THE OPPORTUNITY
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center, NCCHR) is seeking a dynamic Chief Development Officer (CDO) to enhance fundraising, promote the excellence and innovation of The Center amongst partners regionally and nationally, lead a team of development professionals, and elevate best practices in fundraising within the organization.
OUR STORY
“Our institution is devoted to a more perfect union. The incoming CDO has an opportunity to recruit people to join this movement for humanity.”
– Jill Savitt, CEO, National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Center inspires the changemaker in each of us. Founded in 2014, it is a nationally recognized educator, convener, and thought leader that encourages respect for the civil and human rights of all people everywhere.
Its ethos is rooted in the history of Atlanta’s civil rights movement. In addition to being the birth home and final resting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta is the site of two of the most influential movement organizations – the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The Center connects the US civil rights movement to global human rights movements around the world today. Its immersive and empathy-building experiences highlight people who have worked to protect rights and models how individuals create positive change.
The Center’s missional program is a cohesive portfolio of interrelated work arranged in buckets:
- Museum Experience & Engagement: The Center engages general audiences through Exhibitions, Tours, Convenings, Conversations, and Public Programs.
- Education: The Center supports students and educators with K-12 Tours and Resources, Curricular Materials, Teacher Training, and a Digital Portal of Resources.
- Initiatives: In addition to its Education Program, the Center runs programmatic initiatives that deliver impact in critical mission-specific areas. These initiatives are largely funded via restricted philanthropic donations. These include:
- Truth + Transformation
- LGBTQ+ Institute
- Human Rights and Law Enforcement
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion experiences through Culture Connections
- Human Rights and Law Enforcement and Culture Connections are sponsored initiatives that also generate revenue for the Center.
In its tenth year of operations, the Center continues to build upon the hope of its founding ideals as a dynamic space for feeling, revealing, and truth-telling. It is currently advancing a large-scale physical and programmatic expansion that will fulfill the vision of its founders as it evolves from an Atlanta attraction to a national cultural organization that serves as an education, training, conference, and performance hub.
The Center’s physical expansion includes two new wings at the flagship building. These new wings –24,000 additional square feet –will allow it to further deliver on its mission as a leading cultural organization that explores the link between lessons from the past and the advancement of contemporary rights issues today. During its most recent annual Power to Inspire Gala, The Center revealed that one wing has been named for the person who served as a catalyst to bring The Center to fruition: former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin. In addition to conceptualizing the idea for The Center, Mayor Franklin helped to secure funding for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. collection of papers to remain in Atlanta. The coveted papers – including handwritten speeches, lectures, and notes – are now housed at Morehouse College and displayed at The Center.
Details
EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Center is seeking an executive level development leader at a critical juncture in its evolution – and in the world.
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will lead all fundraising and development activities for the organization, setting and executing the overall development strategy and supervising The Center’s development team. The priorities of this role include nurturing current donor relationships, creating strategic partnerships, assuming responsibility for all donor reporting requirements and expanding The Center’s donor network across all philanthropic areas (corporate, foundations, and individual), including memberships. The Center is currently closed to the public through late Fall 2025 for programmatic and physical expansion. The Center’s budget – and the CDO’s fundraising goals – will be shared with serious candidates. The CDO is a member of the Center’s Core Leadership team and works cross-functionally throughout the organization to identify opportunities for financial support of The Center’s work. The compensation range for this position is between $150,000-175,000 commensurate with experience.
Duties & Responsibilities
EXECUTIVE PRIORITIES
Fundraising & Strategy
- Set, oversee and adapt the fundraising strategy in partnership with the CEO.
- Supervise all fundraising initiatives (corporate, major gifts, foundation grants, and individuals/memberships).
- Identify and nurture corporate, grantmaking, community and individual prospects.
- Leverage current programs and nurture relationships with current donors and organizations to produce increased levels of engagement and funding.
Board Relations
- Manage the development committee of the board of directors.
- Present regular reports on fundraising status and funding forecast to colleagues and the board of directors.
- Engage the Board in active fundraising and development opportunities.
Leadership & Management
- Supervise, develop, and mentor the Development team (currently a team of 4).
- Work with development consultants and CEO on the final push of expansion capital campaign (the Center has raised $53 million to date of a $56 million campaign).
- Manage the community fundraising campaign for the expansion.
- Manage the organization’s annual gala, Power to Inspire, and other fundraising events.
- Oversee systems, policies and procedures for development efforts including gifts, pledge processing, fund reporting, acknowledgments, and tracking.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A genuine commitment to the mission, values, and work of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
- An externally-driven leader who is passionate about narrating the story of The Center – and the history of civil and human rights – with existing and new donors.
- Track record of successful development leadership for a nonprofit organization.
- A gifted verbal and written storyteller, capable of communicating The Center’s mission to a diverse group of funders.
- A creative leader who enjoys identifying innovative resource development partnerships with The Center’s wide range of stakeholders.
- A fundraising professional in community with regional and national fundraising associations, networks, and accrediting bodies.
- A collegial leader who will partner with the executive team and directors on fundraising and development goals across programs, centers, and initiatives.
- An inspiring leader with experience guiding and supporting teams with empathy, integrity, and excellence.
- A desire to partner with Programs, Initiatives, and Education in an authentic and respectful manner.
- An astute understanding on the integration of finances, operations, HR, and development within a nonprofit organization.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- CFRE or ACFRE certification highly preferred.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in nonprofit resource development and fundraising. Minimum 5 years’ leadership and supervisory experience.
- Working knowledge of CRMS database; experience with Blackbaud’s Altru database a big plus.
LOCATION
The Center is located in downtown Atlanta between the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. During expansion, The Center will remain closed to the public until Fall 2025. Staff offices are located in the administrative building. The CDO position is a hybrid work option, with the opportunity to work remotely 2-3 days per week.
Application Instructions
