
Ability to balance strong management and administrative skills with personal fundraising effectiveness.
Track record of personally identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding six- and seven-figure and larger gifts from individual and institutional donors, including blended gifts.
Ability to open doors to high-net-worth prospects, drawing on a broad professional network for prospect discovery.
Knowledge of and adherence to modern fundraising principles, ethics, and best practices, including integrating annual, major, planned, and endowment giving.
Working knowledge of endowment gift administration, gift acceptance and counting policies, and stewardship of donor intent.
Experience engaging, preparing, and collaborating with executives, program and artistic leaders, board members, and volunteers in development activities.
Experience working with governing and affiliated boards to strengthen their fundraising engagement.
Ability to lead, recruit, evaluate, mentor, and develop development professionals and build a results-oriented culture with clear goals and shared accountability.
Ability to analyze data for donor strategy, prospect identification, and process decisions; working knowledge of prospect research, analytics, and modern CRM platforms.
Passion for Chautauqua’s mission and its four pillars of arts, religion, education, and recreation, and for its role as a place for ideas and civil conversation across difference.
Ability to authentically engage and inspire others as a senior representative of the Institution and build relationships within the Chautauqua community.
Collegial, humble, and collaborative approach, with willingness to work hands-on and share credit.
Self-starter who is highly organized, detail-oriented, able to work independently, and keeps colleagues informed.
Decisive leadership and clear communication, with the ability to explain decisions and adjust course when needed.
Emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and interpersonal skills to build trust with donors, board members, staff, and community members.
Respect for the Institution’s history and traditions, alongside confidence to ask questions and advance change.
Professionalism, integrity, transparency, mature judgment in handling sensitive information, and a commitment to leading by example.
Effective oral and written communication skills and the stature and comfort to serve as a highly visible public-facing ambassador.
Ability to articulate goals and progress and explain how fundraising strategy advances institutional goals.
Commitment to building for the long term and laying a foundation that will serve Chautauqua beyond the next campaign.
Ability to be on site throughout the Summer Assembly Season and the weeks that precede and follow it, and flexibility to travel extensively throughout the year.

Nice To Haves

Fundraising experience in a complex, multi-program environment such as higher education, performing arts and culture, or another institution serving many distinct constituencies.
Experience working with an affiliated foundation or other multi-entity structure.
Ability to evaluate organizational models and recommend a structure that best serves donors.
Experience leading a CRM transition.
Knowledge of the philanthropic landscape of Western New York, Northeast Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.
Past experience, engagement, and professional expertise in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA).

Responsibilities

Conceptualize, organize, and implement a comprehensive and strategic fundraising program supporting Chautauqua’s mission and strategic priorities.
Serve as a thought partner to the President and collaborate with senior leaders, the Executive Team, trustees, Chautauqua Foundation leadership, and volunteer leaders.
Lead a team of approximately 10 development professionals across major, principal, and planned gifts; annual giving; institutional grants and sponsorships; prospect research, donor relations and events; and development services.
Build a sustainable culture of philanthropy throughout the Institution and cultivate transformative gifts.
Drive sustained growth of the Chautauqua Fund, the Institution’s annual fund.
Help develop the strategy for Chautauqua’s next comprehensive campaign.
Build or strengthen a modern, disciplined, data-informed development program, including its structure, staffing, policies, systems, and metrics.
Personally identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts from individual and institutional donors, including blended gifts combining outright and planned commitments.
Engage and prepare executives, program and artistic leaders, board members, and volunteers to participate effectively in fundraising.
Work with governing and affiliated boards to strengthen their fundraising engagement.
Lead, recruit, evaluate, mentor, and develop a high-functioning development team with clear goals and shared accountability.
Use data, prospect research, analytics, and CRM tools to inform donor strategy, prospect identification, and development processes.
Partner with marketing and communications colleagues to develop a compelling case for support and donor-focused storytelling and messaging.
Be on site throughout the Summer Assembly Season and the weeks preceding and following it, and travel extensively throughout the year.
Represent Chautauqua as a visible, public-facing ambassador and communicate fundraising goals, progress, and their connection to institutional priorities.