DRiWaterstone Human Capital Seeking Chief Development Officer for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
April 28, 2025 – Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital has was recently retained by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to lead in its search for a chief development officer. The firm seeks a motivated, dynamic, and driven chief development officer who is compelled by the idea of growing a historically successful fundraising program through an expanded fundraising strategy. Successful candidates will view themselves as “out-the-door” fundraisers who possess the unique ability to both think strategically and act tactically and efficiently. This executive role will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and collaborate with leaders across the organization to drive a new era of fundraising.
This position requires a proactive approach to building and maintaining relationships, securing resources, enhancing fundraising strategies, and leading a motivated team. This individual will fearlessly and confidently implement a comprehensive fundraising strategic plan that includes major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, and special events.
The ideal candidate is a dynamic and results-oriented fundraising leader deeply committed to the NFFF’s mission. They possess a proven track record of establishing and exceeding ambitious fundraising targets through strategic and innovative approaches. This seasoned fundraiser will excel at cultivating meaningful and enduring relationships with donors, prioritizing their engagement and ensuring they feel valued and connected to the organization’s impact.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a non-profit created by an act of Congress in 1992 to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. NFFF fulfills this mandate by honoring and remembering America’s fallen fire heroes, providing resources to assist the families of the lost firefighters in rebuilding their lives, and through work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries. The NFFF and affiliate operations include educational and professional development, fundraising, and support services for firefighters and their families.
Created through a recent merger between DRi and Waterstone Human Capital, DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a culture-centric executive search, leadership advisory, and human capital firm focused on helping mission and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. build high performance teams and cultures. The firm’s team of talent management professionals has placed over 1,000 exceptional executives since it opened in 2001.
The firm offers executive search services focused on helping clients achieve sustainable organizational and cultural growth by finding leaders who align to the organization’s purpose, and who can help take the organization and its culture to the next level. DRiWaterstone Human Capital also offers a full portfolio of cultural talent management and leadership advisory services (including culture assessment, culture measurement, and culture curation) – to help organizations put culture at the center of strategy and drive success.
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.
BroadView Talent Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Danielle Muckley as the new chief development officer of Signal Ohio. The assignment was led by Christie Angel, Melania DaSilva Deaver, Robyn Quinn, and Elizabeth Keyser. Ms. Muckley will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide fundraising strategy that supports Signal Ohio’s mission and expanding network of local newsrooms. Reporting directly to the CEO, she will be responsible to create the fundraising strategy and grow revenue across diverse funding streams, including individual donors, institutional philanthropy, corporate partners, and grants, while building and managing a high-performing development team.
TM² Executive Search (TM²) is currently looking for a chief development officer for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). The search is being led by TM² Executive Search’s managing principal, Dakota Doman. The chief development officer at TMCF serves as a critical member of the executive leadership team, directly reporting to the president and CEO. This role is charged with designing and implementing a robust fundraising strategy to amplify TMCF’s mission, impact, and sustainability. With a competitive salary range of $175,000–$230,000 and a bonus potential of 20 percent, this position offers an unparalleled opportunity for a dynamic leader to champion innovative development strategies, enhance donor relationships, and drive transformational change for historically Black community colleges (HBCCs), and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) across the nation.
After a nationwide search, Boston-based Pearl Street Collective has assisted UMass Amherst Foundation (UMAF) in the recruitment of Robin Elkins as senior executive director and chief development officer for the UMass Amherst College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Ms. Elkins is a highly regarded fundraising strategist and relationship builder whose experience spans higher education and the non-profit space. She joins UMAF from Emerson College where she led principal and major giving for the School of the Arts, the School of Communication, and the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies as associate dean for advancement, securing critical funding to advance institutional priorities. Prior to joining Emerson, Ms. Elkins was vice president, development at the New England Aquarium where she set the development strategy to support organizational goals for the institution.
Related: Lindauer Selected by Scouting America to Lead Chief Development Officer Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
