Maneva Group · 6 days ago
Francis House - Chief Development Officer
Syracuse, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$170K/yr - $180K/yrManeva Group is assisting Francis House, a respected nonprofit organization, in their search for a Chief Development Officer. The CDO will lead fundraising efforts while shaping the philanthropic strategy for the Greccio Foundation, focusing on relationship-building and community engagement.
Staffing & Recruiting
Responsibilities
Serve as a primary ambassador to Francis House’s donor community - reconnecting with longtime supporters, families, and volunteers through personal outreach, visits, and heartfelt stewardship
Cultivate meaningful relationships that inspire annual, major, planned, and estate giving grounded in trust and shared values
Assess the current development function and build a clear strategy that strengthens long-term sustainability, across individuals, foundations, community partners, and faith-based supporters
Modernize and streamline development systems by improving the donor database, segmentation, and reporting processes so that tracking, stewardship, and analytics are consistent and accurate
Rebuild and hire a high-performing development team, setting clear goals, expectations, and pathways for professional growth
Model collaboration and accountability, working with colleagues and other senior leaders across Francis House to strengthen communication and unity
Bring the confidence and steadiness to address performance challenges directly while guiding the team through change and establishing a culture of excellence, trust, and results
Elevate Francis House’s presence through compassionate storytelling, newsletters, social media, and mission-forward communications
Ensure that all messaging reflects Franciscan values, the voice of the community, and the dignity of residents and families
Lead the planning and execution of Francis House’s signature fundraising events, donor gatherings, and community-facing activities
Attend parish, community, and volunteer events as a visible and trusted representative of the ministry
Comfort operating in a Franciscan Catholic environment, supporting residents and families with empathy and calmness, and embodying the Franciscan and Catholic values of compassion, acceptance, respect and dignity for all
Engage personally and respectfully with residents and families - sharing meals, listening with care, and offering spiritual sensitivity and comfort across all faith backgrounds
Shape the Foundation’s philanthropic strategy in partnership with the President & CEO and the Board
Lead development of annual conference and meaningful stakeholder gatherings
Be curious, learn the history, values, and vision of the Greccio Foundation by engaging with leadership and the Sisters of St. Francis, develop understanding of our priorities, reviewing past partnerships and grantmaking efforts. Do this to become a person who deeply understands the Franciscan charisms and how to achieve ministry goals
Help lead the development of grantmaking priorities, criteria, and cycles that reflect Greccio’s mission and desired community impact
Create policies, guidelines, and documentation that ensure responsible stewardship and transparent grant decisions
Establish clear reporting and evaluation practices to measure impact and guide future giving
Develop systems for grant tracking, data management, budgeting, and evaluation as the Foundation grows
Identify future staffing needs and support the hiring and onboarding of new team members as capacity expands
Serve as a representative of Greccio Foundation to nonprofit partners, philanthropic peers, and community leaders
Build relationships with organizations, congregations, and those aligned with the Foundation’s vision and values
Qualification
Required
Extensive experience in relationship-based fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, and planned/estate giving
Demonstrated experience building or rebuilding a development function, including hiring, coaching, and leading teams through change toward a high-performance, mission-driven culture
Background in philanthropy, grantmaking, or foundation strategy - or clear transferable experience that shows the ability to design grantmaking frameworks, evaluate proposals, and partner with board members on funding priorities
Strong systems and operational skills, including database management, donor segmentation, tracking, pipeline development, and process improvement across multiple entities or programs
Exceptional communication and relationship skills, with the emotional intelligence to engage donors, families, volunteers, board members, and community partners with compassion, discretion, and professionalism
Deep alignment with PMF and Francis House's mission and Catholic faith-based values; and comfort working in a spiritually grounded, compassionate care environment
Bachelor's degree required
Preferred
CFRE certification or advanced training in fundraising or nonprofit management
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer-paid life insurance
Retirement plan with employer contribution after one year of service
Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
Additional voluntary benefits that support wellbeing and work-life balance
Company
Maneva Group
Are you searching for the CEO, Executive Director, or other leader that is going to scale your organization's impact to the next level? Maneva Group is the premier national executive search firm for the social impact and nonprofit sector.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase