Located a short distance north of Boston, the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) is a nonprofit education, research, and development organization that helps expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Originally founded in 1984 to provide better educational experiences for students with disabilities, CAST has broadened the field of UDL through strategic partnerships in both the public and private sectors, including research organizations, universities, government agencies, corporations, and foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The CAST staff is comprised of experts in human development, neuropsychology, instructional design, literacy instruction, learning analytics, technology design, and more who work to improve and optimize learning based on scientific insights into how humans attain knowledge. CAST has one focus: to break the barriers to learning that millions of people experience every day.

The Opportunity

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is an extraordinary opportunity for the right individual to build on CAST’s existing development programs and take CAST’s development efforts to the next level — locally, nationally and internationally. The CDO will be an entrepreneurial, results-oriented leader with exceptional interpersonal skills to drive and manage CAST’s overall development and external affairs, including government support, corporate partnerships and strategic alliances. A member of the senior management team, this is a high visibility position that helps set direction and ensures the future health of CAST. The CDO will be expected to take CAST beyond traditional fundraising methods to include new models including public/private partnerships, field building and/or issue-specific fundraising. The selected candidate will also build upon core programs while diversifying fundraising efforts including major gifts, family foundations, planned giving, and both corporate and foundation grant programs. S/He will also cultivate, solicit, close and steward five-, six- and seven-figure gifts from current and prospective donors/institutions. A passion for CAST’s mission is critical to success, as is 8-10 years of fundraising leadership experience.