Careers

Position Summary: 

We are seeking a senior level fundraising leader with demonstrated revenue growth and proven success in major gifts, corporate partnerships, and foundation funding.

The Chief Development Officer is the senior executive responsible for leading and growing all philanthropic and revenue development efforts for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin–Badgerland. This role drives diversified revenue through major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, campaigns, and donor engagement that support membership access, program innovation, camp and property investment, and long-term sustainability.

The CDO partners closely with the CEO, executive leadership team, and board to build a strong culture of philanthropy, expand community visibility, and position the council for long range growth.

Job Type: Salary/Exempt
Salary Range: $90,000-$135,000/year
Expected hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Madison, WI

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead a comprehensive, multi-year development strategy aligned with council strategic and membership growth goals.
• Set and own annual and multi-year revenue targets across major gifts, corporate, foundation, campaign, and individual giving.
• Advise the CEO on revenue forecasts, pipeline strength, and funding risk.
• Align development priorities with program, membership, and property investment needs.
• Serve as a senior external ambassador with donors, sponsors, and community partners.
• Oversee leadership events and donor engagement experiences.
• Lead, coach, and develop the development team.
• Partner with marketing and communications to align messaging, brand, and impact storytelling.
• Set clear goals, accountability measures, and professional growth plans.
  

Major Gifts and Donor Engagement

• Build and manage a portfolio of top donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Lead major gift strategy from identification through stewardship, and build pipeline tracking practices.
• Partner with the CEO on cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Lead readiness and execution of capital and special campaigns as needed.
  
  

Corporate and Community Partnerships

• Lead corporate sponsorship and partnership strategy tied to programming, STEM, outdoors, and leadership initiatives.
• Increase business community engagement connected to workforce readiness and youth leadership outcomes.
• Develop mission-aligned partnerships that support events, programs, and capital needs.
  
  

Foundation and Grant Strategy

• Oversee foundation and grant pipeline development and proposal quality.
• Ensure strong alignment between funder priorities and council programs.
• Strengthen grant reporting, compliance, and stewardship.
• Coordinate program and finance collaboration for measurable outcomes.
  
  

Volunteer Leadership

• Partner with board leadership and philanthropy committees to drive fundraising engagement.
• Equip board members with tools and strategy for donor relationship building.
• Support a culture where fundraising is a shared leadership responsibility.
• Engage alum and community champions in long term philanthropic relationships.
  
  

Education or Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree required in nonprofit management, business, communications, public administration, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Other combinations of education, with relevant experience that demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position, will be considered.
• CFRE or similar fundraising certification strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive fundraising and development leadership experience.
• Experience leading campaigns or large-scale fundraising initiatives.
• Strong executive presence and relationship building skills.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteer leaders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communicator and the ability to share the impact of the Girl Scout mission in a compelling way.
• Ability to translate data to inform fundraising strategies.
• Excellent leadership, management, and decision-making skills.
• High capacity to master and leverage data tracking platforms.
• Demonstrated ability and sensitivity working with youth and persons of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles.
• Outstanding project management skills and operates with an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Highly organized and detail oriented with a bias towards execution and action.
• Skilled relationship builder with a demonstrated ability to motivate and collaborate effectively across difference and across every level of the organization.
• A proactive team player willing to pitch in at all levels while also holding a big picture, systems thinking mindset.
• Exceptional written and verbal communicator.
• Strong work ethic with a high degree of curiosity and a learning orientation; someone who leads and operates with a high level of integrity, confidentiality and discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience working with cloud-based platforms and Salesforce (or other CRM systems) preferred. Experience with Bloomerang helpful.
  
  

Other Requirements:

• Must be able to occasionally work irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
• Anticipated time away from office is 10%.
• Possess a valid drivers’ License and proof of insurance.
• Must be able to work both in an office setting and independently off-site.
  
  

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to withstand:

• • Must be able to work in an outside environment, where you have the ability to walk/hike daily, at various grades, elevations, and on uneven terrain.
  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Operate office equipment manually.
  • Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds at times.
    
    

Full-Time Job Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Free Short- and Long- Term Disability Insurance
• Free Life Insurance 1x salary (additional coverage available)
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with eligibility employer contributions
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO), accrue total of 15 days the first year
• Holidays observed with pay: Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day (and the Friday after), and all business days from December 24 through January 1
• Mileage reimbursement
• Professional Development reimbursement
• Participation in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program 
  
  

Individual Core Competencies  

• Business Acumen: Aligns work with strategic goals, conducts cost-benefit analyses, 
  demonstrates knowledge of market and competition, displays orientation to profitability, 
  understands business implications of decisions
• Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others, inspires respect and trust, motivates others 
  to perform well, reacts well under pressure, shows courage to take action
• Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, 
  includes appropriate people in decision making process, makes timely decisions, supports and 
  explains reasoning for decisions
• Planning & Organization: Integrates changes smoothly, plans for additional resources, 
  prioritizes and plans work activities, sets goals and objectives, uses time efficiently, works in an 
  organized manner
• Strategic Thinking: Adapts strategy to changing conditions, analyzes market and competition, 
  develops strategies to achieve organizational goals, identifies external threats and 
  opportunities, understands organization's strengths & weaknesses
• Innovation: Develops innovative approaches and ideas, displays original thinking and 
  creativity, generates suggestions for improving work, meets challenges with resourcefulness
  

Equal Opportunity Employer

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland is an equal employment opportunity employer.