As the Fresh Air Fund approaches its 150th anniversary, it is seeking a visionary Chief Development and Communications Officer to lead and grow its fundraising program into the next chapter of its history
About the Fresh Air Fund
The Fresh Air Fund is a youth development non-profit providing transformative outdoor experiences, at no cost, for New York City children from underserved communities. At six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, children have new experiences, learn new skills, and gain new perspectives. Youth also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration, and educational programs. In its nearly 150-year history, the Fresh Air Fund has served more than 1.8 million children and unlocks the limitless potential of thousands of New York City children annually through its transformative summer experiences and programs.
You can find more information about the organization at https://freshair.org/
Position Overview
The Fresh Air Fund seeks a Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO) to lead the next phase of its fundraising and communications strategy. As the organization prepares for its 150th anniversary, the CDCO will be the primary architect of the fundraising strategy needed to fuel its next chapter of growth.
The CDCO will be charged with growing fundraising for a program that currently raises around $10M annually, with a sharpened focus on principal and major gifts. They will also lead an integrated communications department responsible for the Fresh Air Fund's brand, storytelling, media relations, and digital presence.
Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors, the CDCO will serve as a senior leader and trusted partner. They will be responsible for setting an organizational-wide development and communications strategy, directly managing a portfolio of top donors, and leading and guiding a team of talented and passionate staff. This leader will play a vital role in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding new funders whose interests intersect with the Fresh Air Fund’s core work.
The ideal candidate is an ambitious, relationship-oriented fundraiser who deeply believes in the power of philanthropy to change lives and is eager to partner with the Board and CEO to grow Fresh Air's impact for thousands of New York City children each year.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth
- Partnering with the CEO and Board, develop and execute an ambitious and comprehensive, multi-year fundraising and communications strategy that integrates all philanthropic revenue streams to grow philanthropy across all channels for the organization, with a keen focus on increasing major and principal gifts
- Partner with the CEO to translate organizational priorities into compelling funding opportunities
- Collaborate with the Board to maximize their role in fundraising, supporting individual and collective goals, and leading the Development Committee in maximizing results
- Set clear revenue goals, performance benchmarks, and accountability structures across the department
- Play a key role in the development and communications strategy for the Fund's 150th anniversary, connecting a century and a half of mission to bold and ambitious fundraising growth
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a talented development and communications team, which includes 5 direct reports and 13 total staff
- Foster alignment across the team by clearly communicating vision, priorities, and progress so that every member is working toward shared goals with clarity and confidence
- Set clear performance expectations, establish and maintain strong KPI practices, provide consistent feedback, and build professional development pathways that attract and retain top talent
- Build systems and processes that support a culture of accountability and results orientation
Fundraising & Relationship Management
- Directly cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors, with a focus on raising six-, and seven-figure gifts
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities specifically focused on new major donors
- Partner with the CEO and Board on donor cultivation, solicitation strategy, and stewardship, helping them to prepare, position, and follow through on solicitations
- Build the systems, processes, and team infrastructure needed to sustain and scale fundraising growth
- Oversee development operations, including CRM management, data and analytics, gift processing, and reporting, to ensure accurate and actionable information
Communications Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership to the communications team, ensuring that Fresh Air's story is told with clarity, consistency, and impact across all channels
- Ensure communications efforts are aligned with and actively support fundraising goals while building donor awareness, engagement, and loyalty
- Serve as a senior voice on organizational messaging, particularly as it relates to donors, stakeholders, and the public
Collaboration & Engagement
- Serve as a visible and trusted leader across the organization, helping to build a culture of philanthropy where staff at all levels understand and support fundraising goals
- Work in close partnership with the CEO, C-suite, and board to align programmatic priorities with fundraising opportunities
- Build strong relationships with camp leadership and program staff to connect donors with the work in authentic, meaningful ways
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a minimum of 5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing a development program
- Demonstrated track record of directly soliciting and closing major gifts at the 6-figure level and above
- Proven success leading, coaching, and mentoring teams, including building culture and managing performance
- Experience in leading communications or a deep understanding of how communications can successfully work in concert with development
- Experience partnering with a CEO or Executive Director in preparing them for fundraising solicitations and follow-up
- Commitment to leading by example, including demonstrating and fostering a strong sense of urgency, accountability, and sound decision-making to achieve goals
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build genuine relationships with donors, board members, and colleagues
- A data-informed mindset with comfort using KPIs and performance data to drive accountability and decision-making
- Familiarity with the NYC philanthropic community and funders is a strong plus
- Deep belief in the power of equitable access to the outdoors and youth development, and a genuine connection to the mission of The Fresh Air Fund
Location & Work Environment
This role is based in New York City with a hybrid in-office schedule. The CDCO will be expected in the office 3 days a week, including Tuesdays, one day with the Development and Communications team, and one additional day.
During the summer, regular visits to Fresh Air's camps in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley (approximately 1.5 hours from the city) are expected for donor engagement, corporate events, and organizational activities. Some additional travel is required, including an annual fundraising trip.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is $240,000 - $255,000 annually. The Fresh Air Fund offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, and retirement contribution plans with employer contributions.
The Fresh Air Fund is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in its work and on its staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations, and communities to apply.
The Fresh Air Fund has retained the Orr Group to conduct this search. Please direct all inquiries, interest, and nominations to the Orr Group search team.
Jesse Bryan
Vice President
Orr Group
jbryan@orrgroup.com
About the Orr Group
Orr Group is a strategic partner to nonprofit organizations, offering comprehensive fundraising and executive recruitment support that advances mission, maximizes philanthropic potential, and builds long-term sustainability. We specialize in the business of philanthropy, helping our partners drive results through data-informed strategies, embedded team members, and hands-on implementation.
