DSG Global (Diversified Search Group) Tapped by the American Cancer Society to Recruit Chief Development Officer
July 9, 2025 – The field of advancement is an extension of development/fundraising. Over the past two decades, educational institutions and charitable groups have shifted toward more integrated models of collaboration between communications, marketing, branding and development. Advancement represents the full integration of these functions under a single leader, the chief advancement officer. According to recruiters who specialize in the non-profit sector, fundraising talent is being groomed all around the field and within organizations that understand the direct connectivity between messaging and contributed revenue. The function is only relevant to the non-profit and education sectors. In a corporate setting, such executives are commonly referred to as chief development officers or a chief business development officer.
DSG Global (Diversified Search Group) was recently called in by the American Cancer Society to lead in its search for a chief development officer. The assignment is being led by Ian McCray, Gerard F. Cattie Jr., Beth Reeves, and Manuel A. Gongon Jr.
The chief development officer leads the development pillar of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and they maintain broad systemwide authority over all aspects of revenue generation. This leader sets strategies and is responsible for the overall revenue portfolio, as aligned to needs identified by the advocacy, discovery, and patient support pillars. The CDO has oversight and is accountable for all aspects of revenue generation, including but not limited to the following: corporate partnerships; philanthropy; planned giving; assisting with digital fundraising; peer-to-peer fundraising; Discovery Shops (carefully curated collections of high quality, locally donated merchandise); and in-person and virtual events. The CDO oversees an overall team of approximately 1,350 individuals.
Those applying should have a minimum of 15 years of experience in fundraising/development at progressively more responsible management levels. They must have proven fundraising knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of corporate, individual, and peer-to-peer relationships. DSG Global also notes that they are seeking candidates with a proven track record in fundraising from diverse sources, including experience applying moves management and facilitating leadership gift conversations with individual, corporate, and/or foundation donors. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful cultivation and solicitation strategies as well as to provide leadership in major campaign planning and execution is also desired.
In addition, candidates must have the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, iteratively, and creatively with a diverse set of stakeholders, including scientists and researchers, to co-create processes and solutions that meet the needs of the organization as well as those of donors and funders. They must have demonstrated leadership ability, confidence, and executive presence – ability to motivate, inspire and produce outstanding results. The firm also explained that candidates should have a track record of successfully managing teams and providing leadership to boards, team members, and volunteers in fundraising activities. Experience leading teams to achieve ambitious objectives by leveraging best practices, clear goals and metrics, and shared accountability as well as facilitating cross-departmental collaboration when necessary is also preferred.
Founded in 1913 by 10 doctors and five laypeople in New York City, the American Cancer Society, Inc. is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, ACS has been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. ACS is committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
DSG Global
DSG Global is an award-winning, industry-recognized executive search and consulting firm that partners with clients to cultivate the talent and leadership they need to navigate today and thrive tomorrow. With broad expertise and a commitment to long-term partnership, DSG Global helps organizations reach their full human potential and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world.
Ranked as a top 10 U.S. executive search firm, with a presence across 36 countries through its partnership with AltoPartners, DSG Global combines global scale with local insight to deliver people-centered solutions that propel clients forward. With a team of dedicated experts across sectors like healthcare, education, and nonprofits, DSG Global harnesses industry-specific expertise, functional depth, and market foresight to address today’s most complex challenges.
Mr. McCray is a managing director in DSG’s fundraising and advancement practice. Prior to his return to DSG, he spent over a decade doing development work in non-profits and higher education institutions. Mr. McCray gained previous experience in executive search at Korn Ferry in its healthcare practice and from 2006 to 2009 as a leader in Diversified Search’s higher education and non-profit practice.
Diversified Search Group (DSG Global) | Koya Partners Leading CDO Search for NPR
Diversified Search Group (DSG Global) | Koya Partners has been retained by NPR to lead in its search for a chief development officer and president of the NPR Foundation. This executive will lead the strategic design and execution of a comprehensive national fundraising program consistent with NPR’s reputation for innovation and excellence. The CDO will oversee the adoption of benchmark best practices and the development of creative strategies that continue to expand NPR’s donor base and philanthropic revenue. This individual will supervise a small team of direct reports while providing direction and oversight for an overall, geographically distributed development staff of 40 across the areas of individual giving, institutional giving, planned giving, collaborative philanthropy, digital philanthropy, donor relations, operations, and database analytics.
Mr. Cattie is managing director and practice leader, DSG fundraising and advancement, based in New York. His practice focuses on searches for senior leadership positions within prominent higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, global NGOs, foundations, associations and membership societies, healthcare providers, as well as arts and cultural entities. He serves as the leader of the firm’s development and philanthropy practice, along with the arts and culture sector of the firm’s education, non-profit, and arts and culture practice.
Ms. Reeves is a VP and senior search associate with DSG, and a member of the education, non-profit, and arts and culture practice. With over 20 years of experience in retained executive search, she has conducted searches for senior leadership positions within prominent higher education institutions, associations, foundations, arts and culture organizations/institutions, and professional and social service organizations. She is also a senior member of the firm’s development and philanthropy practice, and has placed numerous fundraising leadership professionals across the sector. Clients she has represented include The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Museum of Arts and Design, The National Park Foundation, New York Philharmonic, NPR, The Old Globe Theatre, The Pennsylvania State University, Public Radio International, The Public Theater, Smithsonian Institution, The University of Chicago, The University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
Mr. Gongon is a VP and senior search associate and a member of its DSG fundraising and advancement practice. His work has included searches for senior leadership positions within prominent higher education institutions, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, global NGOs, arts and cultural entities, foundations, and associations and membership societies. He has conducted searches for a wide range of functional leadership roles, such as president, CEO.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
