Chief Development Officer

Chief Development OfficerAbout the Lyce The Lyce Franais de Chicago provides its students with a rigorous bilingual education in a dynamic and welcoming multicultural community. The Lyces education transforms students into global ambassadors, inspiring them to lead lives of purpose, responsibility and respect. First founded in 1995 by a small group of French and American families, the Lyce began as an international school of fewer than 150 students. Over twenty-five years later, our community has grown dramatically to over 750 students, attracting families from around the world who share the value of an academically challenging and culturally diverse education.Reports to: Head of SchoolDirect Reports: Two Development Team MembersCollaborates with: Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other Senior Leadership Team membersBoard Engagement: Attends Board meetings; Ex officio member of the Boards Development CommitteeTeam Membership: Senior Leadership TeamPosition OverviewThe Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as a strategic partner to the Head of School and plays a key role in advancing a comprehensive, mission-aligned fundraising strategy that is already in place. The CDO provides leadership in executing and refining this strategy which is rooted in personalized, values-based engagement. The CDO oversees all fundraising functions, including major and planned gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, and board engagement, while fostering a thoughtful and inclusive culture of philanthropy. A strong and respectful partnership with the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer is essential to this role. Together, these two senior leaders are responsible for ensuring that all donor-facing communications and engagement opportunities including events are expertly timed, mission-aligned, and fully consistent with the schools tone and storytelling priorities. The Development and Communications offices must bring out the best in one anothercollaborating on a shared calendar, respecting each others expertise, and planning well in advance to deliver cohesive, compelling, and high-impact experiences for constituents.Key Responsibilities Strategic and Operational LeadershipExecute and continually refine a multi-year fundraising strategy that supports the schools long-term priorities.Provide oversight across five integrated development programs: 1. Annual Giving 2. Major Gifts 3. Planned Giving 4. Alumni Relations 5. Board EngagementProvide transparent, data-informed reporting to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and members of the Senior Leadership Team.Employ segmentation strategies across all programs to ensure that communications, especially appeals, are constituent-specific, relevant, and meaningful.Major Gifts and Campaign ReadinessManage a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors.Support the Head of School and key trustees in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding their own portfolios of major gift prospects.Collaborate on individualized cultivation plans that emphasize authentic relationship-building, timely communication of impact, and coordinated follow-up.Prepare the school for future capital campaign readiness through prospect research, pipeline development, and compelling case development.Annual Giving and Fundraising Program OversightOversee the Annual Giving Program with a focus on clarity of purpose, effective messaging, and consistent, mission-driven appeals.Ensure giving opportunities are well-segmented and that all constituents understand how their gifts make a difference.Coordinate fundraising efforts across all five programs, ensuring integration with institutional communications, events, and stewardship priorities.Constituent Engagement and Impact CommunicationLead a coordinated strategy for engaging alumni, former parents, current parents, board members, and other key constituencies.Collaborate with the Communications team to shape and execute events that deepen constituent engagement, convey philanthropic impact, and reflect the values and voice of the school.Ensure that communications to donors and prospective donors reflect the schools gratitude, mission, and integrity.Champion mission-rich storytelling across all five programs, ensuring that donors are consistently shown how their support translates into meaningful student, teacher, and community outcomes.Board and Volunteer PhilanthropyServe as staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, helping shape its role in cultivation, stewardship, and philanthropic strategy.Guide and support trustees in building relationships with donors and in advancing the schools fundraising goals in ways that feel authentic and impactful.Coordinate volunteer engagement efforts that align with development priorities and are respectful of staff and volunteer time.Team Leadership and InfrastructureSupervise and mentor two direct reports, cultivating a culture of thoughtfulness, accountability, and collaboration.Oversee systems for gift documentation, timely acknowledgment, donor data accuracy, prospect research, and segmentation.Ensure development operations support excellent donor experiences, from initial engagement through long-term stewardship.Adhere to, update when appropriate, and promote the Development Offices policies, procedures, and professional codes of ethics and standards, affirming the schools commitment to fundraising integrity and donor trust.QualificationsBachelors degree required; advanced degree preferred.710+ years of progressively responsible experience in development, with a successful track record in major gifts.Strong leadership and team-building success, ideally at an independent school, educational, or youth development organization.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation abilities.Demonstrated ability to cultivate long-term donor relationships based on mutual respect and impact.Experience using segmentation and data analytics to shape strategy and strengthen donor relationships.Proficiency in donor database systems (e.g., Raisers Edge or equivalent) and commitment to data-informed planning.Belief in the mission of independent school education and the role of philanthropy in supporting student success.Culturally astute, with the ability to understand and navigate the schools values, tone, and community norms with sensitivity and professionalism.Additional information: The offered wage is $110,000 - 140,000 per year and is benefits eligible: medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403b with eventual match, tuition remission; employer-paid basic life (equivalent to one years salary),and a generous paid time-off policy (sick leave plus 4 weeks paid leave per year).How to Apply Please visit the Lyces career pageand submit a cover letter and resume. No phone inquiries, please. Lyce Franais de Chicago is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates of any gender, race, class, sexual orientation, faith, disability, or age are encouraged to apply. All candidates will be evaluated on a merit basis. For more information about the Lyce please go to recblid fk7nlvuq7usrq9yqs0kwpajnyr4m61PDN-9f507563-926b-48cd-9acf-4b4dbfc5f132

Created: 2025-07-16