Lindauer Tapped to Find Chief Development Officer for Girls Inc.
November 14, 2019 – Boston-based recruitment firm Lindauer has been selected to find a chief development officer for Girls Inc., a non-profit organization that works to empower and inspire girls and young women. Vice president Lisa Abair Vuona is leading the assignment.
The chief development officer will be expected to lead, develop and direct a comprehensive and integrated fund development plan to secure unrestricted and restricted contributed income to advance the vision, mission, business plan and annual goals of Girls Inc., said Lindauer. The CDO reports to the president/CEO.
The individual will be charged with formulating, coordinating and monitoring all fund development programs within Girls Inc., including major gifts and planned giving, annual fund, special events, cause-related marketing, institutional giving/grants, and capital and asset building campaigns, said the search firm.
Other responsibilities include monitoring philanthropic trends and developing short-and long-term fundraising strategies aimed at maximizing contributed income from individuals, foundations, corporations and government agencies, as appropriate, said the search firm. The CDO is also charged with soliciting gifts. He or she will be expected to increase annual giving levels to reach $17 million to $20 million.
Key Qualifications
The new CDO must also work closely with the president/CEO, COO, CFO and department heads to assess fundraising needs as determined by business plan goals, operating needs and annual plan priorities; prepare, with the president/CEO, COO and CFO, the annual income plan for unrestricted and temporarily restricted funds; work with all development directors to develop annual fundraising budgets and to prepare and monitor income projections, progress reports and long-range/business plan forecasts.
Candidates should have 10 or more years of experience, or the equivalent, in diversified fundraising with demonstrated experience in strategic philanthropy, marketing, major and capital gifts solicitation, donor stewardship, long-range fund development planning, and proposal development and presentation, said Lindauer.
An advanced degree in organizational development, non-profit or public administration, marketing or business, or equivalent experience is required. Prospects must have strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to create and sustain strong working relationships with donors, board members and staff. Also expected will be demonstrated success in a leadership role and the ability to serve as an articulate and compelling spokesperson for the organization, along with a passion for the organization’s mission.
Why Recruiters Center On Fundraising Skills
Organizations nationwide are under pressure to find leaders who can act as de facto chief fundraisers – and recruiters are in lock step to find talent to satisfy the demand. These leaders need to be strategic thinkers who can motivate the stakeholders whose philanthropy pulls everything together.
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Candidates should have entrepreneurial skills, including the ability to recognize opportunities and proactively pursue them, said the search firm. Also required is the ability to synthesize disparate ideas and organizational needs and strong strategic planning skills. The ability to appreciate, embrace and advance diversity, and have experience working with multicultural populations is vital.
Serving Non-Profits
Founded in 1864 to help girls and young women cope with the impact of the Civil War on their lives, Girls Inc. today is a modern organization that responds directly and strategically to the issues girls face, through empowerment initiatives, research, training, and advocacy. Girls Inc. inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. It directly serves more than 130,000 girls through more than 80 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada. Girls Inc. programming is offered through more than 1,400 sites, including school partnerships that open opportunities to girls who may not otherwise have access to them.
Lindauer serves higher and secondary education, hospitals and academic research centers, think tanks, research facilities and foundations, as well as advocacy, public service, social justice and other mission-driven non-profits. It has led searches for the Boston YMCA, Center for Applied Special Technology, Healthy Minds Innovations/Center for Healthy Minds, the University of Texas at Austin and the Cockrell School of Engineering, among others.
Ms. Vuona has worked with an array of non-profit clients since joining Lindauer in 2006. She has placed high-caliber professionals in leading institutions across the U.S. She also has over 15 years of human resources experience to her credit. Ms. Vuona started her career with Family Continuity Programs Inc., a non-profit mental health organization, where she served as program director and human resources manager. From there, she was enlisted as manager of human resources for Chancellor-Beacon Academies. She then served as director of recruitment and training for the Northeast affiliate of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
