Cook Silverman Search Retained by Common Sense Media to Find Chief Development Officer
March 13, 2026 – Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has been retained by Common Sense Media to lead in its search for a chief development officer. This executive provides strategic leadership and guidance for the development department, while supporting the president and board chair. They are responsible for building a multi-year sustainability strategy to deepen, diversify, and support the organization’s $35 million annual budget. This executive-level role involves managing and motivating a team of skilled fundraising staff, developing both existing and new relationships and strategic partnerships, and ensuring the achievement of Common Sense Media’s mission and goals.
Those applying must be highly skilled at aligning organizational mission, goals, and strategy, while inspiring and guiding the execution of the development department. The search firm is looking for a strategic fundraiser with experience stewarding relationships with donors, funders, and stakeholders. Candidates need to be capable of segmenting audiences to maximize fundraising efforts and crafting compelling narratives for multiple audiences and platforms. They should be experienced in working with boards, leadership teams, and diverse partners to drive organizational impact. In addition, those applying will be committed to improving the lives of children and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI.
Common Sense Media is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. They rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Their ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year.
Cook Silverman Search focuses on many senior positions include but not limited to: development, CEO/COO/executive director and CFO’s for non-profit organizations, predominantly in Northern California. Its client base represents a broad span of organizations, including social service, museums, science. independent schools, universities, conservation, health care, and culture. The firm has placed advancement executives for Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, Children’s Council of San Francisco, Eviction Defense Collaborative, The Unity Council, Earth Island Institute, among others.
Victoria L. Silverman is managing founder of the search firm. She has more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic sector. Throughout her career, Ms. Silverman has worked in senior fundraising, advancement, and management positions at Stanford University, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of California, the American Film Institute, and the Buck Institute for Age Research, among others. Her search work focuses on higher education, the arts, biotech and environment sectors. She has been speaker for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and has served on fundraising advisory committees for several non-profit organizations.
Chief Development Officers
Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating, and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving, and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is job No. 1. Here is a sampling of recent searches for chief development officers from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives.
After a national search, TM² Executive Search (TM²) has assisted in the recruitment of Jonathan Sandville as chief development officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). “After a comprehensive nationwide search, I’m delighted to welcome Jonathan as our chief development officer,” said Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of TMCF. “We’re excited to utilize his background in development to elevate our impact to higher levels. Jonathan is an excellent addition to our development team and I look forward to their results under his leadership.” Mr. Sandville, who most recently served as a commissioner of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission at the State Bar of California, will lead development activities at TMCF. In his role at the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission, he helped to oversee and administer over $210 million in grants annually for nonprofit civil legal aid organizations throughout the State of California.
DRiWaterstone Human Capital is currently seeking a chief development officer for the U.S. Naval Institute. The U.S. Naval Institute seeks a development leader of presence and confidence with an authentic passion for the Naval Institute’s mission. The chief development officer will oversee a comprehensive development program, building strong relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation supporters to secure unrestricted, specific, endowment, and planned gifts that advance the organization’s mission. Candidates should have non-profit fundraising experience, with a deep understanding of strategic comprehensive development. Those applying should be a relationship builder who is comfortable working with high-level individuals and making subsequent six and seven-figure asks.
Lochlin Partners has helped to recruit Heather Lancaster as chief development officer of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (GWOTMF), a non-profit corporation formed in 2015 to honor the service and sacrifice of all individuals who have contributed to global counterterrorism efforts since September 11th, 2001. Ms. Lancaster most recently served at the U.S. Naval Institute, joining in 2012 as director of development and advancing to executive vice president in 2018. During her tenure, she led a small team focused on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. She also oversaw the planning and successful execution of the Institute’s first-ever comprehensive campaign.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
