Position: Vice President of Development

Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. With the generosity of individual donors and local and national foundations, Catholic Extension Society raises funds to help these poor, forgotten, and often isolated communities to flourish.

Established in 1905, Catholic Extension Society is a papal society that is answering Pope Francis’ call to go out to America’s “peripheries.” Since its founding, the organization has distributed more than $1.3 billion in today’s dollars to dioceses that cannot support themselves. These areas are called “Extension dioceses,” and are reviewed and approved by Catholic Extension Society’s Board of Governors.

Catholic Extension Society’s Development Department supports a full range of fundraising programs, including direct mail, lead annual gifts ($1,000+), major gifts ($25,000+ over a five-year period), foundation gifts, and planned gifts. The department has been shaped by nonprofit best practices and campaign-based fundraising, replete with a Moves Management-style system of fundraising, modern technological tools (including Virtuous CRM), a robust internal prospect management and development services team, and protocols for multi-year gifts, gift acknowledgements, and stewardship. Expansion of major gifts has also been facilitated by the department’s regional fundraising program, leading to doubling of annual average major giving revenues during the past several years. In 2023, donor gifts enabled Catholic Extension Society to provide approximately $55 million in direct support and other revenue-generating programs to benefit 87 of the poorest dioceses in the country; an additional $183 million in FEMA-obligated funds were awarded for rebuilding and improving damaged churches and schools in Puerto Rico, resulting from Catholic Extension Society’s recovery program.

Catholic Extension Society can articulate a compelling case for support vis-à-vis the nation’s 64 million Catholics who, among others, bear a connection to the organization’s mission. Whereas other Catholic organizations may provide social services, Catholic Extension Society is unique in its strategic engagement and holistic building of under-resourced and isolated faith communities across the U.S., communities which then become transformative in society-at-large.

Catholic Extension Society seeks candidates for Vice President of Development (Vice President). Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President is responsible for conceptualizing, organizing, and implementing a comprehensive and strategic fundraising program to fund Catholic Extension Society’s mission activities in the United States and meet operating expense goals. The Vice President oversees an approximately 20-person Development Department. The Vice President will be empowered to assess and optimize the department’s organizational structure, functional alignment, and activities in partnership with the President, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Governors.

While Catholic Extension Society will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience.

1. Ten or more years of experience in nonprofit fundraising roles with progressive levels of responsibility, including extensive experience managing all dimensions of a comprehensive fundraising program (individual and institutional giving, major and planned giving, annual giving, stewardship, board relations) and leadership in a major fundraising campaign (planning, implementation, management, and successful conclusion). Experience working on a national scale is preferred.
2. Seven or more years of staff management experience, with a strong record of providing strategic and operational leadership, including creating and managing a budget. Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, mentor, motivate, and ensure ongoing professional development of staff; foster a cohesive team and an environment of trust, collaboration, professionalism, and transparency; and increase effectiveness and accountability through established objectives, performance standards, and guidance.
3. Must be steeped in modern philanthropy best practices and able to effectively integrate external relations functions. In addition to possessing excellent fundraising abilities, must have the breadth of skills required to contribute to macro-level external relations strategies, including those related to organizational branding, marketing, and communications.
4. Particular strength in developing the case for support and strategic, complex, and innovative fundraising plans, and executing against those plans to achieve goals and objectives. Experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization is very important, as is the ability to effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents. Demonstrated ability to translate concepts into multi-stakeholder initiatives.
5. Successful track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven-figures or greater. Strength in prospect discovery and in building effective strategies to compel new major donor investment.
6. Experience identifying, nurturing, and motivating volunteers, particularly board members, as well as an appreciation for their role in building an effective fundraising network.
7. Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills in evaluating donor strategy and process, conceiving and implementing new programs or strategies, and resolving operational and interpersonal issues.
8. Working knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including database information systems, data modeling, and analysis.
9. A forward thinker with a track record of utilizing new methods of donor engagement and connectivity, who will be driven by innovation in developing philanthropic best practices in the current and post-COVID-19 world.
10. Ability to travel up to 40% of the time.
11. Bachelor’s degree.

COMPENSATION
The annual salary for the role is currently anticipated to range from $275,000 to $325,000, commensurate with experience.

Staff enjoy also great benefits and perks, such as the following:

1. Excellent health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
2. Matched 403(b) plan (tax-sheltered annuity plan)
3. Generous paid time off and holidays
4. Public transportation passes
5. Professional development
6. Paid parental leave
7. Travel to see firsthand the impact of your work

Download the full position description via the following link:

https://dsgco.com/search/21936-catholic-extension-society-vice-president-of-development

Catholic Extension Society is an equal opportunity employer and consideration for employment is made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our human resources department at hroffice@catholicextension.org.

Catholic Extension Society has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of DSG Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to one or more members of the search team.

https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/21936

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder, DSG Fundraising & Advancement

DSG Global

The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10174

gcattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587

Ian McCray

Managing Director, DSG Fundraising & Advancement

DSG Global

ian.mccray@divsearch.com | 802.989.3764