Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit for the Chief Advancement Officer for Girl Scouts San Diego (GSSD) (https://www.sdgirlscouts.org/).
Girl Scouts San Diego (GSSD) is one of 111 councils affiliated with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). Each council operates as an independent 501(c)3 organization. GSSD is building a legacy of empowerment that will inspire and uplift generations to come. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, relevant programs and experiences focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); the outdoors; life skills; and entrepreneurship (including the cookie and fall product programs), where girls learn to empower themselves and foster sense of wellbeing and a lifetime of leadership and success.
Every Girl Scout has their own curiosity, dreams, and talents—so when they come together to decide which of the thousands of Girl Scout activities to try, the sky’s the limit. Whether visiting an animal shelter, camping, hosting a dance-off, or filming a movie—they’re learning to take risks, trust their gut, and team up with others for good. Forever friendship is a powerful thing. It’s what gives Girl Scouts the confidence to be themselves, unapologetically. It’s what makes them feel safe enough to try new things and cheer each other on in tough times. It’s the support that can get them up on tough mornings, help them raise their hand in class, and even climb to the top of a mountain.
Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Supported by adult volunteers and mentors right here in our community, as well as millions of alums around the globe, Girl Scouts lead the way as they discover who they are and how they can make the future a brighter place.
Annual Report:https://issuu.com/sdgirlscouts1/docs/2023_annual_report_v2
Girl Scouts San Diego (GSSD) just completed the first year of a 3-5 year strategic plan with a vision to be the go to partner for developing and elevating girl and women leaders in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Beyond traditional leadership development, relevant programs and experiences foster a sense of wellbeing in girls, so they are well-rounded individuals poised for success in life. All the funds raised in San Diego support more than 8,000 volunteers and 15,000 girls in grades K-12 in San Diego and Imperial counties. A key initiative in the first year will be to take primary ownership of creating and executing a new, 3-year strategic development plan to achieve the goals as outlined in the organizational strategic 5-year plan. It will include specificity regarding annual and capital campaign needs with associated goals, and KPIs.
Strategic Plan:https://www.sdgirlscouts.org/en/discover/our-council/strategic-plan.html
Strategic Plan Executive Summary:https://www.sdgirlscouts.org/content/dam/sdgirlscouts-redesign/documents/about/mission/2024_GSSD_ExecutiveSummary.pdf
THE OPPORTUNITY
Girl Scouts of San Diego has annual revenues of more than $13M of which approximately $1.9M is philanthropy from a constituency of 2500+ donor database records. Contributed income is represented by $800k from 2 signature Special Events, $350k annual fund, $300k major gifts and the remaining $500k in grants and corporate support that is not tied to an event.
The organization is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer whose passion for the mission will champion the transformative power of the Girl Scout movement. This visionary leader will be a driving force in advancing the organization's mission and inspiring others to support the development of future female leaders. The new CAO will be a seasoned fundraiser, comfortable in social circles and well networked in the San Diego community. They will also be an innovative and accomplished visionary leader and highly collaborative, inspiring staff, board and volunteers. He/she will plan, form and execute a moves management approach to individual and institutional giving and have a demonstrated track record of successfully growing a fund development program with a heavy emphasis on donor retention, diversifying revenue and major gifts. The Chief Advancement Officer will personally manage a major gifts ($10,000+) portfolio, building and maintaining relationships with 30-50 top level donors and prospects and leading an early career team of 6 FTE development professionals and 4 FTE marketing and development communications professionals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief Advancement Officer will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Carol Dedrich, who has more than 20 years of experience at the executive level through roles in government, military corporate and nonprofit sectors and now leads more than 100 staff and supports more than 24,000 youth and adult members in her role as GSSD CEO. Carol joined Girl Scouts San Diego in 2016 after spending seven years as Chief External Relations Officer for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles.
Girl Scouts San Diego has a 15-member board and 7 committees (Executive, Board Development, Finance, Investment, Audit, Philanthropy, and Property and Gathering Spaces). The Board is committed to 100% giving and have a $1k give and $3k get policy. Members have 3-year term limits and can serve for 2 terms. A passionate, accomplished CEO paired with long tenured and an equally passionate and accomplished staff are a credit to the culture of the organization.
This is a phenomenal time to join the Girl Scouts. The movement is indeed experiencing a remarkable period of philanthropic growth and opportunity. The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) received an unprecedented $84.5 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022. This surge in support is fueling expansion and innovation across the organization at both national and local levels and opening eyes to new funding streams with after school and government funding in addition to its traditional individual and corporate giving.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a dynamic and visionary fundraising leader to join our executive team to drive the council’s philanthropic efforts. In this role, you will be instrumental in shaping and implementing an ambitious strategic plan designed to drive transformative change and growth within GSSD. The successful candidate’s leadership will be pivotal in building and expanding financial resources, forging strategic partnerships, and elevating GSSD's visibility and impact within the community.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES
Strategic Planning & Execution:
- Take primary ownership of creating and executing a new, 3-year strategic development plan to include annual and capital campaign needs.
- Lead, develop and oversee the execution of strategies for all of Girl Scout San Diego’s fundraising areas including campaigns, major gifts, individual giving, planned giving, special events, foundation grants, government funding, corporate sponsorships, and an annual fund.
Internal Management:
- Serve as a close strategic advisor and partner to the CEO, as well as a member of the Executive Leadership team.
- Serve as liaison to the Board of Directors and the Philanthropy Committee. Support other Board committees as needed.
- Build a culture of philanthropy across the organization and the Board, demonstrating how all can be stronger advocates for Girl Scouts San Diego in the community.
- Work to foster a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring the highest level of internal and external customer service.
- Coach, mentor, develop, lead and empower Girl Scout San Diego’s advancement team members.
- Create and manage clear success metrics with accountability for achieving goals.
Fundraising Operations:
- Plan and execute a moves management approach to individual and institutional giving.
- Refine and/or establish policies, systems and procedures, with a special emphasis on professionalism and ethical standards, for soliciting, acknowledging, tracking, and reporting gifts.
- Assist with the planning and implementation of events to deliver superb donor experience and meet fundraising goals.
- Oversee the appropriate use of donor software and reporting, ensuring donor privacy, data accuracy and timeliness of acknowledgements and reporting.
- Leverage technology and data across all development strategies and practices.
Donor Relations & Communication:
- Maintain a personal portfolio of approximately 30-50 top donors and prospects. Solicit and close major gifts to meet annual goals.
- Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of GSSD program offerings and services to articulate need and impact to donors.
- Build and maintain critical relationships with key local organizations and partners.
- Provide outstanding customer service and support to donors, volunteers, staff and other community contacts.
- Create and implement innovative strategies for securing new and untapped funding resources.
- Integrate development with marketing/communications strategies to maximize Girl Scout San Diego’s brand exposure and fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the marketing team.
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will:
- Serve as a member on Girl Scouts San Diego’s Executive Leadership team alongside the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Mission Delivery Officer.
- Lead a team of 6 FTE development professionals to meet the current annual fundraising goal of $2.5 million and 4 FTE marketing and communications professionals to meet the annual Marketing and Communications goals.
- Systematically strengthen the organization's overall fundraising capacity to meet increased fundraising goals each year.
- Personally manage a major gifts ($10,000+) portfolio, building and maintaining relationships with 30-50 top level donors and prospects.
- Elevate and support the marketing and communication priorities across the organization.
ATTRIBUTES AND WORK STYLE
- Visionary: Drives the vision for Girl Scouts San Diego’s fundraising efforts, which ultimately benefits the lives of girls throughout our community.
- Servant-Leader: Leads with humility, empathy and awareness; actively contributes to employees’ ability to reach their goals and thrive at GSSD.
- Creates and Fosters Trust: Honest and consistent communication, accountability to self and others, earnest collaboration.
- Collaborative: Fosters a respectful, transparent, and collaborative work environment.
- Community-minded: Connects well with individuals across all socio-economic, ethnic, cultural, and professional backgrounds.
- Proactive & Perseverant: Demonstrates strong personal initiative and the ability to drive projects through to completion.
- Positive: Charismatic, warm and welcoming; a true “people-person.”
- Growth Mindset: Open to appropriate new opportunities and ideas for GSSD.
- Analytical: Studies issues, identifies trends and formulates new ideas.
- Metrics-Driven: Pairs ideas with solutions and measurable outcomes.
- Adaptive: Works well independently and in teams.
- Reflective: Skilled at receiving and giving feedback.
- Tact & Diplomacy: Patient, willing and able to have difficult conversations as required.
- Communicative: Effectively represents the organization with strong written and oral communication skills.
- Flexible: Willing to work evenings and weekends as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Seasoned leader with fundraising, marketing, and communications experience.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related field; Master’s degree preferred.
- At least 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in fund development/philanthropy, with proven success in campaign development and achievement.
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and/or other professional fundraising certification is highly desired.
- Knowledge of marketing and communications principles, campaign management, and current trends.
- Proven success in building and maintaining strong relationships with donors, board members, community partners, staff and volunteers.
- Successful track record of fundraising achievements and leadership of a nonprofit development team.
- Experienced in constructing, articulating and implementing a strategic development plan.
- Direct experience and success cultivating, soliciting and stewarding 5 and 6 figure gifts.
- Experience developing and managing budgets over $2M.
- Significant fundraising success with individual donors.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to drive fundraising, partnership decisions and forecasting.
- Strong leadership skills to mentor and motivate staff to reach foundation, corporate, and government development goals.
- A history of working directly with board members in support of fundraising efforts.
- Knowledge of local and regional corporate and foundation communities; preexisting connection to the San Diego community preferred.
- An expert storyteller who can channel personal connection to GSSD’s mission.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written); ability to convey information in a clear, concise method.
- Significant skill in successfully managing multiple projects on tight deadlines and under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience with fundraising/donor databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred); proficiency with prospect research tools.
- Passion and belief in the mission and values of Girl Scouting; willing to subscribe to the principles expressed in the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law.
CAREER TRACK LEADING PRIOR TO THIS POSITION
Preferred candidates will bring progressively responsible C-Suite or senior management experience and demonstrated success within a mission-driven and community-oriented organization. Ideally, candidates will have experience working in a complex organization and building cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals. Demonstrated business acumen and strategic planning skills, supported by strong analytical thinking are essential. The CAO should be a creative thinker who is aware of a wide range of organizational models from the nonprofit and business worlds. The ideal candidate will be able to perceive the need for innovation and to drive culture change. Team-building skills and a shared leadership style that attracts, retains and inspires staff will also be important. The successful candidate will likely have a background in non-profit management, candidates with transferable skills from the for-profit sector, combined with a passion for the mission of GSSD, are also encouraged to apply.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The CAO may work on a hybrid in-person/work-from-home schedule with the expectation of regular travel within the Council and attendance at evening and weekend events, and some travel out of state for conferences and national meetings. As such, the selected candidate must live in or within reasonable commuting distance to San Diego County for regular in-person meetings with donors, board members, and staff.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary range for this position is $160-185k. GSSD and its employees support an inclusive environment and value the individual traits, skills and talents of all staff, volunteers, girls, prospects, and donors. Employees of GSSD receive a competitive slate of benefits including Medical, dental, vision, basic Life/AD&D, voluntary life/AD&D, AFLAC voluntary plans, pet insurance, 20 days vacation annual accrual, 10 days sick leave annual accrual, 401(k) plan with match, 9 holidays and 2 floating holidays per year. GSSD employees also enjoy a flexible/hybrid work environment of 2 days in the office and 3 days remote.
Girl Scouts San Diego is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) located in San Diego, with five program and camp facilities.
A competitive compensation package will be offered to attract an outstanding candidate. The budgeted salary range is $160-185k, the salary will be commensurate with experience.
