Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

About the Role

Harlem Grown is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead a critical chapter of the organization’s growth. The CDO will own the strategy and execution required to grow Harlem Grown’s annual revenue from approximately $5.5M to $7M over the next three years, while actively de-risking a portfolio historically dependent on a small number of legacy donors. This is both a strategic and hands-on role, managing a portfolio of approximately 25 high-capacity donors and providing oversight for the advancement team.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute revenue, marketing, and communications strategies.
Spearhead dynamic revenue growth and ongoing sustainability through management of leadership-level donors, engaging leadership in donor relationships, and activating the External Affairs team.
Build Harlem Grown’s brand and elevate storytelling.
Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 25 high-capacity donors with the potential to give $100,000 or more annually, closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
Provide oversight and accountability for the advancement team of 3–5 professionals.
Drive growth across individuals, foundations, corporate partners, government funding, and events.
Lead the identification and cultivation of a new generation of committed funders.
Accountable for growing Harlem Grown’s annual operating budget from ~$5.5M to ~$7M over three years, with strong predictability and a progressively diversified, de-risked revenue base.
Own overall fundraising performance across all revenue streams — individuals, foundations, corporate, government, and events — ensuring annual and multi-year targets are met.
Lead donor pipeline development to actively identify, cultivate, and acquire a new generation of funders, reducing the organization’s historic reliance on a small cohort of legacy donors.
Partner with the CEO and Executive Director to ensure their time is deployed at highest impact in donor relationships.
Build and execute revenue diversification strategies that increase individual and board giving, reduce funding concentration risk, and strengthen long-term financial resilience.
Develop and execute a comprehensive Advancement strategy — covering fundraising, development operations, external affairs, government relations, and brand development — aligned with Harlem Grown’s vision, values, and investment priorities.
Own the health of the fundraising pipeline, ensuring Salesforce is a complete and accurate system of record with clean data, meaningful dashboards, and clear progress toward annual goals.
Leverage data and analytics to sharpen strategy, optimize team resources, and continuously improve advancement performance.
Build and maintain internal documentation of fundraising practices as team resources and institutional knowledge.
Lead and develop a team of 3–5 advancement professionals, setting clear goals, building capacity, and holding the team accountable to fundraising targets.
Drive donor engagement, retention, and relationship development across the team’s collective portfolio.
Collaborate with the Executive Team to identify funding priorities and align donor interests with organizational needs.
Stay current on sector trends and best practices, incorporating innovative strategies to maximize revenue and brand impact.
Serve as a key member of the Executive Team, collaborating on annual plans, strategic priorities, budgets, and critical decisions.
Liaise with board members as funders and ambassadors, ensuring they have the materials, talking points, and support needed to meet their funding commitments and leverage their networks.
Draft slides and supplemental materials for board, committee, and partner meetings; present department updates to the Board of Directors in quarterly meetings.
Manage government relations and advocacy through a lobbyist, maximizing public awards and reimbursements.
Oversee Harlem Grown’s brand, ensuring guidelines are current and applied consistently across the organization.
Collaborate with all functional teams to develop and implement marketing, communications, and PR strategy — including mass emails, social media, mailers, Google ads, and print materials.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, with experience in principal and major gifts and foundation relations.
Proven track record of personally closing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, and/or corporate partners.
Experience managing and growing a major gifts portfolio, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing advancement teams, with a player-coach orientation.
Ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies across multiple revenue streams.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling fundraising materials and deliver persuasive presentations to diverse audiences.
Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership, program staff, board members, and volunteers.
Proficiency with Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms; comfort using data to drive strategy and accountability.
Strong analytical and project management skills, with a focus on measurable outcomes.
Deep alignment with Harlem Grown’s mission and a commitment to youth development, urban agriculture, and community.
Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% for donor events, engagements, and meetings.

Skills

Fundraising
Principal gifts
Major gifts
Foundation relations
Donor cultivation
Donor solicitation
Donor stewardship
Team leadership
Strategic planning
Revenue generation
Marketing strategy
Communications strategy
Brand management
Public relations
Salesforce
Data analysis
Project management
Government relations
Advocacy

Location

Manhattan, New York

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Minimum 8 years

Salary/Compensations

$130,000—$165,000 USD

About the Company

Harlem Grown is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability and nutrition.
We operate local urban farms, increase access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, and provide farm-based development programs to Harlem youth.
Founded in 2011, Harlem Grown's farms and greenhouses are used as classrooms and as venues to cultivate a connection to the environment and food among young people.
Harlem Grown operates 14 urban agricultural sites featuring soil-based urban farms, hydroponic greenhouses, and a mushroom chamber.
All of our sites are located between 122nd and 152nd Streets in Central Harlem, Manhattan.
Harlem Grown cultivates deep community roots by growing fresh food, strong youth, and lasting relationships.
We meet children where they live, learn, and grow—offering opportunities that extend beyond our farms to the classroom and into their futures.
Through Food and Farm Education, we help youth build healthy habits, leadership skills, and a deeper connection to their community.
Our urban farms provide free produce and nutritious meals for families while creating joyful spaces for connection and support.
Through 14 urban farms and year-round programming, we provide free produce, nutritious meals, and cooking lessons while creating joyful spaces for connection and support.
In addition, our programs increase economic opportunity for families and develop leadership and advocacy skills so participants can drive transformational change in their communities.
At Harlem Grown, we grow healthy children and communities through hands-on education, access to resources, and long-term youth support.
Our Food and Farm Education —including summer camp, in-school and after-school programs, mobile education, service learning, and farm tours—delivers farm-based lessons to children in our community.
We offer free community resources like farmstands, Saturdays on the farm, and events that provide fresh food and create spaces for support and connection.
Through academic support, internships, and career readiness programs, we help our young people build confidence and skills to thrive from elementary school through adulthood.

Equal Opportunity

At Harlem Grown, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we do.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and are committed to creating a culture of inclusivity, where each individual feels as if their identity, experience, and values are represented and supported.
We are dedicated to creating a space where children, especially those of color, are given the opportunity and skills to lead healthy and ambitious lives.
We strongly believe in building a team that reflects and appreciates the underrepresented population of students, families, and people that we serve.
Become a member of our family.