Chief Development Officer

About Us

For 120+ years, United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) has served and strengthened the greater Salt Lake community.

Since 2001, UWSL has worked to address the root causes of poverty by building partnerships with schools and communities that improve education outcomes. 

In 2011, UWSL narrowed its focus -connecting people to basic-needs services through 211 and improving education outcomes from cradle to career through Promise Partnership Utah.

OUR MISSION

Mobilize the people, resources, and partnerships needed for every Utahn to have their basic needs met, and for every child to succeed in school.

OUR VISION

100% of Utah kids and families thriving.

United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) and Utah’s Promise (UP) are seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead the efforts for all development activities at the organization.

We are looking for a dynamic, entrepreneurial, passionate, skilled, equity-centered, and strategic leader to manage and maintain excellent relationships with a growing Engagement team, the Board of Directors, and a growing portfolio of major gifts, planned gifts, annual, foundation, and corporate donors.

This opportunity is perfect for a goal-oriented leader passionate about advancing mission-driven work, inspiring prospects and donors to give, coaching and developing high-performing teams, delivering exceptional stewardship, and building a robust fundraising infrastructure through disciplined strategic execution.

This role is pivotal in advancing the organization's vision and securing resources to support the innovative work of UWSL/UP. Fueled by a passion for building relationships and driving meaningful impact, the leader will guide the organization in achieving and surpassing ambitious goals.

This position will collaborate closely with senior leaders across the organization as a key executive team member. As a strategic partner to the CEO, this role will lead the creation, development, and execution of a comprehensive fundraising and revenue-generation program. 

Working alongside a professional Resource Development team of 10—including three direct reports—the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will serve as a collaborative leader and supportive coach, striving to meet and expand the organization's annual fundraising goal of approximately $12–$15 million. The CDO will also collaborate frequently with other talented staff on projects that intersect with donor relations, such as the annual report, events, and donor communications.

Position Profile

The successful candidate will possess an innovative strategic vision, the ability to develop actionable plans, and the expertise to guide the organization through effective implementation. This role requires a seasoned, highly creative, and self-motivated leader who can compellingly communicate the organization’s philanthropic value and design strategies to accelerate philanthropy while growing and diversifying the funding base.

With a proactive, problem-solving mindset, they will anticipate and address challenges as they arise. Additionally, the candidate will demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics between equity and philanthropy, adeptly navigating the donor-centered and community-centered fundraising continuum.

Role & Responsibilities 

Fundraising

• Steward and inspire donors and community leaders to contribute financial resources and innovative ideas.
• Create and implement a fundraising plan, including individual giving, annual fundraising, grants, corporate giving, events, major gifts, and legacy giving.
• Further develop a portfolio of institutional and individual major gift donors, guiding them through the giving cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Collaborate with the CEO to refine donor strategies and ensure the effective fostering of key donor relationships.
• Inspire donors, partners, and the community through compelling and impactful storytelling. Actively engage the professional growth and success of the Engagement team.
• Oversee gift processing by implementing policies, systems, and procedures aligned with ethical standards for soliciting and reporting.
• Leverage data to inform decision-making, develop donor segmentation strategies, and enhance predictive financial modeling in collaboration with the CFO.
• Plan and execute donor meetings, cultivation activities, and special events in coordination with other staff.
• Partner with the VP of Strategic Communications and Marketing to ensure consistent communication with donors and community members.
• Identify and implement strategies for donor recognition, stewardship, and appreciation to strengthen relationships and foster long-term support.

Leadership

• Establish and model collaborative, inclusive behaviors that build a culture of philanthropy.
• Set and achieve fundraising goals, make connections, and cultivate relationships.
• Work with the CEO and CFO to develop and implement financial strategy by creating, approving, and implementing ambitious yet reasonable budgets.
• Monitor progress against the organization’s annual and strategic plans.
• Provide regular updates and analysis on revenue sources. Provide fundraising leadership to the Board.
• Bring the resource development perspective combined with what is best for the organization as an engaged, supportive member of the leadership team.

Equity & Inclusion

• Demonstrate personal commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in work and leadership.
• Build a high-performing team grounded in equity and reflective of the diversity of the Salt Lake County community.
• Ensure all voices are heard - including those coming from diverse lived experiences.

Who Are You?

• You are an entrepreneurial leader. You combine the innovative mindset of an entrepreneur with the strategic and people-focused approach of a leader. A creative visionary, you spot opportunities where others see obstacles and take calculated risks to turn bold ideas into reality.
• You are a true collaborator. You have a competitive drive to win but believe in sharing credit. You prioritize broad engagement over quick results, knowing that collaboration leads to lasting success. You’re eager to learn from others, find joy in coaching, and genuinely care about the people you work with. With discipline and focus, you execute your plans through collaboration and with precision.
• You are a humble learner. You lead with quiet confidence, compassion, and humility, exuding a powerful charisma. You do the hard work of self-reflection, asking the tough questions, and looking inward with honesty. You lean into discomfort, take responsibility, and see constructive criticism as a catalyst for growth.
• You are a master relationship builder. You are an authentic, persuasive, and charismatic communicator who excels at forging meaningful connections. Confident in any setting, you thrive in rooms full of strangers and one-on-one. You enjoy making asks and have a natural gift for inspiring others—winning hearts and minds by connecting people to a shared mission.

Additional Skillset & Attributes

• Five+ years of leadership experience managing teams and partnering with the CEO to achieve impact.
• Proven record of closing gifts of$100,000+ and managing a donor portfolio.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing relationships with donors, board members, corporate supporters, and community members.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills - ability to articulate and align mission, vision, and values to donors and donor prospects.
• The maturity, integrity, professionalism, and experience to earn the trust and confidence of our team, donors, board members, and community partners.
• Commitment to UWSL/UP’s mission, approach, and Equity roadmap illustrated by authentic interest in participating in shared learning activities.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and experience working with, or on, boards.
• Experience using Salesforce or other CRMs for tracking and research.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to develop and manage budgets.
• Strategic thinker who sees the big picture and can also operate in the details.
• Proven skills to support a great team, set an example, and mentor others.
• Strong project management skills with ability to delegate, meet deadlines, and follow through.

Compensation & Benefits

• The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $130,000 - $160,000. UWSL/UP provides a wide range of benefits including:
• Competitive medical, dental, vision insurance
• 6% retirement match
• Life, accidental death, long-term, and short-term disability insurance options Flexible Spending Account
• HSA contribution that doesn't require a match
• Free on-site gym & bike storage
• Paid parking or public transportation subsidy
• Two weeks paid office closure (between Christmas and NYE and the week of July 4th)
• Generous PTO
• Paid parental leave
• Onsite coffee shop & café
• Paid time to volunteer