Playworks, the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to bring out the best in every child, helps schools and youth-serving organizations create a place where every child on the playground feels included, is physically active, and builds valuable social and emotional skills. Over the course of its history, Playworks has served millions of children through partnerships with schools, out-of-school providers, and community organizations by offering on-site services, professional development, and digital support. Backed by over two decades of leadership, results, and momentum, Playworks is building a national movement to recognize the importance of play and recess and ensure that millions more students in tens of thousands of schools can play every day. It is an exciting time in the history of Playworks as it celebrates 25 years of impact and service while looking forward to the future.
The Opportunity
Playworks seeks an entrepreneurial, ambitious strategic leader to serve as its next Chief Development Officer (CDO). Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and a key member of the leadership team, the CDO will inspire and serve as a strategic leader and thought partner for a team of fundraising professionals located across the United States. This role will thoughtfully and effectively implement best-practice strategies that clearly articulate a vision for growth and develop an operational structure to ensure a systematic approach for fundraising within the organization. The CDO will help forge new and sustain existing relationships to build the organization’s visibility, impact, and financial resources and significantly increase philanthropic results for the benefit of the children served and those opportunities provided through play.
The next CDO will have at least 15 years of executive-level fundraising experience in a nonprofit organization, demonstrated success raising revenue, and tangible experience expanding and cultivating existing donor relationships over time. They will be a collaborative, inspiring leader, and teacher, with care, concern, and appreciation for all who support the organization’s mission and passion for education and youth development. The CDO will understand education reform in the United States and the role Playworks has in supporting the social and emotional learning of its students.
While Playworks is headquartered in Oakland, California, this position could be remote and potentially located anywhere in the United States. The CDO will be expected to travel frequently to headquarters and throughout the varying regions as needed.
