Chief Development Officer

Search for the Chief Development Officer

PolicyLink

Oakland, California (or remote)

“This is equity: Just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in us all.”

 – Excerpt from PolicyLink’s Equity Manifesto

Envision a nation that cherishes the humanity of all its people, where every individual can actively engage, flourish, and shape their own destiny. Despite the founding pledge of freedom, liberty, and justice for all Americans, this ideal remains unfulfilled, as the foundational systems and structures of society do not deliver on these core principles. Consequently, 100 million individuals in the United States, including 55 million people of color, are living in or near poverty. PolicyLink, a national institution dedicated to advancing racial and economic equity in the U.S., maintains that a nation designed to benefit everyone is still within reach. It is the diverse populace of this nation—families, neighbors, and communities—that has long embraced a vision beyond the status quo, edging us closer to the realization of democracy's promise, and PolicyLink contends that this vibrant, multiracial democracy is one we must collectively forge.

Established in Oakland, California, in 1999, PolicyLink works to change systems and structures—and accelerates the work of other key actors—to transform our democracy, economy, and communities so that they truly serve all. Over the last quarter of a century, the organization has built a broad-based, national movement for equity, securing more than $5 billion in major policy wins and practice changes across government entities and corporations, and PolicyLink has become recognized as a national treasure.

Today, PolicyLink is seeking an enterprising, dynamic, collaborative, and results-driven revenue-generator and institution-builder to join its leadership team as chief development officer (CDO).

Working closely with CEO and President, Dr. Michael McAfee, the CDO will devise and implement development strategies to advance the organization's compelling mission. In recent years, PolicyLink has achieved remarkable success with its agile and entrepreneurial approach to development, raising approximately $50 million annually and currently spearheading a $300 million capital campaign. In a landscape where few policy advocacy organizations led by people of color have achieved enduring impact, PolicyLink stands out as an exception. This rarity is largely attributed to the challenge of insufficient resources hindering scalability. However, PolicyLink is privileged to be in this advantageous position and is poised to continue to make significant strides toward creating a nation that works for all.

PolicyLink’s incoming CDO will work to amplify the already formidable strengths of the organization’s current development efforts and will expertly steer a talented team of development professionals towards ambitious objectives, establishing a robust infrastructure for PolicyLink’s future initiatives. PolicyLink’s fundraising team is committed to propelling development endeavors to unprecedented levels under the guidance of the CDO, and the fundraising team will work closely with other colleagues throughout the organization. Together, the PolicyLink team will ensure that the organization is endowed with resources befitting the stature of the nation's most influential policy institutions.

This successful CDO will embody a blend of intellectual curiosity, strong social acumen, a profound sense of accountability, and a bias toward action. They will demonstrate exceptional communication skills and seamlessly navigate interpersonal interactions with keen emotional intelligence. Additionally, the CDO will have a stellar track record in resource mobilization, personally securing significant seven-figure gifts while adeptly nurturing and expanding development teams and offering strategic counsel to senior leadership. They will also broaden and diversify funding sources, introduce new organizational systems and frameworks, refine performance metrics, and harness data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making.

The incoming CDO will serve as a vital ambassador for PolicyLink, effectively conveying the organization’s message, voice, and vision to diverse audiences. Equally crucial, they will demonstrate unwavering dedication to PolicyLink’s mission and possess an understanding and appreciation of the organization’s history, achievements, and future aspirations.

PolicyLink is headquartered in Oakland, California, and many of its remote staff are located across the country. The successful candidate for this position will have the flexibility to work remotely, with regular travel to Oakland.

PolicyLink has retained the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in conducting this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (including resume and 2–3-page letter of interest responding to the opportunities/challenges outlined above) should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/policylink/chief-development-officer.

Compensation for this position will be competitive and commensurate with experience, with a salary range estimated at $400,000. The organization also provides generous and comprehensive benefits. PolicyLink is based in Oakland, California; this role can be based remotely, with regular travel to Oakland.

Consultants conducting this recruitment include:

Rebecca Swartz, Partner; Kennedy Kearney-Fischer, Managing Associate; and Karson Freeman, Associate

PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work toward a more inclusive world, and as such, we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.