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The Omega Institute
Chief Development Officer
Career Insights for Fundraising / Development Specialist
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What they do
A Fundraising or Development Specialist raises funds and develops funding resources for an organization, program or non-profit institution. Manages special fundraising events, online donations, individual membership or corporate donations or grants. Builds awareness of the contributions and financial needs of organizations and programs.
$82,537 / year median in New York
+2% projected growth
Job Description
Chief Development Officer About Omega Institute Omega was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1977 on a profound ideal—to help awaken the best in the human spirit. Every year, tens of thousands of people attend our innovative educational workshops, trainings, conferences, and retreats on our Hudson Valley campus and more than two million people join us online. From the beginning, we have been guided by these core beliefs: that personal and social change are inexorably linked; that all people deserve and can cultivate health and happiness; and that we are interconnected and responsible for each other and the earth we share. Our integrated approach to personal and social change has made Omega different from other learning centers and conference conveners — we are neither a university nor a retreat center. We are a hub for a global community of lifelong learners, seekers, creators, thinkers, and doers. When Omega first began, yoga and meditation, environmental sustainability, women's leadership, natural foods and integrative medicine, indigenous wisdom, inter-religious and non-religious spirituality, and world music and transformational art were all subjects at the fringe of Western society. Now, yoga studios are on every corner; meditation is being taught in public schools; hospitals are embracing stress reduction, acupuncture, and energy medicine; women are leading and innovating in a variety of sectors; global climate change is a reality; and food— whether it's about its local production, food deserts, or healthy lifestyles—is central to the cultural conversation. And the urgent issue of bridging growing divides has become central to our understanding of evolving human consciousness. Thanks to our extraordinary faculty, staff, and extended community of millions of participants, we have become one of the largest and most trusted centers for lifelong learning in the world. Our next big step is to translate the excellence we have achieved and the expertise we have honed since our inception to meet the needs of new generations and communities and build on our leadership in convening communities, forming new entrepreneurial collaborations, and sharing the ever-changing ways of inspiring care of the self and care of the world. As we look forward to our next chapter, we are searching for a Chief Development Officer to lead the organization's fundraising strategy and ensure that Omega sustains the organizational strength needed to sustainably deepen our learning experiences and scale our impact to meet the changing needs in the world. Position Overview The Chief Development Officer will be joining Omega at a time of significant organizational transition and business-model realignment, and will work with the Board, stakeholders, and consultants to drive the creation of a significant 50th anniversary comprehensive campaign to launch in 2027. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Chief Development Officer serves as a critical member of the Executive Leadership Team, playing a crucial role in charting our way ahead and enabling us to realize the goals of our strategic plan. The new leader will share responsibility for strategic and budgetary planning and acting as a liaison between the leadership team and staff, helping to ensure goals are understood and achieved. The Chief Development Officer is a visionary, self-motivated leader responsible for effectively communicating the organization's philanthropic value proposition and developing strategies that will accelerate, grow and diversify the funding base of support. This role requires creativity, strategic thinking, a strong network in the donor space, experience in leading Development functions and securing major gifts, and an understanding of the integrated nature of personal, social, and cultural change. The successful candidate will possess deep ties to philanthropic communities and have a proven track record of securing major gifts, working on comprehensive campaigns, building an organizational culture of giving. They will also have experience in development strategic planning and successfully leading and managing a Development team to meet or exceed revenue goals. The Chief Development Officer will embody our collaborative and supportive culture and will have a passion for lifelong learning and spiritual exploration. Essential Functions Create & Implement a Comprehensive Fundraising Strategy Build upon and develop ongoing stewardship plans that include identifying and cultivating relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects, emphasizing the organization's mission and impact, and driving individual donor engagement and investment Work closely with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to identify and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including potential donors, community leaders, and elected officials, to advance the organization's mission and goals Drive the creation of a multi-year, comprehensive campaign budget aligned with the strategic plan and priorities, including goals, metrics, and timelines Develop and implement strategies to raise awareness of the organization's mission, programs, and services to increase its visibility and support Represent the organization at community events, conferences, and other public forums to enhance the organization's visibility and influence Ensure effective systems and efficient processes are in place to support fundraising and development operations, including gift processing, database management, and reporting Lead an integrated and growing development and membership program, providing critical guidance and motivation to staff Collaborate with other departments, including Marketing, Operations, and Programming, to ensure a cohesive fundraising strategy, meeting or exceeding financial goals of the department Major Gift Donor Cultivation & Engagement Review and refine strategies for identifying and cultivating major gift prospects, including individuals, corporations, and foundations, to expand the organization's donor base Develop and maintain relationships with major gift donors through personalized engagement and stewardship activities, such as one-on-one meetings, cultivation events, and recognition programs Identify and cultivate new donors, many of which may not be currently funding or known to Omega Work closely with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to solicit major gifts and to develop tailored proposals and gift agreements that align with donors' interests and the organization's priorities Refine and reimagine fundraising data systems that can benefit from advancements in cloud technology Ensure the timely and accurate acknowledgement of all gifts and donations and the proper stewardship of donor relationships Work with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to develop and maintain a robust donor pipeline to support the organization's long-term fundraising goals Manage the Development and Nomination Committees of the Board of Directors, ensuring collaboration and alignment between the committees and the organization Leadership & Team Management Participate as a member of the Executive Leadership Team in the overall planning, implementation and evaluation of organizational goals, including acting as bridge between strategy, goals and staff deliverables Working closely with the CFO and other officers, help develop Omega's annual budget and direct Development budgets, contracts, and schedules to ensure financial sustainability and operational efficiency; build and manage Development team budget Lead, mentor, and manage the Development team, fostering collaboration and professional growth Work collaboratively across the organization to achieve our People & Culture goals, including our Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) goals In consultation with the President & CEO, work directly with the founders of the organization, board members and other organizational stakeholders regarding fundraising