Chief Development Officer

Roosevelt’s Work

The Roosevelt Institute takes on today’s greatest public policy challenges by advancing bold, cutting-edge research and policy ideas. We believe that the future of the American economy and our democracy depends on a new way of thinking about markets and government—and have successfully engaged with policymakers and the media to inform and shape public debate. Too few people hold too much economic and political power today, and we know that a stronger society is possible if we rectify this imbalance between private actors and the public. With a commitment to restructuring markets, transforming corporations, reviving democratic institutions, and reimagining the role of government, our work moves our nation toward a more resilient, equitable, and green future.

The Roosevelt Institute is a think tank, a student network, and the nonprofit partner to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum that, together, are learning from the past and working to redefine our collective future. Focusing on corporate and public power, labor and wages, and the economics of race and gender inequality, the Roosevelt Institute unifies experts, invests in young leaders, and advances progressive policies that bring the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt into the 21st century.

Our Culture

At Roosevelt, we recognize that the culture of the workplace and opportunities for career growth and development are important to all. We believe that diversity of background and experience among our people make our work to rewrite the rules of our social and economic realities stronger. Roosevelt is an equal opportunity employer and, as such, affirms in policy and practice to consider all applications in all job classifications, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, military status, height and weight, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest record, or other legally protected status. We strongly encourage people with diverse work and life experiences, diverse educational backgrounds, and diverse cultures to apply.

What You’ll Do

We are seeking an experienced strategic leader as our Chief Development Officer (CDO). The CDO will report to the Roosevelt Institute’s PCEO, developing and executing multiyear strategies to raise the money needed to invest in Roosevelt’s future. The CDO is responsible for fundraising strategies for three entities: Roosevelt Institute, Roosevelt Forward, and the private funding for the FDR Presidential Library. They manage a team of 5+ development staff to meet an annual fundraising goal of $18M in foundation and $2M in individual giving for the Roosevelt Institute, and they will be responsible for investing in and growing the fundraising work of Roosevelt Forward and the FDR Library.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities 

Organization-Wide Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the President and CEO’s executive team, understanding the overall strategic goals of the organization and how a development strategy can be woven in to best support the organization’s work; contribute substantively on all senior management issues through responsive and transparent communication and leadership
• With President and CEO, COO, and CFO, develop and establish key revenue-side inputs for budgetary and financial goals
• Serve as a peer leader across the organization with colleagues and other teams
  • Support the President and CEO and other executive and expert staff as key fundraising principals and provide coaching and strategic guidance
  • Work with Roosevelt staff, leadership, and board to build a culture of philanthropy at Roosevelt
  • Provide strategic guidance on communications approaches that elevate Roosevelt’s visibility with philanthropic audiences, raise Roosevelt’s profile, and thought leadership in fundraising contexts

• Oversee fundraising strategy development and execution for the suite of Roosevelt entities: Roosevelt Institute (c3), Roosevelt Forward (c4), and the FDR Presidential Library & Museum
• Build strategies for developing, cultivating, and closing on major foundation gifts, both multiyear operating and project-based, to support each entity
• Build a robust pipeline of high-net-worth individual prospects aligned with Roosevelt’s mission
• Advise on strategies to engage and support board members and board development committee in fundraising, particularly in individual pipeline development
• Design an individual donor cultivation strategy, including prospect identification, research, and cultivation pathways
• Design and implement strategic donor communications, in coordination with the External Relations team
• Plan for multiyear sustainable revenue streams

Department Leadership

• Lead a Development department of 5+ fundraisers and support staff to help them reach the organization’s combined c3, c4, and FDR library budget goals 
• Develop, attract, inspire, retain, and manage a diverse, talented, and high-performing team
• Hold team accountable for quantifiable, high-quality, and timely results

What You’ll Have

• Strategic acumen, capacity for high-level thought partnership to a principal and across an organization, and a demonstrated record of leveling up an organization’s financial resources in a way that supports its overall mission and goals
• Mission alignment, curiosity about the work, and enthusiasm for making an impact
• More than 15 years of increasingly responsible nonprofit leadership experience managing a growing fundraising program
• Demonstrated fundraising success at the $15M+ level
• Demonstrated experience with forward-facing fundraising, including identifying, cultivating, and closing gifts from foundations and individuals at a principal level
• Demonstrated excellent team leadership skills, especially for a diverse staff
• Excellent donor relationship management skills, including for board members, foundation leads, individual donors, and other partners
• Excellent writing and project management skills and demonstrated ability to develop those skills on a team
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills for a variety of audiences, including donor and board
• Ability to use data and CRM systems to track and drive fundraising strategies and measure progress against goals
• Ability to work at multiple levels and on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with both 501c3 and 501c4 fundraising
• Bachelor’s degree required

Salary range: $230,000-$270,000

To apply, please upload your resume and cover letter. Please reach out to jobs@rooseveltinstitute.org if you have any questions.

The Roosevelt Institute provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

To learn more about the Roosevelt Institute, please visit https://rooseveltinstitute.org.

The application deadline is Monday, April 27, 2026.