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Chief Development Officer

Creative Action


Job Location:

Austin, TX - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 115000 - 135000
Posted: 29 September 2026 (3 days ago)
Application Deadline: 27 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Title: Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Position Type: Full-time

FLSA:Exempt

Work Location:Hybrid (must be based in the Austinmetropolitan area)

Start Date: Open Until Filled

Salary Range:$115000-$135000

Reports to: Executive Director


ABOUT CREATIVE ACTION

Creative Action is a nationally recognized youth arts education organization in Austin Texas. Through school-based after-school teen and community programs we use the arts to build community and foster Creative Artists Critical Thinkers Confident Leaders and Courageous Allies.


ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Creative Action seeks an accomplished collaborative and relationship-centered fundraising leader to serve as Chief Development Officer. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the senior leadership team the CDO will lead a comprehensive development program grow philanthropic support strengthen donor relationships and fundraising systems and build an organization-wide culture of philanthropy. The CDO will be both a strategic leader and an active fundraiserpersonally cultivating soliciting and stewarding major donors while leading the development team and engaging the Board as fundraising partners. The CDO will also collaborate closely with Creative Actions Capital Campaign Director and Executive Director to coordinate donor strategy prospect assignments communications and stewardship. The Capital Campaign Director will retain primary responsibility for campaign strategy and execution.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES


Fundraising Strategy and Donor Development

  • Develop and lead annual and multi-year fundraising strategies across major gifts annual giving institutional support corporate partnerships special events planned giving and other philanthropic opportunities.

  • Build and actively manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects personally leading cultivation solicitation and stewardship of significant gifts.

  • Set clear revenue goals forecasts metrics and accountability practices; use results and donor data to strengthen performance retention and the prospect pipeline.

  • Partner with the Executive Director on funding priorities donor strategy and management of the Executive Directors portfolio.


Leadership and External Engagement

  • Lead coach and develop a high-performing development team with clear roles goals and expectations.

  • Engage and equip the Board of Directors and its development-related committee(s) as active fundraising partners providing regular reports on progress opportunities and challenges.

  • Represent Creative Action in the community and build relationships with donors institutional partners community leaders and other stakeholders.

  • Partner with Marketing and Communications to create compelling cases for support donor communications and stories of impact.


Development Operations and Campaign Partnership

  • Ensure effective development operations including prospect and moves management CRM and data integrity gift tracking and acknowledgement reporting forecasting and donor stewardship.

  • Strengthen fundraising policies systems and cross-departmental practices that support collaboration accountability and informed decision-making.

  • Coordinate closely with the Capital Campaign Director so annual major-gift institutional and campaign fundraising efforts are integrated donor relationships are managed thoughtfully and campaign donors remain engaged with Creative Action over time.


QUALIFICATIONS

  • Seven or more years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience including significant leadership responsibility; experience in arts education youth development or the cultural sector is preferred.

  • Proven success securing significant individual gifts growing a donor pipeline and executing fundraising strategies across multiple revenue streams.

  • Experience leading and developing teams and working effectively with executives Board members donors volunteers community leaders and colleagues across an organization.

  • Strong knowledge of donor cultivation and stewardship prospect management fundraising metrics development operations and CRM systems.

  • Excellent relationship-building communication storytelling writing presentation planning and analytical skills.

  • A strategic proactive collaborative ethical and adaptable leadership style with emotional intelligence and sound judgment.

  • Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend donor program community and fundraising activities.


WHAT WE OFFER

Annual salary is $115000$135000 commensurate with experience. Benefits include employer-subsidized health insurance; employer-paid basic life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance; virtual mental health and telehealth care; generous paid time off including two organization-wide rejuvenation weeks; 12 weeks of paid parental leave; a 403(b) retirement plan; and a flexible/hybrid work environment.


Commitment to Equity & Equal Employment Opportunity

Creative Action is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit train compensate uplift and promote regardless of race religion color national origin sex disability age veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law.


Creative Action has a clear vision: we are an organization in which a diverse group of unique thinkers and talented people come together to want to do their best work serving our students through the Arts. We know that our company would not succeed without the dedication and hard work of our creative and passionate employees.


Creative Action believes in diversity equity inclusivity and belonging and this core set of values is reflected across every department and community in which we serve. We are committed to and focused on anti-racism and anti-oppression and fold this into our organizational foundation. We believe deeply that diversity and differences are what make us an innovative compassionate and forward-thinking organization.


We strongly encourage individuals to apply who identify as LGTBQIA bilingual Black Brown Indigenous and/or people of color.


Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice to meet the evolving needs of the organization.


Required Experience:

Chief


About Company

Creative Action uses the arts to inspire creativity, confidence, courage, and community for young people and families across Central Texas.

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