Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer – Job Description

Preferred Location: Nashville, TN, with the ability for some remote work

Travel: 40-50%, seasonally

Effort: 40 hours/week

Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), a high-impact nonprofit, empowers high school and university students, especially young women, by bringing the M in STEM to life through a focus on financial and investment fundamentals. RTSWS supports an inspired path from high school and college to their first roles in the financial markets and economic activities. After enjoying a thriving 25-year tenure on Wall Street, Maura Cunningham founded Rock The Street, Wall Street, with a mission to empower young women and amplify diversity in an industry that propelled her forward as a first-generation college graduate. With unwavering determination, foresight, and collaboration with industry leaders, RTSWS is not only expanding the talent pipeline but also advancing alongside its high school students through its innovative Career Center offering university club events and coffee chats. RTSWS delivers top-tier educational experiences to break barriers and foster participation in the capital markets and financial workforce.

The Chief Development Officer will lead corporate, foundation, and individual giving initiatives for Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS). The Chief Development Officer will be responsible for planning and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies and collaborating with donor development colleagues to secure essential funding, supporting team members in cultivating and maintaining donor relationships, and driving efforts to attract new donors in innovative and compelling ways. The Chief Development Officer will be at the forefront of RTSWS’s mission to reshape the future by introducing high school girls to the dynamic world of financial/investment math and university women to the finance industry. The Chief Development Officer will develop strategic partnerships and secure funding that propel the mission and impact of RTSWS—fostering a new era of investment literacy and forging an innovative talent pipeline for the industry.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Development Officer will:

• develop and implement an innovative and comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the mission, goals, and programming of RTSWS;
• partner with the Chief Executive Officer, the Founder, and senior leadership to foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization;
• identify and cultivate productive relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations aligned with the mission of RTSWS, both nationally and globally, with the ability and desire to provide philanthropic support personally or through their own philanthropic networks and resources;
• serve as the lead fundraiser for the organization, partnering with leadership as needed, carrying a portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, and leading by example as an exemplary fundraiser;
• identify and cultivate dynamic and strategic partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders, including forward-thinking corporations, foundations, and grassroots influencers with the ability and desire to further the organization’s vision and amplify its impact;
• using innovative fundraising techniques and leveraging digital platforms, design, execute, and assess campaigns, events, and other immersive experiences that generate and increase financial support and introduce new sources of contributed revenue in support of RTSWS programs;
• develop, oversee, and assess a stewardship and gift recognition program, rooted in current and emerging best practices, that ensures exceptional donor cultivation, recognition, engagement, and retention through tailored strategies and tactics that nurture long-term support;
• produce reports on fundraising progress for internal and external stakeholders that provide insight into fundraising progress, trends in giving, and the RTSWS donor profile; and
• partner with marketing and communications staff to create collateral and materials that offer compelling narratives for support.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Rock The Street, Wall Street seeks a Chief Development Officer with:

• a commitment to the mission of Rock The Street, Wall Street—to provide high quality education that breaks barriers and fosters inclusivity in the capital markets and financial workforce, dedicated to empowering young women with equal footing;
• a background in, or deep familiarity with, Wall Street and an understanding of the language and culture of “The Street” as the key supporters of RTSWS are associated with Wall Street;
• experience developing and implementing comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategies that further organizational goals and programs;
• an ability to respond to current and emerging trends in philanthropy—to implement, assess, and pivot as necessary to ensure a fundraising program that is innovative and nimble;
• experience partnering with leadership as well as internal and external stakeholders to develop and nurture a culture of philanthropy that engages staff throughout the organization and leverages the time, talent, and resources of board members and volunteers;
• experience as a frontline fundraiser—identifying, cultivating, closing, and stewarding gifts with significant institutional impact across multiple verticals (individual, corporate, foundation);
• superior relationship-building skills and an ability to develop meaningful and productive partnerships across organizations and externally with diverse stakeholders;
• exceptional communication skills across multiple platforms and audiences;
• an ability to recruit, lead, mentor, and retain a team of high-performing frontline fundraisers;
• an understanding of the financial industry sector and an ability to acquire financial industry fluency within a short period of time; and
• an ability to develop fundraising metrics, budgets, reports, and gift tracking information for internal and external stakeholders.

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least seven years of experience, including management responsibilities, in nonprofit fundraising, is preferred for this role. Knowledge of and interest in the financial services industry is highly desired in this role. Rock The Street, Wall Street will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to RTSWS, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

BENEFITS

Rock The Street, Wall Street offers great benefits, a hybrid-work environment, and an amazing team of passionate people who are working to inspire, educate, and equip girls with the skills to succeed financially throughout their lives and potentially pursue career opportunities in finance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program, life and short/long term disability insurance, 10 paid time off days, four personal days, and two sick days. RTSWS is closed on federal holidays on which the NYSE is closed (currently 10 days).

LOCATION

Rock The Street, Wall Street prefers candidates residing in the Greater Metropolitan Nashville Area. Staff are in the office three days a week. RTSWS will consider candidates with experience successfully managing remote employees based in a city with a strong financial services industry (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Rock The Street, Wall Street as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@rockthestreetwallstreet.com