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Chief Development Officer
9/3/2025
YWCA Delaware is on a Mission to eliminate racism, empower women, help families and strengthen communities. Annually, over 8,000 people participate in our comprehensive programs. YWCA Delaware is a leading advocate for women by providing housing, violence prevention and sexual assault crisis services, financial empowerment, youth programming and community engagement. We empower individuals and families financially and socially, while fostering the confidence and can-do attitude needed to eliminate barriers and overcome life’s obstacles. We are a statewide organization with headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. We offer a hybrid work environment, 35-hour work week, generous paid time off and competitive benefits.
Join an amazing team that advances opportunities for individuals and families to achieve their dreams in a supportive, nurturing environment. YWCA Delaware is recruiting a Chief Development Officer to provide strategic leadership for all contributed revenue with a strong focus on the grants management function while also managing individual giving, donor relations and cultivation processes and communications/media. This person will work closely with the executive team on the grants management process, with the CEO on public relations efforts and with Board committees to “friend raise” and fundraise for the sustainability of our programs and services.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic & Development Team Leadership
Lead the creation and implementation of a multi-channel fundraising strategy aligned with YWCA Delaware’s mission and strategic plan, which includes government, corporate, and foundation grants and individual giving.
Set performance targets, develop budgets, and create/maintain data and metrics for all development activities.
Build, manage, and mentor the Development team, including the Grants Director, the Director of Philanthropy, the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, and any special event staff, volunteers, or consultants.
Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
Grants Management and Government Relations
Lead and support the development of a high-volume grants management system, ensuring the appropriate structure and communications are in place to manage the overall grant cycle, including prospecting, applications, reporting, and compliance.
Work closely with the program heads and Finance to understand budgetary needs and gaps and to determine which grants align with those priorities.
Hands-on grant support, including preparing and coordinating applications for foundation, corporate, and government grants.
Build and maintain effective systems for reporting and compliance, ensuring timely and accurate submissions for 50+ grant proposals and reports annually.
Board, Donor & Volunteer Engagement & Infrastructure
Manage a portfolio of major donors and collaborate with the CEO and Board to cultivate lead gifts and strategic relationships.
Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors and the Fund Development and Major Gifts committees, energizing board members to participate in fundraising efforts and decision-making.
Design and oversee donor recognition and stewardship initiatives, ensuring impactful and personalized donor experiences.
Lead or oversee capital campaign(s), setting strategy, targets, and execution milestones.
Oversee development systems, including donor database and pipeline tracking.
Manage the communications and process to recruit and assign volunteers based on agency needs.
Communications, Media and Organizational Partnership & Outreach
Oversee communications and media efforts including external and internal newsletters, social media engagement, and public relations.
Serve as an external ambassador to strengthen YWCA Delaware’s visibility and philanthropic reach—engaging civic groups, corporate partners, foundation networks, and the broader Delaware community.
Other Duties (include, but also as assigned):
Attend agency and/or department staff meetings as needed. Positively represent agency and program participants’ needs to funders, employers, and the community-at-large. Ensure maximum economy in the use of agency resources. Other related duties, as assigned.
Education Level : Bachelors Degree
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