Development Guild DDI Tapped by St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation to Find Chief Development Officer

May 18, 2021 – 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 1. Non-profit specialist recruitment firm Development Guild DDI was recently enlisted to find a chief development officer for the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation. Senior vice president and principal Tracy Marshall is leading the assignment.

The chief development officer reports to the hospital president and provides strategic leadership of all efforts to significantly increase funding for the hospital. They work closely with hospital senior leaders, clinical leaders at Washington University School of Medicine, and foundation board of trustees to identify fundraising needs and philanthropic funding priorities for the hospital’s programs and divisions. The foundation works in collaboration with Washington University fundraising efforts to support the work of physician scientists.

The CDO is responsible for promoting awareness of the St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s mission and vision to inspire donors, as well as hospital physicians, scientists, and staff, in order to broaden the base of support from donors and the wider community. In this role, the CDO benefits from the strong reputation of both St. Louis Children’s Hospital and its affiliate Washington University School of Medicine. The CDO is expected to create a culture of philanthropy, ensuring that the talent, systems, and practices are in place to sustain an ambitious and high performing fundraising program.

Candidates should have 10-plus years of frontline fundraising and management experience in academic medical centers or higher education institutions. St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation is looking for individuals with strong leadership experience with demonstrated ability to mentor, manage and motivate teams as well as  demonstrated success in securing major gift commitments ($1 million-plus). They should have outstanding oral and written communication skills reflecting ability to translate research and patient care into captivating fundraising proposals, said Development Guild DDI. In addition, candidates should have extensive experience working with board members and other high-level volunteers reflecting the ability to motivate and orchestrate success

The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation is in early stages of a $250 million comprehensive campaign, having conducted a feasibility study, identified key areas of need and growth for the hospital, and secured a crucial lead gift. Campaign planning continues with leadership recruitment and case development. The CDO will play a critical role in guiding the foundation’s relationship managers as they continue to identify key prospects and prepare solicitation plans.

Non-Profit Recruiters

Development Guild DDI, which has offices in New York and Boston, was founded in 1978. The firm helps clients align leadership around a strategic vision with its planning, executive search and fundraising services. The firm works with non-profits nationwide, partnering with leaders in academic medicine, higher education, arts and culture, human services and others.

Development Guild’s clients, which number more than 500, have included: Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, College of the Holy Cross, Partners in Health, University of Rhode Island Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the American Cancer Society.


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Development Guild DDI has placed Evan Lewis as the new chief advancement officer of the Prospect Hill Academy Charter School in Massachusetts. Vice president Katharine Kaplan led the assignment. One of the oldest and largest Massachusetts charter schools, Prospect Hill Academy serves nearly 1,200 students in grades K to 12 from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.


President William Weber, who co-founded the firm with Suzanne Weber in 1978, has focused his career on the convergence of strategic planning, philanthropy and leadership development, as well as the transformational impact it can have on an institution. His many clients have included: Boston University, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Johns Hopkins Medicine, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Mount Sinai Health System, National Coast Guard Museum Association, Union of Concerned Scientists and Year Up.

Ms. Marshall has worked with a wide range of clients, including Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, Emily Dickinson Museum, The Fenn School, French Cultural Center, The Home for Little Wanderers, Kents Hill School, The League School, Mount Sinai Health System, Olin College of Engineering, St. John’s Prep, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, University of Rhode Island Foundation, and Woodwell Climate Research Center. Ms. Marshall rejoined Development Guild DDI in 2011 after serving for seven years as the director of philanthropy at Faulkner Hospital. Her career has also included positions at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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