Chief Development Officer

Description About Noble Noble is Chicago's highest-performing and largest network of public charter schools. Our 17 campuses and 1,600 employees currently serve 12,000 students, 98% of whom identify as persons of color, 90% as low-income, and 81% as first-generation college attendees. Noble's mission is to ensure that all students have equitable and positive school experiences that equip them to complete college and lead choice-filled lives. We are proud to be recognized nationally for college access and persistence. Noble supports more than 31,000 alumni, with 98% of students accepted into college and nearly 94% choosing to enroll. The Role The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is the senior leader responsible for building, leading, and sustaining a best-in-class fundraising function for a large-scale public education system. Reporting to the President and working in close partnership with the CEO, Board of Directors, senior leadership team, and school principals, the CDO owns Noble's comprehensive development strategy and is ultimately accountable for results. This role exists to do three things exceptionally well: Set and execute a bold, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned to Noble's mission, strategic plan , and long-term financial sustainability. Personally lead high-stakes fundraising - cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding transformational gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and the public sector. Build and manage a high-performing development team - with strong systems, disciplined execution, clear accountability, and deep bench strength. The CDO is not a first-time fundraiser. This leader brings seasoned judgment, pattern recognition, and credibility earned through experience leading complex development efforts at scale. They are strategic and analytical, yet comfortable in the work - in donor meetings, campaign strategy sessions, boardrooms, and team coaching conversations. They are equally skilled at setting direction and rolling up their sleeves. Key Responsibilities Enterprise Development Strategy and Results Own Noble's comprehensive fundraising strategy, including annual fundraising, major gifts, grants, institutional giving, capital campaigns, and special initiatives. Translate Noble's strategic priorities into compelling, fundable narratives and fundraising strategies. Set clear, ambitious revenue goals; build multi-year pipelines; and ensure consistent progress toward targets. Use data rigorously to manage performance, assess return on effort, and continuously refine strategy. Major Gifts and External Leadership Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, with responsibility for closing transformational six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts. Lead cultivation and solicitation strategies for long-term sustained giving. Serve as a primary external ambassador for Noble with donors, foundations, civic leaders, and partners. Partner closely with the CEO, President, and Board to prepare, support, and leverage their relationships for fundraising success. Team Leadership and Organizational Excellence Build, lead, and retain a high-performing development team with clear roles, strong management, and a culture of accountability and growth. Establish best-in-class systems, processes, and rhythms for fundraising execution, forecasting, and stewardship. Coach and develop team members and emerging leaders; hire exceptional talent aligned to Noble's mission and standards. Ensure strong collaboration across Development and the Communications, Finance, Operations, Academics, College, and campus teams. Board Partnership and Governance Serve as a trusted partner to the Board and Development Committee, providing clear reporting, insight, and strategic guidance. Design and support meaningful Board engagement in fundraising, including goal-setting, portfolio development, and solicitation. Communications and Stewardship Partner with Communications to ensure consistent, compelling messaging that advances development priorities. Oversee the creation of high-quality proposals, case statements, donor materials, and stewardship experiences. Ensure donors experience Noble as thoughtful, disciplined, and deeply accountable to impact. Candidate Qualifications The ideal Chief Development Officer brings: A proven track record leading large-scale fundraising efforts, including major gifts and capital campaigns. Demonstrated success closing six- and seven-figure gifts. Experience building and managing sophisticated development organizations with strong systems and results. Strategic acumen paired with operational discipline and attention to detail. Exceptional relationship-building skills with donors, boards, and senior leaders. Strong data fluency and comfort using analytics to drive decisions. Sound judgment, executive presence, and the ability to operate effectively in complex, high-accountability environments. Deep alignment with Noble's mission, values, and commitment to equity. Minimum Candidate Qualifications Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred. At least seven years of progressive leadership experience in development and fundraising. Demonstrated success managing teams and complex portfolios. Compensation We strive to be the best place to work, and our employee benefits are thoughtfully designed to support us in this ambition. Compensation for this role typically starts between $180,000 - 200,000 annually, with final salary within or outside of range commensurate with experience and expertise . Application Timeline & Process Interested candidates should apply using this link or by visiting nobleschools.org/careers . Applicants are encouraged to complete the short application, which includes two short-answer questions. Initial application reviews will take place on a rolling basis. Select candidates will be notified of initial interviews and moved through various stages of our selection process, including virtual and in-person interviews with a variety of Noble stakeholders, reference checks, and opportunities for both the candidate and Noble to assess fit. The Chief Development Officer is expected to start as soon as possible. Please direct inquiries about this role to [email protected] . Statement of Non-Discrimination Noble is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic or classification protected by law.

Created: 2026-03-04